Croatia year 1941 stamps Kamenita gate set / Gold Overprinted MNH

Croatia year 1941 stamps Kamenita gate set / Gold Overprinted MNH

In 1941, Croatia issued its first postage stamps after declaring independence from Yugoslavia during World War II. Here are some key details about the 1941 Croatian stamp issues:

Overprinted Issues:

• The first Croatian stamps in 1941 were overprinted Yugoslav stamps from 1938-40.
• The overprints read “NEZAVISNA DRŽAVA HRVATSKA” (Independent State of Croatia) and new values.
• These provisional overprinted stamps covered a range of denominations.

Coat of Arms Design:

• Later in 1941, Croatia released its first definitive engraved stamp series.
• The designs prominently featured the Croatian medieval coat of arms – the checkerboard shield.
• Values ranged from 0.50k up to 30k with the coat of arms motifs.

Semi-Postal Issues:

• Several semi-postal stamps were also issued in 1941 to raise funds.
• These included a Red Cross overprint set and stamps depicting folk costumes.
• The semi-postals had uprated values above the normal postage rates.

Rarity:

• While millions were printed, the 1941 Croatian stamps remain quite popular.
• The scarcest are the low value overprints and well-centered early issues without overprints.
• Stamps used on cover and bearing particular towns/dates can also be valuable.

The 1941 issues marked the first independent Croatian stamps since the 19th century and incorporated distinctive national designs. They hold significance for specialists in World War II-era European philately as well as Croatian collectors and historians.