Yugoslavia 1988 Macedonia 1988 Red Cross Mint never hinged

Yugoslavia 1988 Macedonia 1988 Red Cross perf+imperf Mint never hinged**

In 1988, as part of the annual Red Cross Week (usually held in May), Yugoslavia issued special Postal Tax Stamps. Because Yugoslavia was a federation of republics, these stamps were often released in different versions for the individual republics, including Macedonia.

The 1988 Red Cross (Macedonia Issue)

These stamps were mandatory to use on all domestic mail during Red Cross Week, with the surcharge going directly to humanitarian aid.

• Design: The design for the 1988 Macedonia issue typically features the Red Cross emblem and is often paired with imagery of a mother and child or a nurse, symbolizing care and health.
• Inscriptions: Unlike the federal version (which used Serbo-Croatian in both Cyrillic and Latin scripts), the Macedonian version specifically features inscriptions in the Macedonian language and the Cyrillic alphabet (e.g., ЦРВЕН КРСТ).
• Values: * The standard value was often a 50 para or surcharged amount (e.g., 50d/30d).
  • In 1988, a specific surcharge of 50 Dinars was common for use across Yugoslavia, but the Macedonian variant is distinguished by its regional text.

Varieties and Formats

For collectors, this 1988 issue is interesting because it exists in several formats:

1. Perforated vs. Imperforated: The set was issued in standard perforated sheets, but limited imperforated versions also exist, which are more sought after by specialists.
2. Souvenir Sheets: A small souvenir sheet (miniature sheet) was released specifically for Macedonia.
3. Booklets (Carnets): Small stamp booklets were produced containing these charity stamps, sometimes featuring promotional text for the Red Cross on the covers.
4. Overprints: Due to the high inflation in Yugoslavia at the time, some 1988 stamps feature surcharges (new values printed over the old ones).

Catalog Identification

If you are looking for these in a stamp catalog, they are usually found in the “Back of the Book” section under Postal Tax Stamps (RA):

• Michel Catalog: Often listed in the “Z” (Charity/Tax) section (e.g., Mi: Z.157 for the Macedonia variant).
• Topic: These are prime examples for Red Cross Topical collectors or those focusing on the postal history of the former Yugoslav republics.