Yugoslavia Tourism (city views) stamp series of 1971/1989
For the last few weeks my primary focus with stamps has been in soaking a batch of Yugoslav stamps and re-organizing my collection of that area. I confess that in the past I haven’t given much value the aesthetics of Yugoslavian stamps, mostly because my collection has been very limited. But now I think I’m starting to fall in love with these. One of my absolute favorites is the Tourism (or as Scott calls it City views) series issued from 1971 onwards.
1971/89 Yugoslavia - a close up shows how well these miniature masterpieces were made.
Initially the stamps in the series were printed as engraved, but in later years using offset lithography. Some of the early engraved values were re-printed in litho, so they exist in two types. To add challenge for the stamp collector, there are two different perforations for most litho values. And due to inflation and currency reforms, new values and overprints were issued frequently. So all in all this simple but attractive series provides with 115 items to collect. And I’m not even counting the paper type varieties.
Engraved stamps
A total of 18 different engraved stamps exists, all with comb perforation of 13¼. These are somewhat easy to identify as the engraving is very strong, and you can feel the printed shapes if you gently sweep the surface of stamp with your fingertip or tweezer (you can also try the foil trick I showed with Greek Hermes and Iris stamps).
1971/1989 Yugoslavia - Tourism series. Engraved values with the exception of 3 stamps/designs (0.50, 1.50 and 2.50D) that I'm missing.
Most values are known with with and without fluorescent bars. To make matters even complex, the issues of 1971 can be found up to 3 different paper types (with mix of with/without of fluorescent bars): regular paper, coated paper, and phosphoric paper.
Litho stamps
The litho stamps are easy to tell apart from engraved stamps as their surface feels absolutely smooth and flat.
All in all 32 face different stamps were printed using litho. However, most of these exist in two different perforations and total of collectible variations shoots up significantly. Perforation A (13¼) is dominant and all values exist with it; perforation C (13¼:12½) is available ‘only’ with 25 values.
1971/1989 Yugoslav - Tourism definitive series. Some litho printed stamps in perforation 13¼.
The overprints
In total there are 26 face different overprints (with perforation varieties counted the total goes to 40). These were released mostly in the in the mid and late 1980s when Yugoslavian economy suffered from high inflation rates.
1971/1986 Yugoslavia - Tourism series stamps with overprints.
Closing words
Beautiful designs, moderate level of variations, and low catalog values. What else can a worldwide stamp collector ask? Now I just need to find the 50+ items/varieties my collection is still missing 
As usual, please feel free to drop your opinions, comments and questions below.
You might also be interested of related posts about Stamps and postal history of Yugoslavia.
Nice post.
Tell me what stamps are you missing, maybe i have something to give you.
I totally agree that it is impossible not to fall in love with this series….but you sell it short! There are also stamps issued on phosphor paper and some on chalk coated paper. Also the designs were used extensively on postal stationery which add interest to a collection…plus afew attractive printing flaws to look out for!
@Buda… Right now I’m missing (on simplified level):
Engraved:
* 0.50 (orangered)
* 1.50D
* 2.50D
Offset litho, perf. 13¼:
* 0.05D
* 0.25D
* 0.30D
* 0.35D
* 0.40D
* 2.50D
* 5.60D
* 6.10D
* 8.80D
* 26D
* 38D
Offset litho, perf. 13¼:12½
* 0.05D
* 0.30D
* 0.35D
* 0.40D
* 0.60D
* 1.50D
* 3.40D
* 6.10D
* 8.80D
* 10D
* 16.50D
* 70D
And for overprints I’ve got only the ones in the picture…
Then there’s the paper varieties which I haven’t included at all for the time being. So I’ve still got lots of work to do before reaching completion with this.
@Anglez… True. I’m presenting a very generalist view of this series (at least till I get a lot more stuff/varieties to go through for my collection). Somehow I missed the chalk coated paper entirely (not sure if Michel even lists it, but I’ll try to recheck it one of these days)
I’ve used the foil-rubbing trick frequently as a confirmatory test to distinguish engraved from lithographic issues. One would be surprised how often they are mistaken in albums.
Thanks Keijo.
And I agree- these Yugoslavian stamps are lovely.
@Jim… True, the foil trick is an absolute gem. Some stamps (such as Yugoslav 1950/55 Worker-series) are almost impossible to identify accurately without it.
Like “Anglez” say, some of it are printed on FC paper, and few of it are very hard to detect, because of very fine FC coating, that will “light” under different angel of light.
I don’t know if Yugoslavian Post made it intentionally (difficult to detect), or just because this kind of paper they have at the moment, but it is there.
When some of collectors asked me to supply them this “types” (by way, it is very precise catalog numbering in Michel for each), almost all asked to give it with certification – (that rise sales prices almost 10x).
How I resolved this issue without going for certification? Simply, find it with “border tab”! On all of FC coated stamp, all printing sheet have text saying “FC paper”!!!
And my personal opinion is that only better issue than this “Tourism”, are “Industry” issue, that come out after II WW – something that is worth to have in collection.
This blog is very important to me. i am a retired Anglican priest who finds great joy in philately since my health prevents strenuous activity. Thank you, Keijo.
@Milco and & Anglez…
Just re-checked Michel, and true coated paper is there. The reason I missed is simply that I use older 1990s edition of Michel as my working copy (add notes etc when working) whereas the recent 2010 edition is mostly for reference of newer issues and double checks. Usually the older editions of Michel contain more tidbits, which is why I used it as my primary source when writing this. But this is one of those areas where catalog listings have actually improved, and my ‘laziness’ to double check the facts fired back. Anyway, post is now updated to include paper types.
Thanks for bringing this up guys. You both deserve a big
@Roger… Happy to hear you’re liking the blog
why you me mess up scans?
you feel that you “robbed”?
@MJ…
In an perfect world, there would be no reason to “mess up” (watermark) the scans. However, this is not a perfect world, and some people do misuse the images (either intentionally or unintentionally) to promote their own goals.
For example about a year ago I came across with a scam site that used literally hundreds of images (and other content) from this blog (as well as other stamp related sites). The reason the entire site existed was simply to attract search engine users to that site (and click the ads, and maybe even get a piece of malware).
Another interesting example was an insurance sales reseller that used a picture from the ‘My collection’ page to promote their stamp insurances.
And You would not believe how many times eBay (and other online auction) frauds have been attempted using the images I provide here.
And…
The lesson here is that if you put something ‘freely’ available on the web, some “genius minds” are guaranteed to utilize it in twisted ways that you never even imagined. I’ve learned the lesson hard way, and as long as I’m on the watch, I sure as hell will watermark (in several ways) every image I put online to prevent anything as above happening. Why I care? Because these are MY stamps, MY collection, MY blog.
Rant over & out.
Doggone it, Keijo…
I just re-started stamp collecting after a 15-year layoff…which followed a 30-year layoff…
Anyhow, I thought I’d limit myself to just a few areas: U.S. commemoratives, Canada, British Commonwealth, all before 1960. Then I found your blog. I read about Nigerian stamp varieties, and the resorts and hotels of Romania, and now the Yugoslavia tourism series…and I know some of those stamps have found their way into my collection. Now, I just HAVE to get all of them.
And today in the mail I got two good-sized packets of stamps from Costa Rica and Peru that I won in an online auction…so I guess I’ll add Latin America to my list of collectible countries. This is getting out of hand! I’m becoming a worldwide collector!
@Ray…. Welcome to the dark side. I’m sure you’ll learn to love it too, LOL.