On June 22, 1943, a year before the Allied landing in Normandy, the U.S. Post office issued the first of a set of 13 stamps, called the Overrun Countries Issue (Scott 909-921). Each of the 13 stamps shows the national flag of a sovereign nation, which was overrun and occupied by a member of the Axis (Germany, Italy, Japan).

Each of the stamps also depicts a Phoenix, the mythological bird whose meaning is renewal of life, as well as a female figure breaking the shackles of oppression. The stamps were issued as a reminder to Americans of the countries and peoples who were enslaved, and America’s determination to liberate them.

For the first time since 1893, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing contracted with a private firm, the American Bank Note Company, so that the stamps could be printed in color. The frames of each of the stamps were printed in a slate violet.

Few commemoratives were issued during the war years; in fact, the Overrun Countries is the only set issued between the 1940 Famous Americans series and the 1945-1946 Franklin Roosevelt series. Other wartime stamps included: 1942 Win The War Victory Eagle. This light violet stamp was issued following Pearl Harbor, and replaced the 3-cent National Defense Stamp. The Eagle symbolized the nation’s war effort and its goal of victory. The 1942 Chinese Commemorative issue honored five years of Chinese resistance to Japanese aggression. This stamp pictured Abraham Lincoln and Sun Yat-sen, founder of the Chinese Republic. Lincoln’s words "of the people, by the people, for the people are printed on this stamp. The 1943 Allied National Issue commemorated the unity of the nations of the free world. The 1943 Four Freedoms symbolized the principles laid out by President Roosevelt of freedom of speech and expression, freedom of worship, freedom from want and freedom from fear.

The 1943-1944 Overrun Countries (CM 251-263/Scott 909-921), set contains:

(S909) Flag of Poland, slate violet, scarlet, black (June 22, 1943)

(S910) Flag of Czechoslovakia, slate violet, blue, scarlet,black (July 12, 1943)

(S911) Flag of Norway, slate violet, rose red, ultramarine, black (July 27, 1943)

(S912) Flag of Luxembourg, slate violet, rose red, light blue, black (August 10, 1943)

(S913) Flag of Netherlands, slate violet, blue, black (August 24, 1943)

(S914) Flag of Belgium, state violet, greenish yellow and black (Sept. 14, 1943)

(S915) Flag of France, slate violet, blue, red, black (Sept. 28, 1943)

(S916) Flag of Greece, slate violet, pale light blue, black (Oct. 12, 1943)

(S917) Flag of Yugoslavia, slate violet, blue, rose red, black (Oct. 26, 1943)

(S918) Flag of Albania, slate violet, red, black (Nov. 9, 1943)

(S919) Flag of Austria, slate violet, red, black Nov. 23, 1943)

(S920) Flag of Denmark, slate violet, scarlet, black (Nov. 23, 1943)

(S921) Flag of Korean, slate violet, bright blue, gray (Nov. 2, 1944)

1943-44 Complete set of 13 minute NH sheets of 50. Very fine, $185.

Mint, never hinged blocks of four:

Poland, $7.25

Czechoslovakia, 4.00

Norway, 1.75

Luxembourg 1.75

Netherlands 1.75

France 1.75

Greece 15.00

Yugoslavia 8.00

Albania 8.00

Austria 5.25

Denmark 6.25

Korean 5.25

Nancy Hendrickson is a freelance writer living in San Diego. She has been a long-time collector of space, science and memorabilia of the frontier West. She is the co-author of two books for amateur astronomers and writes on collectibles and genealogy. Nancy Hendrickson's Web Site.