Poster stamp advocating war time assistance to Norway
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The poster stamp was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2018 by Forrest J. Robinson, Jr.
overall: Height: 1.375 inches (3.493 cm) | Width: 1.125 inches (2.858 cm)
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American poster stamp advocating for public relief for Norway during World War II (1939-1945). Poster stamps were collectable stamps, slightly larger than postage stamps, with designs similar to posters. Although they were not valid for postage, poster stamps could be affixed to letters and envelopes as a means for fundraising, propaganda, and educational purposes. On April 8–9, 1940, Germany invaded Norway to secure naval bases for use against the British fleet in the North Sea, and to guarantee vital iron-ore shipments from neutral Sweden. Despite British military assistance, Norway surrendered to Germany on June 10. From 1870 to 1910 a quarter of Norway's working-age population emigrated, mostly to the U.S, giving the U.S. a large Norwegian-American population. After the German occupation of Norway, the organization Norwegian Relief, Inc. formed to send relief supplies to the Norwegian population. In 1943, Norwegian Relief, Inc. merged with several other Norwegian-American organizations to form American Relief for Norway, Inc. The newly formed organization coordinated clothing drives, sent medical supplies and equipment to German-occupied Norway, and kept the American public informed about the situation in Norway and the progress of relief work. The relief work lasted over six years, ending after the conclusion of the war.
Rectangular poster stamp on white paper with a graphic design, perforated edges on the top, right and bottom, and an adhesive backing. The stamp features a Norwegian red-and-blue flag in the background with a young girl in the foreground with her hands raised, waving a white banner with blue text. In the background, there are ships on the water in the distance. Below the image is a blue, rectangular box with white text. A narrow, white border surrounds the image.