WAR STAMPS
Among the most interesting stamps which figure in our collections are those which owe their origin to the stern necessities of war. Stamps which fall into this division are of two main classes: those needed for the use of troops fighting outside their own territory, and those called into being by the subjugation of the enemy's country.
The Great War of Europe, as the conflict of 1914-15 has been called, has naturally provided many additions to the list of war stamps.
1. Germany has overprinted its own labels with the word "Belgien," and these are of some rarity when in a used condition.
2. Many of the German colonial issues have been overprinted with words suggesting British or French occupation. We have, for instance, the Togo yacht stamps bearing the inscription "Anglo-French Occupation," and the Samoa yacht labels stamped with the letters "G.R.I."
Some Hapsburg Portraits 1 Karl VI 4 Franz Josef I in 1908 7 Ferdinand 2 Maria Theresa 5 Leopold II 8 Franz Josef in 1884 3 Joseph II 6 Franz I 9 Franz Josef in 1878
3. In cases where the German colonial issues have run short in the conquered settlements we find that labels of British or French origin have been pressed into service—for instance, New Zealand stamps have been overprinted for use in Samoa.
All these classes of war labels permit of many interesting varieties, but, whenever possible, used specimens should be preferred to those which have not passed through the post. We make this statement because certain belligerent countries endeavoured to replenish their exchequers by the sale, to philatelists, of uncancelled copies.