Independent State of Croatia: varieties of postage due stamps

 
For 1941 provisional issues of postage dues (stamps of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia with black overprint NEZAVISNA DRŽAVA HRVATSKA and coat of arms, click here.

12 November 1942. The first definitive issue of postage due stamps.

Designed by Oto Antonini, printed in ofset by Tipografija d. d. in Zagreb. Paper white, gumm white, perforation line 11 : 11½.
 

CONSTANT VARIETIES
1 kuna Field number
I Croatia, postage due plate error: White dot on letter T in HRVATSKA White dot on letter T in HRVATSKA. ?
II Croatia, psotage due plate error: Damaged letter S in NEZAVISNA Damaged letter S in NEZAVISNA. ?
III NDH Croatia, postage due error: White spot above letter R in DRŽAVA White spot above letter R in DRŽAVA. 50
IV Croatia, stamp error: White dot between letters R and V in HRVATSKA
Another example		 White dot between letters R and V in HRVATSKA. ?

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
0,50 kuna
1 croatia-postage-due-1-error-050-1 Damaged letter S in NEZAVISNA. ?
1 kuna
2 Croatia, stamp error: Thin line in letter H in HRVATSKA Thin line in letter H in HRVATSKA. ?
3 NDH Croatia, postage due error: White circle on top of the letter A in HRVATSKA White circle on top of the letter A in HRVATSKA. ?
4 Croatia, due stamp error: White dot next to numeral 1 in denomination on the right White dot next to numeral 1 in denomination on the right. ?
5 NDH Hrvatska, stamp: White line below letter K in KUNA White line below letter K in KUNA. ?
6 Croatia, postage dues: Damaged frame on the right Damaged frame on the right. ?
7 Croatia, postage due error: White dot above letter A in KUNA White dot above letter A in KUNA. ?
10 kuna
1 Croatia 1942 10 kuna postage due stamp error Thin line between letters A and T in HRVATSKA. ?

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
1 Perforation error: double perforation. Croatia 1942 postage due issue

 

1942. The second definitive issue.

Designed by Vladimir Kirin and printed in letterpress by Hrvatska državna tiskara in Zagreb, on a regular white paper with white gum. Press sheet consisted of 4 postal sheets, each having 100 stamps.

The stamps were in circulation until the whole stock was used.

How to differentiate between stamps of the second and the third issues:

2nd issue:

  • printed frame size is 24½ x 25 mm,
  • printed in letterpress

3rd issue:

  • printed frame size is 24 x 23½ mm,
  • printed in offset,
  • small horizontal lines, braking the frame on the left and on the right center side are usually visible.

The example shows the second issue on the left and the third issue with horizontal lines on the right side.

 

Denomination Date of issue Circulation Perforation
Imperforate line 10½ line 11½
0.50 kuna, blue and gray 24.8.1942 3.000.000 + – +
1 kuna, blue and gray 30.7.1942 4.000.000 + + +
2 kuna, blue and gray 30.7.1942 4.000.000 + + +
5 kuna, blue and gray 5.8.1942 500.000 + + +
10 kuna, blue and gray 5.8.1942 250.000 + + +
20 kuna, blue and gray 5.8.1942 100.000 + + +

 

Coincidental varieties
The following varieties in perforation appear on all values: imperforate, imperforate on one side, double perforated and blind perforations.

Constant varieties and types
In literature not all varieties were recorded. The possible constant varieties are presented in separate tables.

0,50 kuna, blue and gray

TYPES Field number
I Croatia, postage due plate error: Black dot on the second letter O in PORTO on the right Black dot on the second letter O in PORTO on the right. 42
II Croatia, postage due stamp plate error: Tiny dot in zero in denomination Tiny dot in zero in denomination. ?
III NDH postage due stamp plate error: Letter A in DRŽAVA damaged Letter A in DRŽAVA damaged. 87

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Small dot in zero in denomination (1). Croatia, postage dues: Small dot in zero in denomination.
2 Small dot in zero in denomination (2). Croatia, postage due stamp error
3 Thin line between letters T and O in PORTO. croatia-postage-due-2-050-1

 

1 kuna, blue and gray

TYPES Field number
I Croatia, postage due type, 1 kuna: Colored dot in the upper part of letter A in KUNA Colored dot in the upper part of letter “A” in “KUNA”. On all stamps in the 1.,3.,4.,7.,8. and 9. column.
II Croatia, postage due type, 1 kuna: Black dot in the second letter A in MARKA Black dot in the second letter “A” in “MARKA”. On all stamps in the 10th column.
III Croatia, postage due type, 1 kuna: The first letter A in HRVATSKA broken The first letter A in HRVATSKA broken. On all stamps in the 6th column.

