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Design: O. Antonini Perforation: L 11
Mandatory surcharge stamps for the “Week of the Croatian Red Cross” 1942.
During the “Week of the Croatian Red Cross” from October 4th to 10th, 1942, the additional use of a surcharge stamp of 1 kuna was mandatory for all domestic telegrams, postal checks, and payment cards. Likewise, a postal item had to be affixed with this mandatory surcharge stamp by the postal service if the item had not already been franked with a stamp from the “Week of the Red Cross” series (Mi. Nos. 86-90) according to the postage rate of the item. The corresponding fee was collected from the recipient.
Normal with and without pendant
This stamp was issued together with the charity stamps for the benefit of the Croatian Red Cross.
This stamp was printed in sheets of 24 stamps + one pendant in the middle of the sheet.
| Mi Z1 | 1 kn | 400,195 |
Perforations
Red cross on the cap
It is interesting that Antonini’s original design was with a red Cross on the nurse’s cap. But, when the first sheets were printed it became apparent that the red cross on the cap, when reduced in size, resembled a “red star.” Given the wartime situation and from a propaganda perspective, this visual effect was unacceptable.
The printing was halted, and the red cross was removed from the nurse’s cap in the printing plates. Therefore, the stamps actually issued to post offices do not feature a red cross on the cap. Only a small number of miniature sheets of the first printings with the red cross in the cap was produced. Individual stamps or even complete miniature sheets of the first printing are very rare on the collectors’ market and must be considered minor rarities.
Imperforated stamps also exist and also with a printed red cross on a nurse’s cap – but this one are really rare.
Red cross on the cap, perforated and imperforated
Color proofs
Minister albums
This stamp is placed in a Minister albums of Red Cross stamps from 1942 Mi 86-90 and it consist of a two color proofs, one color proof without imprinted red cross and one phase proof.