Faroese Postal History
 

Faroese mail during and shortly after
the 1940-41 Provisionals Period



Stamp reference numbers are as follows;
DK (Danish Postal Administration Period) - DAKA GF 10 · 2017 Edition
FO (Faroese Postal Administration Period) - DAKA GF 10 · 2017 Edition
SG - Stanley Gibbons, Denmark and Norway · 2018

Simplified Table of Minimum Rates
Letter Rates
Postcard Rates
Date
Local
Inland
Local
Inland
To 09.07.1940
10 øre 15 øre 7 øre 10 øre
10.07.1940
10 øre 20øre 7 øre 15 øre
01.07.1946
15 øre 20 øre 10 øre 15 øre


German forces occupied Denmark on 9th April 1940, followed by the British occupying the Faroe Islands on 13th April 1940. The supply of postage stamps to the Islands were often problematic from this time onwards up until May 1945, due to the Faroes and Denmark being occupied by opposing forces.



LERVIG
datestamp No. 24.02
Type Uds
+
THORSHAVN
Receipt datestamp
dated 29.05.1940.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a 15 øre Caravel, scarlet (SG277b)

Sent shortly before the rise in postal rates in July 1940 which saw an increase in the Inland letter rate from 15 ore to 20 øre, a rate rise that was critical to the need for 
the provisional stamps that followed. The Inland letter rate of 15 øre applied from 01.01.1927 until 09.07.1940.



New, increased, postage rates were introduced in the Faroe Islands on 10th July 1940

Non-provisional Frankings (Jul 1940-Nov 1940)


LERVIG
datestamp No. 24.02
Type Uds
+
THORSHAVN
Receipt datestamp
dated 14.08.1940.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a pair of 10 øre Numeral, bright violet stamps (SG271c).

Sent shortly after the rise in postal rates in July 1940 which saw an increase in the Inland letter rate from 15 ore to 20 øre, a rate rise that was critical to the need for 
the provisional stamps that followed.

The Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950.





KLAKSVIG
dated 28.9.40

The stamp is a 20 øre Caravel, grey (SG 278a)

Datestamp No. 03.05
Type Bro IIc

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950. So, being used in September 1940, this was just over a month before the introduction of the first provisional stamps.

At the Thorshavn post office the existing stocks of Grey 20 ore stamps lasted just 4 days. This example of the stamp was used in Klaksvig, and possibly franked an inland letter.



THORSHAVN
dated 10.10.1940

Franked with a pair of 10 øre Numeral, bright violet stamps (SG271c).

Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950 so these two 10 øre stamps made up this new 20 øre rate. Being used in October, this was just a month before the introduction of the provisional stamps.



LERVIG
datestamp No. 24.02
Type Uds
+
THORSHAVN
Receipt datestamp
dated 8.11.1940.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a 5 øre Numeral, maroon (SG268c) and a 15 øre Caravel, scarlet, (SG277b).

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950 so these stamps were used to make up the new 20 øre rate. Sent just a few days after the first provisional stamp (20 on 15 øre) was issued this will likely have been one of the latest usages of this combination.



Provisional Stamp Issues

As new denominations had not yet been delivered since the increased postage rates were applied the Faroes postal officials authorised (without authority from the postal authorities in Denmark) the local production of provisional stamps that could be used to meet the new rates. Those definitive issues that were available in reasonable quantities on the Islands were overprinted creating five different provisional stamps to cover the new rates (First Printing). The first provisional stamp was the 20 øre overprint on the red 15 øre Caravel stamp, issued on 2nd November 1940.




MIDVAAG
datestamp No. 08.02
Type Uds
+
THORSHAVN
Receipt datestamp
dated 16.1.1941.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a
First Printing (02.11.1940) 20 øre on 15 øre Caravel, scarlet, overprinted in black (DK6).

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950.



SAND
datestamp No. 09.02
Type UDS
+
THORSHAVN
Receipt datestamp
dated 19.12.1940.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a
First Printing (06.12.1940) 50 øre on 5 øre Wavy-lines, wine-red, overprinted in black (DK7).
 
Used on a parcel card.
Possibly on a Local (to 5kg) or Inland (to 1kg) packet. These rates applied from 10.07.1940 until 30.06.1946.



First Printing 60 øre on 6 øre Wavy-lines, orange, overprinted in black, (21.12.1940) (DK8).


