Fiume year 1919 stamps POSTA FIUME Used set

Fiume year 1919 stamps “POSTA FIUME” Used set

In 1919, the city of Fiume (now Rijeka, Croatia) issued a set of stamps inscribed “POSTA FIUME.” This is a fascinating piece of postal history tied to the complex geopolitical situation in Europe following World War I.

Fiume was a contested city after WWI. It had been part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but both the newly formed Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (later Yugoslavia) and Italy claimed it. In September 1919, the Italian poet and nationalist Gabriele D’Annunzio led a paramilitary force to occupy Fiume, declaring it the “Italian Regency of Carnaro.”

During this period of uncertainty and conflict, Fiume issued its own stamps. The 1919 “POSTA FIUME” stamps likely featured:

1. The text “POSTA FIUME” (meaning “Fiume Post” in Italian), asserting the city’s autonomy.
2. Denominations in Italian currency (likely Lira or Centesimi).

These stamps are significant because they represent a brief, tumultuous period in Fiume’s history. They’re sought after by collectors interested in the philately of disputed territories, World War I and its aftermath, or the history of the Adriatic region.