World War II was the most significant event of the 20th century. The U.S. Postal Service began planning for the war’s 50th anniversary in 1985. It wanted to honor the key events of the war effort as well as the various aspects of national endeavor that contributed to Allied victory. But how to do that without producing a thousand stamps?
The answer was a series of sheetlets, one for each year of the war, that consisted of a large center map framed by five stamps on the top and five on the bottom. Five years of commemorating World War II would yield five sheets, for a total of 50 stamps – enough for an honorable tribute and enough to accomplish Postal Service goals.
The world maps are masterpieces of thumbnail summaries. They call attention to the major military and political developments of the year and include events not featured on the individual stamps. Color coded for easy identification of friend and foe, they’re a year in summary at a glance. Click on any enlarged stamp (pictured beneath each sheet) to learn more about the stamp subject.
US #2559
1941: A World at War
Burma Road
First Peacetime Draft
Lend-Lease Act
Atlantic Charter
Arsenal of Democracy
Reuben James Sunk
Civil Defense
First Liberty Ship
Pearl Harbor
US Declares War
US #2697
1942: Into the Battle
B-52s Raid Tokyo
Rationing
Battle of Coral Sea
Corregidor Falls to Japanese
Aleutian Islands Invaded
Allies Decipher Enemy Codes
Yorktown Lost, Midway Won
Women Join War Effort
Marines at Guadacanal
Allies Land in North Africa
US #2765
1943: Turning the Tide
German U-boats
Medics Treat the Wounded
Sicily Attacked
B-24s Hit Refineries
V-Mail
Italy Invaded
Savings Bonds and Stamps
Willie & Joe
Gold Stars
Marines Assault Tarawa
US #2838
Road to Victory
Allies Retake New Guinea
B-17s on Bombing Raids
D-Day
Airborne Units
Submarines in Pacific
Rome and Paris Liberated
US Troops Clear Saipan
Red Ball Express
Battle for Leyte Gulf
Battle of the Bulge
US #2981
1945: Victory at Last
Iwo Jima
Manilla Freed
Battle of Okinawa
US and Soviets Meet at Elbe
Holocaust Survivors Liberated
Germany Surrenders
Plight of the Refugees
Japan Surrenders
Victory Celebrations
Returning Veterans Honored
By John N. Quinones July 1, 2015 - 6:43 pm
Simply put, Mystic continues to amaze me with their commitment to providing an accurate account of history through stamps. Thank-You for making my hobby so enjoyable. Q.
By Michael Shih December 19, 2015 - 10:11 pm
I have world war II stamps, and many other stamps I collected when I was a high
school student come from Taiwan, now I am old (66)
By Richard Spencer March 29, 2016 - 10:22 pm
I am very interested to learn more about WWll.
By herbert Mendelsohn September 3, 2017 - 9:38 am
I remember these events as I lived thru them and had friends and relatives that lived and perished during these times. These stamps brought back a lot of memories. I have collected stamps for over 80 years and have them from before the war, thru the war and after the war! Mystic does a great service to honor those who were impacted by the events. Their bring these stamps to the stamp collecting family after their passing time is wonderful.
By Jacquelyn Fay November 8, 2017 - 8:28 pm
Do you have this series of five for sale?
By MysticStamp November 9, 2017 - 5:27 am
https://www.mysticstamp.com/Products/United-States/2559_2981/USA/