ISCNY: Ionian Islands Tribute: Exploring Greece’s 1939 Commemorative Stamp Set

Allan Smith adds a postscript to his Ionian Islands presentation, focusing on the striking 1939 Greek stamps (Scott Catalog 416-420) that celebrate the islands’ union with Greece 75 years earlier. These five stamps showcase symbols of the seven major Ionian Islands, including Corfu, Zakynthos, and Ithaca, and feature mythological and historical references, like Poseidon’s trident and what may be an image of Odysseus. Allan discusses the unique design elements, including the different forms of the Greek letter sigma, and explains the set’s historical significance. The stamps also pay homage to King George I, whose accession to the Greek throne marked the British gifting of the Ionian Islands to Greece.

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