Start of Overrun Countries Series
On June 22, 1943, the first stamp in the Overrun Countries series, U.S. #909, was issued. These stamps were created to send a message of hope to war-torn residents of the overrun countries.
After receiving several designs from artists who felt the current U.S. postage stamps were unattractive, President Franklin Roosevelt began to consider the types of stamps he wanted to issue. He sought to show the world that America was in this war to achieve world peace, not military dominance. With this in mind, the President suggested the U.S. issue a series of stamps picturing the flags of all the overrun nations in Europe.
In the border surrounding each flag, Roosevelt suggested picturing the Phoenix – an ancient symbol of rebirth. He believed “It might tell those suffering victims in Europe that we are struggling for their own regeneration.” The other side of each flag pictured a kneeling woman “breaking the shackles of oppression.”
When the time came to print the stamps, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing was unable to print the multiple colors needed for each flag, so the American Bank Note Company received a special contract for this series. There are several errors, freaks, and oddities among the Overrun Countries stamps, including misregistrations, misshapen letters, and double impressions of the country names.
Additionally, a 5¢ denomination – the foreign rate for first class postage – was chosen so the stamps could be used on overseas mail. The stamps were printed in relatively small quantities and were in high demand as soon as they were issued, with stocks across the country running out almost as soon as they were released.
The first 12 stamps were issued throughout 1943. The final stamp, featuring the flag of Korea, was issued on November 2, 1944. There was a particularly interesting error of this stamp in which a plate flaw resulted in some of the stamps appearing to read “KORPA.”
Click here to buy individual Overrun Countries stamps and to learn about each of the countries they honor. And click here to order the complete set.
Click here to see what else happened on This Day in history.
An excellent, concise history describing how this series of stamps came to be. One wonders if these snapshots of history would ever have come to be if the US had had a president at that time who was not a philatelist!
Very interesting article about these stamps. I have found them very attractive but did not know their history. Thanks again for shedding more light on their origin
I believe the first sentence should read “created” not crested.
Very interesting information.
There is no word created or crested in the first sentence, the word created appears in the second sentence. I believe your comments should read I believe the first paragraph should read…,or, I believe the second sentence should read… Great article Mystic. I love these articles specifically about stamps. You should have Khoeft write the next article and we could pick him apart.
He should have said “Korpa was crested by mistake.”
These stamps were issued reminiscent of people of countries that were enslaved and America’s determination to liberate them.
I have owned and enjoyed this series for many years, and, although I understood the rationale and significance of the stamps, I did not know the background of FDR being involved. Very interesting article.
Very interesting to me personally, as this is the next series I’m going to be working on. I have a Netherlands mint, but I’m not actively working on the series yet.
If by some miracle you should see this Melissa, you can get pristine stamps in complete sets for less than $10. Go for it, they’re beautiful stamps and you only live once.