        


The supply of 500 sheets of the new 20 øre red Carvel stamps from Denmark in November and December 1940 were initially only in small quantities and were not immediately put to general use but were made availaable to collectors for FDCs. There is then no recorded useage until the stamp was put into general release in mid February 1941, when supplies of the original 20 øre on 15 øre overprint (see above) were running short, but they only lasted until the end of March 1941.

THORSHAVN
dated 06.03.1941

Franked with the new 20 øre, red, Carvel stamp. SG278b.

Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

The Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950.

The letter was sent to the grocery store in Kvivig by the Thorshavn Milk and Margarine company and contains three matching invoices.

Although recipients kept envelopes with the 'special' overprinted stamps, this envelope is a rarely seen surviving example of an inland rate letter usage of the stamp from the November/December 1940 stamp supply.










Further Provisional Stamps - First Printing


VESTMANNA
Datestamp No. 11.02
Type UDS
+
THORSHAVN
Receipt datestamp
dated 25.3.1941.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a
First Issue (17.03.1941) 20 øre on 5 øre Wavy-lines, wine-red, overprinted in blue (DK5).

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950.



THORSHAVN
dated 15.5.41

Franked with a
First Printing (02.05.1941) 20 øre on 1 øre Wavy-lines, greenish black, overprinted in blue (DK4).

Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950.





Surface Route open from Faroes to Denmark - 16th April 1941 until 1st June 1941

A surface route via England, Lisbon and then either Sweden, Berlin or Frankfurt to Denmark was temporarily open between these dates. Mail was censored in the UK by the Britiah and then in Munich or Copenhagen (with Danish closure tapes) by German authorites. After the route was again closed it was only possible to send mail via Red Cross letters or undercover channels.


SAND
datestamp No. 09.02
Type Uds
+
THORSHAVN
Receipt datestamp
dated 06.05.1941.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a
First Issue (17.03.1941) 20 øre on 5 øre Wavy-lines, wine-red, overprinted in blue (DK5).

The Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950.

Addressed to Copenhagen and carried on the short-lived reopened surface route between Faroes and Denmark (see page 230 of GF10-2017 edition). British PC 90 censor tape and Danish reclosure tape have been applied.







Provisional Handstamps


Postal authorities had FRANCO BETALT ("postage paid") handstamps produced in a further attempt to overcome the stamp shortages. Four sets of 5, 10 and 20 øre values were produced with the intent being to provide one set to each of the post offices in Thorshavn, Klaksvig, Trangisvaag and Vaag (Danish names).

The overwhelming use of these handstamps was in THORSHAVN although postal records indicate that there was also some usage in KLAKSVIG and VAAG. There was no recorded usage in TRANGISVAAG.

FRANCO BETALT
5 øre


FRANCO BETALT
10 øre
+
THORSHAVN
datestamp No. 01.07
dated 28.05.1941

Introduced on 10.5.1941
(DK14)

Local letter as the Local Letter rate of 10 øre applied from 01.03.1921 until 30.06.1946.



FRANCO BETALT
20 øre
+
THORSHAVN
datestamp No. 01.07
dated 17.05.1941

Introduced on 10.5.1941
(DK15)

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950.





Subsequently non-denominational handstamps were produced by drilling out the values from two of the 5 øre handstamps using a Thorshavn dentist's drill (probably those intended for Trangisvaag and Vaag as these are not know to have been used). This grinding out of the centre resulted in faint inky blobs being created in the centre (particularly with the one for Thorshavn).

FRANCO BETALT no denomination
+
THORSHAVN
datestamp No. 01.07
dated 4.6.1941

Introduced on 10th May 1941 this handstamp (DK16) showed no denomination but the postage paid was applied in manuscript (90 øre in this instance).

This handstamp was often used on C.O.D. documents, accompanying letters or parcels sent cash-on-delivery. Probably posted at Thorshavn on 4th June 1941.





Provisional Stamp Issues - 2nd Printing

As there were still shortages of some frequently used denominations the decision was made to print further supplies of some of the Provisional issues. This second printing involved three stamps 20 øre on 1 øre, 50 øre on 5 øre, and 60 øre on 6 øre.
 

THORSHAVN
Dated 16.07.1941.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

receipt cancel for TRANSIGVAAG on 19.07.1941
Datestamp No. 02.06
Type Bro IIc

Franked with a 20 øre on 1øre Wavy-lines, greenish black, overprinted in black, from the Second Printing (28.05.1941) (DK9) and a 6 øre Wavey-lines, orange sold as a 5 øre

Clip from a postal note at the 25 øre rate (0-25kr) which was applicable during the period 01.01.1921 to 30.06.1952.





