Yugoslavia year 1945/51 stamps MNH lot

Yugoslavia year 1945/51 stamps MNH lot

After World War II ended in 1945, the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia (FNR Yugoslavia) was established. This new socialist state issued its first postage stamps starting in 1945.

Some notable FNRY stamp issues from 1945-1951:

• In 1945, a series of stamps was issued depicting Marshal Josip Broz Tito, the leader of Yugoslavia. This was one of the first stamp issues of the new republic.
• Liberation/reconstruction themed stamps were common in the immediate post-war years, depicting scenes like rebuilding efforts, partisan fighters, broken chains symbolizing liberation from occupation, etc.
• By the late 1940s, more light-hearted and colorful designs started appearing, including series depicting national costumes, Yugoslav landscapes/scenery, and cultural heritage.
• In 1951, a long set of stamps was issued for the 10th anniversary of the Yugoslav People’s Army. The designs featured various military scenes and personnel.
• Also in 1951, a popular set was released depicting Zoo animals, with colorful illustrations of different wildlife.

The stamps were generally labeled in the Serbo-Croatian language in the Latin alphabet. Common inscriptions were “Demokratska Federativna Jugoslavija” (Democratic Federal Yugoslavia) from 1945-1946 and “Federativna Narodna Republika Jugoslavija” (Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia) from 1946 onwards.

Collecting early FNR Yugoslavia stamps is popular among collectors interested in post-WWII Balkan and Eastern European history. Many of the issues had large printing quantities so they remain readily available and affordable for collectors today, with some exceptions for scarcer varieties and errors.