Yugoslavia Fiume Rijeka stamps year 1945 Istria 10l MNH

Yugoslavia Fiume Rijeka stamps year 1945 Istria 10l MNH

The stamps are the provisional issues released under the Yugoslav Military Administration for the region of Rijeka (Fiume) and Istria in 1945.

Key Details

• Period: The stamps were issued starting in 1945, shortly after Yugoslav forces took control of the area (Rijeka was captured on May 3, 1945). The administration period for these local issues generally ran until 1947.
• Type of Issue: They were primarily Italian stamps that were overprinted and surcharged to validate them for use under the new administration.
• Overprint Inscription: One of the most common overprints for Rijeka/Fiume stamps from this period is:
  • “3. V. 1945 FIUME RIJEKA $\star$” (The date refers to the entry of Yugoslav troops into Rijeka).
  • They also feature a new value (surcharge) in Lira currency.
• Istria/Slovene Coast Issues: The broader area of Istria and the Slovene Coast also had provisional issues in 1945 with different overprints, such as:
  • “ISTRA” and surcharged.
  • “1. V. 1945 TRIESTE $\star$ TRST” and surcharged (This was used in the broader occupied area).

Philatelic Significance

These provisional issues are significant in philately because they represent a complex and politically transitional period following World War II, involving the changing territorial status of the region (known historically as the “Fiume question”). The stamps were a temporary measure before the introduction of regular Yugoslav stamps.