Croatia, 50 Different Stamps

From the Adriatic to Independence —
50 Different Stamps
from One of Europe's Newest
and Most Historic Nations

Croatia's story is one of the most dramatic in modern Europe. For most of the 20th century, its postal identity was submerged within Yugoslavia. Then, in September 1991, as the country declared independence and a war for survival was already underway, Croatia issued its first postage stamp — the red and white šahovnica checkerboard coat of arms that has symbolized Croatian identity for centuries. Everything in this packet of 50 flows from that moment: a young nation asserting itself on the world stage, one stamp at a time.

The stamps of independent Croatia reflect a country proud of its history, its Adriatic coastline, its cultural heritage, and its people. You'll find the šahovnica on definitives and commemoratives alike — a symbol so central to Croatian identity that it appears on the flag, the coat of arms, and the stamps from the very first day of independence.

Selections will vary, but here are some stamps and topics you may find in your packet:

• Coat of arms definitives (Republika Hrvatska) — the red and white checkerboard šahovnica, Croatia's defining national symbol, which has appeared on Croatian stamps since the first issue of September 9, 1991. These definitives are the foundation of any Croatian collection.
• Šibenik (50) — Cathedral of St. James — a stamp depicting one of the great architectural achievements of the Renaissance, built entirely of stone between 1431 and 1535 on the Dalmatian coast. The cathedral's dome was damaged during the Croatian War of Independence — and later restored — making this stamp both an artistic and historical document. The Cathedral of St. James was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.
• Knin — fortress or landscape — Knin, a city in the Dalmatian hinterland, carries deep significance in Croatian history. Its medieval fortress overlooking the surrounding landscape was a focal point during the War of Independence, and stamps featuring Knin connect directly to the national story.
• Hrvatski Crveni Križ (Croatian Red Cross) semi-postal stamps — Croatia issued a consistent series of Red Cross charity stamps throughout the 1990s and 2000s, required surtax issues that supported humanitarian work during and after the war. These semi-postals are a distinctive feature of the modern Croatian catalog.
• Tjedan borbe protiv tuberkuloze (Tuberculosis Week) stamps — another series of Croatian charity semi-postals, issued annually to support the fight against tuberculosis. Along with the Red Cross issues, these stamps reflect Croatia's tradition of using its postal system to advance public health causes.
• Olympic Games commemorative — Croatia has participated in the Summer and Winter Olympics as an independent nation since 1992, and its stamps have celebrated that participation with colorful commemoratives featuring the Olympic rings.

Fifty stamps from a country that reestablished its postal sovereignty within living memory — and has been telling its story in stamps ever since. Every packet is different — order today and see what you get.