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
A Offset. Offset Offset

 

2 kuna, blue and gray

TYPES Field number
I Dot on the left side of numeral 2 Dot on the left side of numeral 2. On all stamps in the 2nd column.
II Black dot on the left side of the second letter A in HRVATSKA Black dot on the left side of the second letter A in HRVATSKA. On all stamps in the 6th column.
III Black dot between letters H and R in HRVATSKA Black dot between letters H and R in HRVATSKA. On all stamps in the 7th column.
IV Comma signs on the letters T and S in HRVATSKA Comma signs on the letters T and S in HRVATSKA. On all stamps in the 10th column.

 

CONSTANT VARIETIES Field number
I NDH, Croatia, postage due plate error: Diacritical sign on letter Ž in DRŽAVA prolonged Diacritical sign on letter Ž in DRŽAVA prolonged. 87
II Broken inner frame of the oval frame on the left Croatia, postage due plate error: Broken inner frame of the oval frame on the left Broken inner frame of the oval frame on the left. ?
III NDH Hrvatska, postage due error: The second letter O in PORTO open below (Type IV stamp) Croatia, postage due plate error: The second letter O in PORTO open below (Type IV stamp) The second letter O in PORTO open below (Type IV stamp). ?
IV Croatia, 2 kune postage due plate error: Broken upper inner frame below letter T of HRVATSKA Croatia postage due stamp flaw 2 kune Broken upper inner frame below letter T of HRVATSKA. ?

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
A Small dot in numeral 2 on the left. Croatia, stamp: Small dot in numeral 2 on the left
B Thin line on the outer side of numeral 2. Croatia stamp: Thin line on the outer side of numeral 2
C Letter Ž in DRŽAVA broken. Croatian postage due stamp: Letter Ž in DRŽAVA broken
D Dark spot on the lower frame below the second letter A in MARKA. Croatia, stamp: Dark spot on the lower frame below the second letter A in MARKA
E Letter M in MARKA damaged on top (the second spike). Croatia stamp error: Letter M in MARKA damaged on top (the second spike)

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
A Offset. Offset

 

5 kuna, blue and gray

TYPES Field number
I Croatia postage due stamp type: Dot on the left side of numeral 2 Colored line between letters K and U in KUNA. On all stamps in the 1st column.
II Croatia, 5 kuna stamp type: Tiny dot in letter U in KUNA Tiny dot in letter U in KUNA. On all stamps in the 5th column.

 

CONSTANT VARIETIES Field number
I Croatia, stamp plate error: Colored dot between letters PORTO and MARKA Colored dot between letters PORTO and MARKA. 5

 

10 kuna, blue and gray

TYPES Field number
I Croatia, postage due type: Disconnected letters M and A in MARKA Disconnected letters M and A in MARKA. All stamps in the 2nd column
II Croatia, postage due type: Small dot on the left side of the letter K in KUNA Small dot on the left side of the letter K in KUNA. All stamps in the 3rd column
III Croatia, postage due type: Small dot above letter M in MARKA Small dot above letter M in MARKA. All stamps in the 4th column
IV Croatia 10 kuna postage due type: Dot between letters A and V in NEZAVISNA Dot between letters A and V in NEZAVISNA. All stamps in the 10th column

 

CONSTANT VARIETIES Field number
I Colored dot in the numeral zero Colored dot in the numeral zero. 60
II Dark line on the left side of the first letter A in HRVATSKA Dark line on the left side of the first letter Ain HRVATSKA. 97

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
3 Dark dot below letter A in MARKA. Croatia, stamp error: Dark dot below letter A in MARKA
4 Damaged second letter A in DRŽAVA and dark dot between letters H and R in HRVATSKA. Croatia, stamp error: Damaged second letter A in DRŽAVA and dark dot between letters H and R in HRVATSKA
5 Dark dot below the first letter A in NEZAVISNA. Croatia, stamp error: Dark dot below the first letter A in NEZAVISNA

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
A Offset. Offset

 

20 kuna, blue and gray

CONSTANT VARIETIES OR TYPES Field number
I Dots in letters D and V in DRŽAVA and R in MARKA Dots in letters D and V in DRŽAVA and R in MARKA Dots in letters D and V in DRŽAVA and R in MARKA. ?

 

1943/44. The third definitive issue.

Designed by Vladimir Kirin and printed in offset by Hrvatska državna tiskara in Zagreb, on a regular white paper with considerable oscillation in thickness. The gum is white. Postal sheets consists of 100 stamps.

The stamps were in circulation until the fall of the Independent State of Croatia. A part of the circulation was used after the war for Yugoslav provisional issue for Zagreb.

