Croatia – Serbian Krajina stamps year 1996  Serbian Krajina Religions Christianity

Croatia – Serbian Krajina stamps year 1996  Serbian Krajina Religions Christianity MNH

In 1996, while the Republic of Serbian Krajina (RSK) had largely collapsed as a political entity following the events of 1995, stamps continued to be issued in its name for the remaining UN-administered territory (Eastern Slavonia, Baranja, and Western Syrmia) and for the collector market.

The “Religions” or “Christianity” themed issues from that year are notable for reflecting the Serbian Orthodox heritage of the region during a period of transition.

The 1996 “Architecture & Churches” Series

A specific set was issued in 1996 focusing on Architecture and Churches. These stamps are often sought after by collectors interested in the religious and cultural history of the region.

• Subject Matter: The stamps typically depict Serbian Orthodox churches, monasteries, and religious architectural heritage.
• Context: These were issued during the UNTAES (United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium) period, shortly before the region was fully reintegrated into Croatia.
• Technical Details: * Denominations: Usually in “Novi Dinar” (New Dinar).
  • Printing: Most sets from this era used offset lithography with a perforation of approximately $13frac{3}{4}$.

The 1996 “Christmas” Issue

Toward the end of the year, a specific Christmas set was released, which is the most direct representation of Christianity in the 1996 issues.

• Issue Date: December 20, 1996.
• Design: These stamps feature traditional Christian and Orthodox icons or religious motifs.
• Values: Often issued as a set of three stamps with values like $0.50 + 0.50$ (charity surcharges were common).