919 MNH 1943 5c Overrun Countries Austria World War II Austro-Hungarian Empire

Description: THIS IS A LISTING FOR ONE MINT NEVER HINGED SINGLE: THE ABOVE IMAGE(S) ARE OF THE ACTUAL STAMP(S) YOU WILL RECEIVE IF YOU ARE THE WINNING BIDDER Please peruse my other philatelic materials available for your collection! Shipping & Handling: $1 for U.S.; $2.00 for InternationalAdditional items paid by the same transaction ship at no additional cost.Please pay for items within 7 days.Any items left unpaid after 11 days will be handled automatically by eBay according to their unpaid item policy.U.S. #919 5¢ Flag of Austria Overrun Countries Series Issue Date: November 23, 1943 City: Washington, D.C. Quantity: 14,999,646 Printed by: American Bank Note Company Printing Method: Flat-Plate Perforations: 12 Color: Blue violet, red, and black U.S. #919 is part of the Overrun Countries Series, which honors each of the nations invaded by Axis powers during World War II. It pictures the flag of Austria, which features two red horizontal bands with a white band in between. It is one of the oldest national flag designs in the world. According to legend, Duke Leopold V invented the flag design during the Crusades. Following a battle, his white clothes were drenched in blood, but when he removed his belt the white cloth underneath was still clean. Austria HistoryAustria has been inhabited since prehistoric times, originally settled by the Celts. Later it was invaded regularly, first by the Romans, then by Vandals, Goths, Huns and others. The Austro-Hungarian Empire lasted from 1867 until it was destroyed during World War I. The final invasion was Hitler in 1938. (The Rogers and Hammerstein hit musical “The Sound of Music” takes place in the Austrian Alps during Hitler’s Anschluss.) The Allied Forces liberated Austria in 1945. Full independence was re-established in 1955. These Stamps Brought Hope to Overrun Countries of WW IIAfter 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. 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.

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Location: Mandeville, Louisiana

End Time: 2024-12-17T21:36:53.000Z

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