KLAKSVIG
Dated 03.07.1941.
Datestamp No. 03.05A
Type Bro IIc

Receipt cancellations for
THORSHAVN
dated 04.07.1941
Datestamp No. 07.01
Type IIIc

Collected on 05.06.1941

Franked with a 50 øre on 5 øre Wavy-lines, wine-red, overprinted in black, from the Second Printing (26.05.1941) (DK10) and a 10 øre, bright violet, Wavey-lines stamp (SG271c). There is also a 5 øre Gerber stamp applied at the time of posting.


Clip from a parcel card sent at the 60 øre rate (1-3Kg) which was applicable during the period 10.07.1940 to 30.06.1946.

 

THORSHAVN
dated 12.06.1941

60 øre on 6 øre Wavy-lines, orange, overprinted in black, Second Printing (26.05.1941) (DK11).

This clip is from an ‘Indkassserings’ postal form, or a money collection and transmission form i.e. used to collect payments for bills etc. The form is a brown emergency form, printed either in the Faroes (or possibly the UK). Although stamps were resupplied in Nov/Dec 1940, June/Sept 1941, and then continually throughout the war, the same was not true of the postal forms.

So its postmarked when the request goes out (here from Thorshavn)

Til Frimærker - For Stamps
The 60 øre on 6 øre stamp franked with the THORSHAVN Circle cancel (01.07) dated 12.6.41,
Datestamp No. 07.01
Type Bro IIIc

Indbetalingsposthusets Ankomststempel
Post Office Arrival datestamp - KLAKSVIG  dated 13(or 23).6.41
Datestamp No. 03.05A
Type Bro IIc

Indbetalingsposthusets Afgangsstempel
Post Office Departure date stamp - KLAKSVIG dated  23.6.41(when it left the Post Office, usually after money paid or sometimes returned unpaid)
Datestamp No. 03.Sær.01
Type Bro VIIc


Udbetalingpost husets stempel
Payment (or Disbursement) Post Office datestamp  -  Two THORSHAVN Circle cancels dated 25.6.41 (when received back at the Post Office where the money can be collected from).
Datestamp No. (01.07)
Type Bro IIIc

 

THORSHAVN
Dated 25.06.1941.
Datestamp No. 01.07
Type Bro IIIc

Collected on 27.06.1941

Franked with 3 x 60 øre on 6 øre Wavy-lines, orange, overprinted in black, from the Second Printing (26.05.1941) (DK11) and a 3 x 6 øre Wavey-lines, orange sold as a 5 øre (DK12).

Clip from a COD parcel card sent at the 150 øre rate (8Kg) and COD 45 øre (25-100Kr) which were the applicable rates during the period 10.07.1940 to 30.06.1946.

 

Supplies of some denominations were now running very low and the 5 øre maroon Numeral stamps finally sold out in Torshavn on 26th May 1941. Therefore, on the same day, to continue availability of 5 øre stamps, 180 sheets of 6 øre orange Numerals were transferred to be sold as 5 øre stamps. This practice continued until 8 September 1941 when new supplies of the 5 øre stamps were received.


THORSHAVN
Dated 26.05.1941
Datestamp No. 07.01
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with a 4 x 5 øre Numeral, maroon (SG268c).

Sent on the last date that these stamps were available in Thorshavn and can therefore be classed as extremely rare.

The Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950



THORSHAVN
Dated 03.07.1941
Datestamp No. 07.01
Type Bro IIIc

Franked with 4 x 6 øre sold as 5 ore Numeral, orange (DK11). which were sold between 26.05.1941 and 08.09.1941 and are very rarely found in this combination.

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950




The new red 20 øre Caravel stamp only became widely available when 3000 sheets arrived from Denmark on 5th June 1941.


THORSHAVN
dated 28.6.1941.

Franked with a (recently delivered) 20 øre Caravel, scarlet (SG 278b).

Special (klipfisk) datestamp No. 01.Sær.01
Type BroVIIc

Inland letter rate of 20 øre applied from 10.07.1940 until 31.05.1950

Sent by Thorshavn’s Milk and Margarine company (one time owner of Ruth).
The envelope contains two bills dated 24th June.

