Yugoslavia Stamps
Charity Stamps of 1921-1932
The first Yugoslavia stamps, issued for the purpose of raising extra money for charitable purposes, appeared at the beginning of 1921.
These stamps are actually postage stamps, intended for use by postal
patrons for various types of mail. Many issues are also commemorative
stamps, as they honor famous people, places, and events, in addition to
their fund-raising purposes.
These types of stamps feature a
"value added amount" or "surtax amount" in addition to the postal
denomination of the stamp. Yugoslavia utilized the added amounts on these postage stamps to
raise money for national organizations, public events, and public
charities.
The stamps issued between 1921 and 1929 are inscribed for the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes. Stamps issued after 1931 are all inscribed for the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Cyrillic and Western inscriptions are occasionally reversed, or they are used alternately on different denominations within a set of stamps.
The three pictorial Yugoslavia stamps shown above, at the top and middle of the image (Sc. #B1-B3), were issued on January 30, 1921. The stamps sold for double their face value, with the excess amount being for the benefit of crippled soldiers.
The pictorial designs are as follows.
- 10 P. - Allegorical representation of giving aid to the wounded.
- 15 P. - Wounded soldier.
- 25 P. - Allegorical representation of national unity.
The overprinted pictorial charity stamp shown above, at the bottom of the image (Sc. N/L), was never officially issued.
Five-hundred-thousand of these stamps were overprinted "У.Р.Н. / U.R.I." and given to the Uprava Ratnih Invalida (English: Society for Wounded Invalids). The benevolent society sold the stamps for 2 Dinars each. These overprinted stamps were NOT valid for postage, though some of them did erroneously pass through the mails.
The twelve surtaxed definitive Yugoslavia stamps of 1926-1927 shown above (Sc. #B5-B16) were issued on November 1, 1926. The surtax was for flood relief.
The three surtaxed commemorative charity stamps shown above (Sc. #B17-B19) were issued on November 1, 1929 to celebrate the 1,000th Anniversary of the Kingdom of Croatia.
The surtax was donated to a fund to create a War Memorial Cemetery and Monument in France, dedicated to the Serbian soldiers that died there during World War I.
The pictorial designs are as follows.
- 50 P. + (50 P.) - Cathedral at Duvno. It is believed that King Tomislav was coronated in the vicinity of Duvno. Duvno, now known as Tomislavgrad, is located in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
- 01 D. + (50 P.) - King Tomislav. Tomislav was the Duke of Croatia from 910 to 925 and the King of Croatia from 925 to 928. Though very little is known about him, he is considered the founder of the Croatian Kingdom.
- 03 D. + (01 D.) - Kings Tomislav and Alexander I.
The Kingdom of Croatia existed from 925 to 1102, when, due to a succession crisis, it merged with the Kingdom of Hungary. The merger was considered a "Personal Union" between the two monarchies. This relationship continued, to some extent, until after World War I, when Croatia became part of the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes (Yugoslavia).
The three surtaxed pictorial Yugoslavia stamps shown above (Sc. #B20-B22) were issued on April 1, 1931. The surtax was donated to the fund for the Serbian War Memorial Cemetery and Monument in France.
The pictorial designs are as follows.
- 50 P. + 50 P. - View of Dobro Polje, the site of the battle fought by Serbian, Greek, and French troops, during the Vardar Offensive against the Bulgarians in World War I.
- 01 D. + 01 D. - War Memorial.
- 03 D. + 03 D. - View of Mt. Kajmaktchaian (8,281 ft.), the site of the battle fought between Serbian and Bulgarian troops on the Macedonian Front, during World War I.
The overprinted Yugoslavia charity stamps of 1929 shown above (Sc. #B23-B25) were issued on November 1, 1931. The surtax was donated to the fund for the Serbian War Memorial Cemetery and Monument in France.
The six surtaxed pictorial Yugoslavia stamps shown above (Sc. #B26-B31) were issued on September 2, 1932 to publicize the European Rowing Championship Races in Belgrade. The surtax was donated to the event, which was won by the Yugoslavian racing team.
The pictorial designs are as follows.
- 00.75 D. + 50 P. - Rower on the Danube River at Smederevo.
- 01.00 D. + 50 P. - Bled Lake.
- 01.50 D. + 50 P. - Danube River near Belgrade.
- 03.00 D. + 01 D. - View of Split Harbor.
- 04.00 D. + 01 D. - Zagreb Cathedral.
- 05.00 D. + 01 D. - Crown Prince Peter.
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Charity Stamps of 1921-1932
