Fiume postage stamp year 1919 Italy President Dr Grossich

Fiume postage stamps year 1919 Italy President Dr Grossich MLH

In 1919, Fiume (now Rijeka) issued postage stamps during the period of Italian control when Dr. Antonio Grossich was a prominent political figure and president of the National Council. The stamps from that year include:

• Issues printed lithographically by Zanardini and later by Bertieri & Vanzetti of Milan.
• Designs by Leopoldo Metlicovitz, with motifs such as the Roman she-wolf, Venetian galley, St. Mark’s Cathedral, the city Clock, Garibaldi monument, and Italian flag in the port of Rijeka.
• Early stamps bore the inscription “FIUME” which was later changed to “POSTA FIUME” due to political and territorial reasons.
• Some stamps include overprints referencing Dr. Grossich or funds associated with him, notably a semi-postal stamp with a 2 Lira surcharge for Dr. Grossich’s fund issued on September 20, 1919.
• Dr. Antonio Grossich was also the president of the temporary government and the National Council during this period of Fiume’s annexation by Italy.

These stamps reflect the turbulent political history of Fiume in 1919 and its association with Dr. Grossich as a key leader in the annexation movement to Italy.