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The postage stamps of Trieste Zone A and B are a fascinating part of philatelic history, tied to the post-World War II period when the Free Territory of Trieste was established. This area was a contested region between Italy and Yugoslavia, and after the war, it was divided into two zones of administration under Allied and Yugoslav control. Both zones issued their own postage stamps during the occupation.

Background: Free Territory of Trieste

  • Established: 1947, as part of the peace treaty with Italy after WWII.
  • Divisions:
    • Zone A: Administered by the Allied Military Government (primarily the U.S. and the U.K.) and included the city of Trieste and the area north of it.
    • Zone B: Administered by Yugoslavia and included the region south of Trieste, near the Istrian peninsula.

The Free Territory of Trieste was short-lived, and by 1954, Zone A was returned to Italy, while Zone B became part of Yugoslavia. However, during its brief existence, both zones issued unique postage stamps, which are now sought after by collectors.

Zone A Stamps (Allied Administration)

  • First Issue: 1947
  • Languages: Bilingual stamps in Italian and Slovene were used to reflect the local population.
  • Designs: Early stamps featured overprints of Italian stamps with the text “A.M.G.-F.T.T.” (Allied Military Government – Free Territory of Trieste).

    Key Stamp Series:

    1. A.M.G.-F.T.T. Overprints: Initial stamps were Italian stamps overprinted with this abbreviation.
    2. 1950 Series: Stamps specifically designed for Zone A included depictions of Trieste’s local landmarks, such as the Piazza Unità d’Italia and the Roman theater.
    3. Commemorative Issues: Some stamps also commemorated international events or historical figures. For example, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) anniversary in 1949 was marked with special designs.

    Currency: Initially, stamps were denominated in Italian lire.

Zone B Stamps (Yugoslav Administration)

  • First Issue: 1948
  • Languages: Stamps typically featured Slovene, Italian, and sometimes Serbo-Croatian text.
  • Designs: Similar to Zone A, the earliest stamps were Yugoslav issues overprinted with the text “STT VUJA” (Slobodno Teritoriuma Trsta – Free Territory of Trieste, Yugoslav Administration).

    Key Stamp Series:

    1. STT VUJA Overprints: These stamps were Yugoslav stamps overprinted with “STT VUJA,” signifying their use in Zone B.
    2. 1952-1954 Series: Later issues included original designs showing local Istrian landscapes, traditional costumes, and historical figures relevant to the region.

    Currency: Stamps were denominated in Yugoslav dinars.

Transition and Legacy

  • End of the Free Territory: In 1954, the Free Territory of Trieste was officially dissolved. Zone A was integrated into Italy, and Zone B into Yugoslavia. After this, stamps from Italy and Yugoslavia replaced the earlier Zone A and B issues.
  • Collecting Trieste Stamps: Stamps from both zones are highly collectible due to their historical context and the limited period of issuance. Collectors look for:
    • Overprints (A.M.G.-F.T.T. and STT VUJA)
    • Complete sets from the 1947-1954 period
    • Postally used stamps, which can be rarer than mint stamps
    • Covers and postal history related to the unique political situation