WWII - Montenegro, German Occupation:

Montenegro, WWII Occupation period:

One great set overprinted, and very-very high value in catalog.

It is year 1943, overprinted in black "Nationaler Verwaltungsausschuss - 10. XI. 1943", full set in 10 values, and printed just in 1000 sets.

Naturally, for this period, and low quantity printed, exist lot of fake/forged overprint, as effort to make it available on market and yes, to make some money in wrong way!

It is very suggested, if You decide to complete this WWII period, to have this set properly examined and certified, just to avoid to pay high, for something that is not "as need to be"!

If You don't have any possibility to have this set certified, it will be very preferable, to have it at least, examined by someone who specialized in this field.

So, I mention that it is high catalog value, because Michel catalog, that have it under number 10/19, in mint, nh condition

valued at 7800.00 euro.

Enjoy Christmas gift, and take it to someone who "Know What Philately Is"!

Trieste (Trst) - Yugoslavia issue:

Today, not many people know, that this city, Trieste (Italian) or TRST (Serbo-Croatian) was part of Yugoslavia (Yes, short period but it was!).

I will not take role of teacher, or be some kind of historian, and will just "shortly" in simple language explain to the public how it was part of Yugoslavia:

There was WWII, there was III Reich (Third Reich), there was Italia like ally of Germans that occupy Yugoslavia and in the end, Italy capitulated under Allied Forces, Russians, Yugoslavian Army, and others military forces.

Than, Trieste was taken by strong forces of Yugoslavian Army, but .... but Allied Forces didn't like it, and rush to "help" surrounded city and in the happy end, Yugoslav and British (2nd Division - New Zealand) divided Trieste in to two zone (Something like Berlin case). Zona A (under West countries army) and Zone B (under Yugoslavian army).

Fine for Philately and collectors - this give us one great set to have in collection:

It is originally stamps from Yugoslavia, overptinted with STT VUJNA (Slobodna Teritorija Trst - Vojna Uprava Jugoslavenske Narodne Armije). 

Need more proof that Trieste was part of Yugoslavia? (:-))

I like it, because it is set formed from Yugoslavia "Industry" issued, which I admire well, because of design, printing, quality, message, and great will of Yugoslavian citizen (what was left after Germans Genocide) to made progress and rebuilt country from scrap!

In some way, it is also one written document, that remind future generation of what for our ancestors  fight.

This set come out on Feb. 25, 1953 - Yeah, not so far, but AFTER war ended, (1954 was year when Trieste was "returned" to Italy).

I see it in Michel catalog under numbers 87-94 which give very nice price tag of 32.00 europer mint, nh set for basic option. But there existed two "special" stamps of 5.00 din and 15.00 din (face value) that can catapulted value of this set to "sky high" of 450.00 euro!

Why it is not so "cheap" even that some stamp from set are printed in 500 000? Because in this set You have some topic like: Industry, Train, Rail, Sunflower.... very popular topics that made shortage on market.

You have it? Keep it! You can buy it - Grab it!

NDH - Croatia "Storm Division"

Everyone of us know WWII and dark period of German Occupation - personally, I never collected this material, specially I don't like to promote any material that can glorify in any way German atrocities and destruction that they made at the time. Here is just one section from web that say: "... Nazis made Ante Pavelic head of the NDH. His Ustase Storm Troopers began eliminating the two million Serbs, Jews, and Gypsies in the NDH...".

But when it come to Philately, I see that some of stamp, issued at the time of WWII have "classic" design and quality work done! Here, one sample from recently obtained collection, that - when I discovered it inside pile of album, say just "Diamond" - and yes, it is one "must be" item for any more advanced collection that You can build.

Lets start with statistic, which will say, Mi Bl. 8, P. S. catalog no.: 8, Scott B76  s/s, comparing this three major catalog, we come across very big difference in description and prices, probably it is because West and European market difference, and probably something "other" are in the game. 

To mention, that this block is issued on Jan. 9, 1945 (Scott have it just under 1944 year), even with date/year of issue this two catalog have difference. This block is issued with intention to promote Croatian division that was involved in many battle over Yugoslavia and abroad, and surtax go directly to finance this "Storm Division". What we have in quantity printed is 7500 sets and 2500 s/s - which is too low for time, and topic! Don't forget, that after WWII come to power communist, which well know how to erase any fascist symbols or "propaganda" of any kind.

Next one point to suggest: Be very careful when purchasing this items, don't do it from any web auction, and if You have it, go and made certificate for same. Even that I can not say who is right, but Scott stated that "plentiful counterfeits existed", Michel catalog don't have this "mark" and PS catalog clearly stated that expertise are need, because "many fake existed, that was produced using ORIGINAL ofset plate". This material You buy JUST and JUST from certified dealer, personal dealer or someone who You personally trust.

Now, what say market? I see that it is nice investment material to obtain - prices from "year-to-year" go up, not because inflation, but because demand, and if it have in 2007 catalog price tag of 1800.00 euro per one, today it is full 2000.00 euro per one - and if You want to obtain one imperforated sample (which was very rare and impossible to find) - be ready to go with 5 to 8000.00 euro in pocket.

Croatia - NDH, WWII period

Bl. 6I, 12 Sept. 1943:

Even that I don't like countries that made genocide around, I must to mention this issue! Artist made it well, and we can say that it is really one "masters work" when is talking of engravings stamp design! It is made with full emotion, and You have feeling to be there, on the street of old city Zagreb!

I will give just some information. This issue come out for III. Phila Exhibition held in Zagreb - Croatia (at the time: Independent Country of Croatia, under German Occupied Forces, some say "puppy state"). Graver was K. Seizinger, printed in Wien - Austria, existed perforated and imperforated, overprinted, with "hidden" graver "S" mark, and without graver mark.

Very hardly, that You will find it somewhere around in perfect condition, because total quantity printed run around 118 000 m/s, take in account WWII period, Communist period after WWII, and You will see that most of it have some fault, or are totally damaged in some way!

What catalog say regarding prices? Keep an eye, if some samples will be available for exchange - take it right away! Michel value it this way:

simple option = 18.00 euro,

with graver mark "S" = 55.00 euro,

imperforated = 350.00 euro.

Which option You have in Your collection?

Just don't mix it (graver mark "S") with stamp and m/s - because graver mark on stamp are inside "window" and on m/s is on the plate of near door on building!

Because "problematic" paper and glue (there is two type of paper, one "hard" and one "Japaneses" more tin), many samples are damaged by humidity, after it - collectors used cancel to "repair" damage - that resulted in some "fake" cancel applied on some examples - existed some very good Phila Societies to find more information, like Yahoo groups on NDH, APS and some other.

Again - search for it, and take it at the spot!