Help On Greek Postal Tax Stamps

During 1917 and '18, Greece issued postal tax stamps. Does anyone know the details of these stamps? I'm particularly interested in the following:

1. What circumstances required their usage - all letters, or just a subset?
2. What was the time period of required use?
3. What was the tax intended to support?

I want this for stamps RA3-RA46: 1901 Hermes Overprint, 1912 Eagle of Zeus Overprint, 1912 Cross of Constantine Overprint, 1913 Victory Revenue Overprint, 1918 Wounded Soldier and Overprint.

For 1917- when 41 postal tax stamps were issued- the National Schism.
Cause was which side would Greece support in WWI.
The King Constatine had pro German sympathies, and wanted to remain neutral.
Prime Minister Venizelos believed Greek best interests were on the side of the Allies.
A schism developed among the Greeks,almost a civil war.
During the schism the Athens government ordered the surcharge and new values be applied to Flying Mercury, Campaign and revenue stamps. At first the charges applied to the parts of the country they controlled, right after the schism ended to all parts of the country. The schism ended with the abdication of the King, and his son Prince Alexander elevated to the throne in June, 1917. But Venizelos got his way and Greece supported the Allies. The schism left a bitter taste between Greeks for decades.

So kflowers, this only gives you a general overview of the 1917 situation when many of the postal tax stamps were issued. Sorry I can't be more specific. :-)

Jim Jackson

As per the Hellas (Karamitsos) catalogue:

"During the period of the National Schism, the government of Athens imposed a special charity surcharge" (social welfare = KOINÙNIKH ÐÑÏÍÏÉÁ = K.Ð) "on all financial activities, posts being no exception, as of April 1st, 1917. The supplementary rates were fixed at 1,5,10 and 30 lepta, hence the surcharges on a series of postage stamps of the 1901 Flying Mercury set, on 3 values of the "Campaign" set printed in 1913-1914 and on a number of revenue stamps inscribed with "ÅËËÇÍÉÊÇ ÄÉÏÉÊÇÓÉÓ" [Hellenic Administration]".

These are Scott RA3-RA44.

"When the unity of the state was restored (June 1917), the measure was extended to the remaining parts of the country....Since 7.9.1917 (Sept.7th), when the charity surcharge was discontinued, until 18.10.1917 (Oct.18th), when the decree that took care of the exhange of charity with regular stamps was issued, the "Ê.Ð" surcharged stamps were valid for payment of the basic postal rates."

RA45 - 5 lepta charity stamp in favor of the Red Cross for the care of wounded and invalid soldiers.

RA46 - 5 lepta charity stamp in favor of the Patriotic Protection Foundation (initials in Greek: Ð.É.Ð) for the care of wounded and invalid soldiers.

Unfortunately, I have no information regarding their actual use, particularly the surcharge rates applying to postal documents.

Thank you Jkjblue and vasia. I was aware of the schism, but hadn't realized it was fundamentally over how to enter the war, nor that the King favored the central forces.

I have the Provisional Government declaring war on November 24, 1916 and the Monarchy on June 2, 1917. The June date is just after reunification.

Best I can tell, the RA3-44 issues occurred during the war and the schism, but not directly related to either of the events. It does seem like war era covers should contain both a postage stamp and a tax stamp. The RA45-46 issues probably covered not only WWI soldiers, but also the Balkin wars.

For what it is worth, the provisional government also issued stamps listed as Scott 249-259.