OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
SERBIA

This page was last updated
25-Jul-2024 06:20

OFFICIAL DEUTSCHES REICH POSTCARDS USED IN SERBIA

After the Germans occupied Serbia from 18th Apr 1941 they set up a national post office which started operation on 11th May 1941. Initially they used existing Yugoslav postal stationery before their own items were made available on 2nd Jun 1941. Items used before 2nd Jun are refered to as 'vorlaufer' or forerunners, and after that postal items are referred to as 'mitläufer' or followers.

To determine if an item is a forerunner or a follower it is essential that the item has a clear date / location stamp.

MICHEL VP77
1941

VP77 features a headshot of King Peter II as a teenager looking forward. Text includes "Konigreich Jugoslavien" and "Poste Karta" with 5 lines of text including both cyrillic and Latin text (French). The card also features 5 dotted lines and is produced on a cream coloured card measuring 140 x 90 mm. The value stamp is 1 Din and the colour of the texts / stamp is green.

MICHEL VP78
1941

VP78 features a headshot of King Peter II as a teenager looking forward. Text includes "Konigreich Jugoslavien" and "Poste Karta" with 5 lines of text including both cyrillic and Latin text (French). The card also features 5 dotted lines and is produced on a cream coloured card measuring 140 x 90 mm. The value stamp is 2 Din and the colour of the texts / stamp is carmine red.

MICHEL VP85
1941

VP85 features a headshot of King Peter II now as a grown man looking to the left. Text includes "Konigreich Jugoslavien" and "Poste Karta" with 5 lines of text including both cyrillic and Latin text (French). The card also features 5 dotted lines and is produced on a cream coloured card measuring 140 x 90 mm. The value stamp is 1 and the colour of the texts / stamp is green.

MICHEL P1
KING PETER II WITH LAUREL and OAK LEAF BRANCH

The value stamp on this card features an older King Peter II looking to the left with an oak leaf and a laural either side of his portrait. The original card is catalogued as P85 in the Michel Serbia catalogue. After the increase in postal rates on 1st Apr 1942 this card was resold with a self-adgesive 0.50 Din stamp applied. Valid for use until 28th Feb 1943.

MICHEL P2
KING PETER II WITH LAUREL and OAK LEAF BRANCH

The value stamp on this card is the same as for P1 only now with a diagonal "SERBIEN' red overprint. The green guiloche on P1 has now been replaced by a red one. After the increase in postal rates on 1st Apr 1942 this card was resold with a self-adhesive 0.50 Din stamp applied. Valid for use until 28th Feb 1943.




Below with the additional 0.50 Din self-adhesive stamp applied.

MICHEL P3
KING PETER II WITH LAUREL and OAK LEAF BRANCH
ORIGINAL VALUE 1.0 Din

The value stamp on this card is the same as for P1 and P2 only now with a diagonal "SRBIJA' black overprint from the bottom-left to the top-right of the stamp. The 1.0 Din value has been obliterated with 5 small black lines and a 'D 1.5' overprint has been added. The guiloche is now purple and only covers the top three lines of text. Valid for use until 28th Feb 1943.

MICHEL P4
KING PETER II WITH LAUREL and OAK LEAF BRANCH
ORIGINAL VALUE 1.5 Din

The value stamp on this card is the same as for P1 and P2 only now with a diagonal "SRBIJA' black overprint from the bottom-left to the top-right of the stamp. The 1.50 Din value has been obliterated with 5 small black lines and a 'D 1.50' overprint has been added. The guiloche is now purple and only covers the top three lines of text. Valid for use until 28th Feb 1943.

MICHEL P5
PORTRAIT of PHILOSOPHER VUK KARADZIC

1st Jun 1943. Now only with Cyrillic lettering. Measures 140 x 90 mm. Value stamp currency 1.50 Din designation only in Serbian. P5 with double currency: cyrillic and Latin is likely a test print. After the postal increase on 1st Jun 1944 P5 was still used with either 0.40 or 0.50 stamp until new postcards were made available.

MICHEL P6
PORTRAIT of PHILOSOPHER VUK KARADZIC

Aug 1944. Postage increase, slightly changed value stamp with background dashes only on the right with Latin letters. Value 2 Din green on cream-coloured card.

MAIN REFERENCE SOURCES

1. MICHEL GANZSACHEN DEUTSCHLAND