Denomination Date of issue Printed total Used for provisional issue
for Zagreb after the war		 Perforation
Imperforate line 11½ line 12½ line 12:10
0.50 kuna, blue and gray 14.3.1943 2.000.000 1.000.000 + – + +
1 kuna, blue and gray (1st run) 14.3.1943 4.000.000 1.000.000 + – + –
1 kuna, blue and gray (2nd run) ?.?.1943 3.000.000 + – + –
2 kuna, blue and gray 14.3.1943 2.000.000 1.000.000 + + – –
4 kuna, blue and gray 1.2.1944 2.000.000 – + – + –
5 kuna, blue and gray 19.5.1943 1.400.000 1.000.000 + + – –
6 kuna, blue and gray 18.11.1943 2.000.000 1.000.000 + + – –
10 kuna, ultramarine and indigo 7.9.1943 250.000 – + + – –
15 kuna, ultramarine and indigo 7.9.1943 250.000 – + + – –
20 kuna, ultramarine and indigo (1st run) 19.2.1944 100.000 – + + – –
20 kuna, ultramarine and indigo (2nd run) 24.6.1944 290.000 + + – –

 

The second run of the 20 kuna stamp took place after the protests of collectors and stamp dealers due to shortage of this stamp. Shortly after the first run was released a group of dealers bought almost the whole circulation and was then reselling the stamps for up to 100-times the nominal value (Ercegović, 1995: 429).

Coincidental varieties
The following varieties in perforation appear on all values: imperforate, imperforate on one side, double perforated and blind perforations.

Constant varieties and types
In literature not all varieties were recorded. The possible constant varieties are presented in separate tables.

0.50 kuna, blue and gray

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Disconnected letters R and K in MARKA. Croatia, postage stamp: Disconnected letters R and K in MARKA
2 Damaged last letter A in NEZAVISNA. Croatia, postage stamp: Damaged last letter A in NEZAVISNA

 

1 kuna, blue and gray

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Dark vertical line between letters R and V in HRVATSKA. Croatia, postage due: Dark vertical line between letters R and V in HRVATSKA

 

2 kuna, blue and gray

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Big black dot below letter A in HRVATSKA on the left side. Croatia, postage due error: Big black dot below letter A in HRVATSKA on the left side

 

4 kuna, blue and gray

TYPES Field number
I Horizontal line below letter K in KUNE Horizontal line below letter K in KUNE. On all stamps in the 5th column.

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Smudge above letter K in KUNE. Smudge above letter K in KUNE
2 Black dot in letter R in HRVATSKA and horizontal line above letter E in KUNE. Black dot in letter R in HRVATSKA and horizontal line above letter E in KUNE
3 Small dot on letter K in KUNA. Croatia, postage due error: Small dot on letter K in KUNA

 

5 kuna, blue and gray

TYPES Field number
I Croatia NDH, postage due type: Small dot on letter K in KUNA Croatia, postage due: Small dot on letter K in KUNA Small dot on letter K in KUNA. ?

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Black dot on the left from the letter S in HRVATSKA and a gray dot outside the frame on the right below. Black dot on the left from the letter S in HRVATSKA and a gray dot outside the frame on the right below
2 Dark dot below letter M in MARKA. Dark dot below letter M in MARKA

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
A Offset. Offset

 

6 kuna, blue and gray

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 First letter O in PORTO open the left. Croatia, 6 kuna postage due error: First letter O in PORTO open the left.

 

10 kuna, blue and indigo

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Colored circle inside numeral 0. Croatia, 10 kuna, postage due error: Black circle inside numeral 0
2 Colored dot inside numeral 0. Postage dues, Croatia: Black dot inside numeral 0
3 Colored dot in front of numeral 1. Croatia 10 kuna postage due stamp error

 

15 kuna, blue and indigo

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 White dot on numeral 1 to the center left. Croatia, postage due error: White dot on numeral 1 on the center left
2 Broken frame above the right ornamental column. Croatia, postage due stamp error: Broken frame above the right ornamental column Broken frame above the right ornamental column
3 Colored spot above letter N in KUNA. Croatia 15 kuna postage due error

 

20 kuna, blue and indigo

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 Dots below letter A in MARKA. Dots below letter A in MARKA
2 Broken ornament in center left. Broken ornament in center left
3 Dark dot on the right side of the numeral 0. Dark dot on the right side of the numeral 0
4 Dark line inside numeral 0. Dark line inside numeral 0
5 Black dot between letters Ž and A in DRŽAVA. Black dot between letters Ž and A in DRŽAVA

Bibliography

  1. Ercegović, Velimir (1995): HRVATSKA FILATELIJA – Od predfilatelije do maraka Republike Hrvatske, Agencija za komercijalnu djelatnost, Zagreb ISBN-13: 978-9539641915
  2. Katalog poštanskih maraka jugoslovenskih zemalja (1991), Jugomarka (Belgrade). YU ISSN 0351-4447