VITALY GEYFMAN

WWII German Occupation of Lithuania. Town of Alsėdžiai Provisional Overprints

One Frame Exhibit

Description:

This exhibit explores the rare Alsėdžiai provisional overprints – a small-town wartime philatelic issue in use for a very brief period between July and August of 1941. Unlike large cities with printing presses, Alsėdžiai used a simple metal hand-stamp to mark a limited supply of Soviet stamps before German authorities banned their use. Because of wartime disruption and later destruction of politically risky materials, surviving genuine covers are extraordinarily scarce—only two complete envelopes and one cover-front are known today, all displayed here. Majority of items in this exhibit are either unique or one of very few known to exist, highlighting some of the most elusive and historically significant postal artifacts of World War II Lithuania.

The plan of the exhibit:

• First row (pages 2-4) – Overprint on definitive issue – stamps

• Second row (pages 5-8) – Overprint on definitive issue – covers

• Third row (pages 9-12) – Overprint on Unique issues (Agricultural Exhibit issue)

• Fourth row (pages 13-14) – Overprint on Unique issues (Soviet Commemorative issues)

• Fourth row (pages 14-15) – The EARLIEST and the LATEST known covers

• Fourth row (page 16) – Forgeries / Epilogue: German protectorate Ostland