An early cover franked with the re-supplied stamp posted in the same month as the stamps were re-supplied.









Following the general re-supply of stamps during September 1941 regular supplies of new stamps became available, although often at a later date than their release in Denmark, and no further major shortages were experienced.


THORSHAVN
dated 21.03.1942

Franked with a 75
øre
King Christian X stamp (SG 283b).

Datestamp 01.07
Type Bro IId

Registered letter, probably Philatelic as it has been overfranked. Thorshavn No. 498 Registration Label.

This is a Philatelic FDC of the 75 øre stamp which was first issued in Denmark on 03 June 19421 but due to wartime delays the stamp was only released in the Faroes on 21 March 1943, This is a significant delay from the date of issue in Denmark to its receipt and subsequent release in the Faroes.





THORSHAVN
dated -2.11.1942

Franked with 20 øre, scarlet, and 10 øre, violet, King Christian X stamps.
(SG 329 and SG 327 respectively)

Special (klipfisk) datestamp No. 01.Sær.01
Type BroVIIc

This Philatelic cover also has a four-line handstamp in red 'Forstedags Kuvert / Ersttag-Brief / First day cover / Le jour d'emission’
showing that these stamps were used on the first day of issue in the Faroes (2.11.1942), although they had been issued in Denmark on 26.9.1942.

A good example of the delay in the delivery of new stamp issues to the Faroe Islands.



THORSHAVN
dated 10.02.1943

Franked with a 10 øre stamp from the 1942 Tercentenary of the Round Tower issue (SG 336).

Special (klipfisk) datestamp No. 01.Sær.01
Type BroVIIc

Sent locally within Thorshavn at the 10 øre (50g) local letter rate which applied from 01.03.1921 until 30.06.1946.

Faroe FDC of the Round Tower stamp. This stamp was first issued in Denmark on 27 November 1942, but due to wartime delays the stamp was only received in the Faroe Islands in February 1943, with Faroe first day of issue on 10 Feb 1943.





THORSHAVN
dated 15.5.1943

Franked with a 30 øre King Christian X, orange, SG331.

Datestamp No. 01.08
Type Bro IIc-1

This is a Philatelic FDC for the 30 øre ore stamp which was initially issued in Denmark on 5 January 1943. As with many other stamps issued during the WWII period the stamp was supplied to the Faroes at a later date. First usage in the Faroes was 15th May 1943.

A further example of the wartime impact on postal supplies.



Airmail Route from Denmark to Faroes reopened (Feb 1942-Aug 1943)

An airmail route, via New York, reopened on 7 Feb 1942. British censorship often occurred in transit in Bermuda instead of the UK during this period.


KØBENHAVN
27.02.1942

An Air Mail letter sent from Copenhagen to Sand routed via New York. Correctly franked at 100 øre - 20 øre letter rate plus 80 øre airmail surcharge for up to 5gms.

German censorship cachets and tape and British tape.

This cover probably had its British censorship in Bermuda, and not the UK, even though there is no IC marking on the censor strip. There are records relating to mail sent during this period indicating that Censor 7246 was in Bermuda.







Military Mail

Three Army Field Post Offices (FPOs) handled almost all mail from British forces in the Faroe Islands. Most but not all such mail was addressed to Great Britain.



On Active Service cover sent 21 AU 41

Datestamp: FPO 219
Tórshavn (Type 1 - violet ink)
Allocated on 3 May 1940 to APO 400. Used during the period 28.06.1940 to 29.03.1943.

Cover addressed to the Chief Ordnance Officer at the Central Ordnance depot in Shropshire, with a PASSED BY CENSOR (CROWN) No. 2149 handstamp. Also a boxed, RECEIVED FROM H.M.SHIPS machine cancel.




On Active Service cover sent 17 JY 42

Datestamp: FPO 611 Miðvágur/Vágar
Type I, with code letter A (without crossbar) used during the period 04.06.1942 - 23.07.1942.

Circular Army No. 5522 censor handstamp



On Active Service cover sent 13 SP 43

Datestamp: FPO 695


Circular Army No. 3007 censor handstamp





On Active Service cover, undated.

LONDON GT. BRITAIN - OFFICIAL PAID - machine cancel and an RAF CENSOR 123 handstamp.

There is no dated FPO cancellation but this cover could have originated from the Faroe Islands as RAF 123 and RAF 163 censor handstamps were in use there.






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