........ THE LAND OF THE EAGLE Pre-Great War Issues of Albania By W. THOUGH the last of the Balkan States to secure modern independence, actually SHKYIPERIA (as the Albanian calls his country; literally "The Land of the Eagle," the people being "Shkyipetars"—"sons of an eagle") while nominally at times under both Turkey and Austria respectively, has deemed herself merely "allied." Her men were never conscripted, but during the suzerainty of Turkey a special corps was recruited. However, Albania was the last of the original Balkan States to enter our philatelic pages after the Turko collapse of 1912-13. The ascendancy of Austria in the Adriatic Balkans, as we know, resulted in the short lived Principality under Prince William of Wied, in 1914. As the stamps in use up to then are fast disappearing from the market, some details of their issue and status may prove of interest. Until 1913, with the exception of the Italian stamps "Estero" and special issues for Austrian and Italian Consulates in Albania, the stamps used in both North and South Albania were the concurrent Turkish issues, with a special Greek Consulate post from Berat, etc., but unoverprinted stamps. The first independent Albanian issue was made May 5th, 1913, in the shape of a prepaid handstamped cover of 1 Grosh or Piastre, bearing the words "MINISTERIA e POST. TELEG e TELEFONEVET” round the Arms of the Albanian Eagle, in black. This was in use until June 30th of the same year, when another stamped cover superseded it, bearing the words "POSTAT e QEVERRIES se PERKOHESHME" in a circle round the words in one line "të SHQIPENIES." These were also imprinted in black, of 1 Grosh or Piastre, and remained in use until October. Strangely almost identical quantities were printed of each envelope, 2443 of the first issue, and 2433 of the second. On June 16th, 1913, the remaining stocks of the Turkish stamps were overprinted with the double-headed eagle over the word "SHQIPENIA" (another rendering of "Shkyiperia"). It would perhaps be Included in the figures of the 10, 200, I and 2 Piastres overprinted, were a quantity of the same issue bearing the Turkish 20% (Behié) character. A number (1,440) of the 20 paras stamp was surcharged "10" for 10 paras, but these were only on sale at Valona, the other stamps of course being distributed to the then 15 Albanian post offices, as also were a supply of the Turkish 2 paras on 5 paras newspaper provisionals, and 347 of the Piastre black on rose postage due stamp of 1908. On the 25th of October, 1913, owing to the delay of delivery of the permanent issue, and until an emergency issue could be prepared, the circular "Postat e Qeverries së Perkoheshme" stamp was again brought into use, and imprinted with the handstamp used for the Turkish stamps, and with the value typewritten across the stamp-the issue being: pendence of Albania as a self-autonomous state, a rough metal stamp was prepared at Valona, in which the eagle was again added, together with the value from metal handstamps, the issue being perforated. I might add that all sorts of "funny" things were done with this issue, and I have seen the stamps on pieces with the eagle and value protruding off the stamp on to the paper! However the stamps were authorised for postage from November 28th to December 29th, 1913, so at least some did bonafide postal duty. Trials are known in the following colours of the body of the stamp-10 paras red, 30 paras blue, I Grosh green, 2 Grosh and 3 Grosh violet-the regular stamps being (all perforated): IO Paras, green, arms and value in black, 40,317 issued of which 100 are known without value. 20 Paras, red, ditto, 39,339 issued. On the 1st of December, the permanent issue bearing the head of the great George Kastriot, better known as Prince Skenderbeg, was issued and remained in use until June 25th, 1915. It is interesting to note that Prince Skenderbeg (not "berg") was born in 1403, son of the Lord of Kastoria; as a youth fell into the hands of the Turks, and was trained in the Turkish Army. Showing great ability, he was given the name and title of Iskender Bey, and given command of the Albanian Legion. Inspired by the Hungarian Hunyades, he deserted the Turkish Forces, most of whom he had massacred in true Balkan fashion, and changed his name to the Albanian equivalent, proclaiming himself the Champion of Christendom and Prince of the free Albanias, in 1443. Two Turkish Sultans tried to destroy him, but he remained invincible until 1467, when he died of fever. After his death, without leader, the country reverted to the condition in which it remained for 450 years— a continental Corsica, though accredited the finest and cleanest of the Balkan races. a The new issue, printed at the Italian Government works at Turin was a handsome production, showing George Kastriot on a medallion, and it is a pity that they were spoilt with the overprint of March The whole of the series was overprinted with the Albanian language for the equivalent in Turkish currency, and brought into concurrent use on April 2nd, 1914. On the outbreak of the Great War, the Albanians joined issue with the Servians, and with the flight of the Prince of Wied, a Provisional Government was set up, and was the occasion of a large label being issued bearing the words "Commission-de Controie-Provisoire - Korca" (the latter being the name of the town, Koritza or Korché where it was issued)—printed in violet, it had the value of "25 PARA 25" handstamped in red across the face-the quantity of issue is unknown. From that time until 1920 many doubtful and questionable provisionals made their appear ance. |