1945 NDH - Storm Division Sheets

The 1st Croatian Storm Division (Udarna divizija) was an elite unit formed on October 9, 1944. To commemorate the unit, a special philatelic issue was released on January 9, 1945. Today, complete sheets of this issue are considered among the gems of NDH philately.

Mi. 170, 50 + 50, Soldiers of the Storm Division.

Mi. 171, 70 + 70, A battlefield at night.

Mi. 172, 100 + 100, The Storm Division insignia on top of the Croatia map.

1941 NDH, "Jubilarka" stationery

I have never seen or heard before - a trial print of "jubilarka" stationery... 

1941 Independent State of Croatia, Armed Forces Special Issue, known as "jubilarka", trial print on young King Peter II stationery. From A.F.Kugel collection.

Overprint enlarged.

Comments:

A.F.Kugel: ... a test printing was also made in black on a few 1 dinar postal cards in the young King Peter II design. However, in the end, they were not authorized to be issued.

P.J.Hughes (NDH expert):  ... I remember overlaying a genuine black overprint with this stationery and they match perfectly, so I am of the opinion that it is likely genuine. This may be the only card like this, or there may be one or two others, but I have not seen any others.  ...  The overprint may be from a separate cliche as it has none of the flaws that can be found on the overprinted stamps. It is consistent with the "proof" black overprints that are on the market in blocks on kunstdruck paper, or on the 4 Din stamp. A few of these have flaws, but there are only a few flaws as the plate used for the proofs was very new and did not have time to develop the flaws that show up later on the regular printing.

NDH Ministerial Albums - sale

I am selling some of my NDH Ministerial Albums...  

• 1942 Red Cross - Issued 25 albums, only two or three with white covers - SOLD
• 1943 Pavelić - Issued 15 albums - SOLD
• 1943 Legionnaires - Issued 15 albums - SOLD
• 1944 War victims - Issued 25 albums - SOLD

Albums are great rarities of Croatia philately, they are complete and in very fine condition.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested...

1942 NDH Red Cross, first day items

Four different first day items were prepared for this issue: two covers and two special commemorative cards.

Two different cancellations were used: black oval and red circle.

FDC with black oval cancellation.

FDC with red circle cancellation.

Small commemorative card.

Large commemorative card. Signed and numbered - No. 446 of  500. Unfolded!

1943 NDH Legionnaires, Ministerial album

In relation to the current situation in Ukraine - Croatian legionnaires have already fought on the Eastern Front.

1943 NDH Legionnaires, Ministerial album.

1943 NDH Legionnaires, Mi.107-110.

1942 NDH Red Cross, Ministerial album

It is nice to see that such old album survives all that time. More than 70 years after the issue and still in MINT condition.

1942 NDH Red Cross, Ministerial album. Certificate Wieneke.

1942 NDH Red Cross Mi.86-90 and postal tax Mi.Z1.

1941-1945 NDH, Ministerial albums II

Just a few remarks about the status of my NDH Ministerial albums project (please see this post first).

Recently, I met the owner of the complete (?) set of albums. He told me that he is planning to put all information and photographs together in a form of the web site or similar presentation. This is a great news!

I also met Mr. Julie Maras, who handed me copies of the newspaper "Croatia Philately" where he presented quite a few albums. So, another great source for further info.

And just a small correction of my thumbnail list: Red Cross 1943 V2 (Mi 118-127), small edition, is not the ministerial album.

1941 NDH, Red cross sheets with phase shift

1941 NDH, Red cross charity, imperforated sheets with color phase shift are a great rarity of Croatian philately. Only four sets were known and only two remains.

1941 Red cross charity, 1.50 + 1.50 Kn imperforated sheet, main color shifted to the left. Certificate Zrinjšćak.

1941 Red cross charity, 2 + 2 Kn imperforated sheet, background color shifted down. Certificate Zrinjšćak.

1941 Red cross charity, 4 + 4 Kn imperforated sheet, main color shifted to the left. Certificate Zrinjšćak.

1941-1945 NDH, Ministerial albums

1941-1945 NDH Ministerial albums are philatelic specialties. Apparently, the complete set of albums was recently sold for 200000 USD.

I wanted to educate about those albums, but after some reading and searching I found that there is no source with the complete and consistent information. Because of this, I decided to gather all available information and post them on this blog. So far I have collected photos of pages for most of the albums. The current status is shown on the thumbnail list.

 Update:   2014-08-28 Thanks to Mr. Hughes and Mr. Vilfan feedback.

1943 NDH, Labor service, two sided printings

I got some nice pieces where I first thought that someone has wrongly cut them off. But then I realized that I was looking at the back side...

Back side

Front side

I am not sure, but according to the statement made by Mr. Ercegović, who wrote that he never saw proofs printed on both sides, I believe that they should be very rare.

 Update:  Thanks to Mr. Hughes and Mr. Bokić I learned that these are not as rare as I thought.

Croatia special catalogue

Probably the most complete catalogue for Croatia (I checked the WWII period!) with varieties and prices for items not seen elsewhere.

Michel, Kroatien Spezial Katalog

1942 NDH, Red Cross

Complete set and surcharge stamp on the signed commemorative sheet with both, black and red first day cancellation.

1942 NDH, Red Cross, Mi 86-90 and Mi Z1. Numbered commemorative sheet - No. 38 / 500.

1945 NDH, Storm Division

Four types of Storm Division block exists! The type can be determined by analyzing small differences of handmade initials O.A.

1945 NDH, Storm Division block type IV. Certificate Zrinjšćak.

O.A. initials on block type IV.

For detailed description and O.A. characteristics for other three types see: Predrag Zrinjšćak & Stipan Vuković, Der Block für Die I. Kroatische Sturmdivision, Acta Philatelica Nova 2011, Croatian philatelic almanac.

I would like to get all four types, so if you are selling block types I, II or III (MNH) you can give me your offer.

WWII NDH propaganda postcards

Once in a while I get WWII NDH propaganda postcards. Generally, I do not collect them, except if there is a link with philately. First and last postcards in the list below are such exceptions as they are related to 1941-12-05 "Borba" and 1942-03-25 "Hrvatska krila" stamps, respectively.

  

  

  

WWII occupation of Yugoslavian territories

WWII occupation of Yugoslavian territories can be divided into two main periods: before and after Italian capitulation. On the maps you can see a variety of situations and occupied areas what had, among others, a strong impact on the postage stamps and postal system in whole.

1941-1943

1943-1945

From the philately point of view we have following areas:

Italian occupation                         

• Slovenia (1941-04-26)
• Fiume, Kupa (1941-05-16)
• Montenegro (1941-06-16)

German occupation

• Slovenia (1944-01-05)
• Dalmatia: Zadar, Brač (1943-10-09)
• Serbia (1941-06-05)
• Montenegro (1943-11-22)
• Boka Kotorska (1944-02-10)
• Macedonia (1944-10-28)

Independent state of Croatia (NDH)

• NDH regular issues (1941-04-12)
• Banja Luka (1941-04-19)
• Međumurje (1941-04)
• Šibenik (1943/1944)
• Split (1943)

Note: The dates are dates of first postage stamp issued within a specific area.

1945 NDH, Storm Division Block

Due to the low print run and speculations during the collapse of the Independent State of Croatia (NDH) the Storm Division block became one of the key items of the Croatia's philately.

Storm Division block.

Lately, four types of blocks are identified! The type can be determined by analyzing small differences of handmade initials O.A.

Currently, I have block Type No. IV, so I need Type I, II and III. And, of course there is also the super rare imperforate version of the block on my wish list.

Imperforate version.