Albanian Government in Exile, King Zog I

Albania · 1943 · 50q

This airmail stamp features a portrait of King Zog I, the last monarch of Albania. The stamp is inscribed 'POSTA AJRORE' (Air Mail) and 'MBRETNIJA SHQIPTARE' (Kingdom of Albania). It was part of a series issued by the Albanian government-in-exile in London during World War II.

Issued during the Italian and later German occupation of Albania in WWII, these stamps were prepared by the government-in-exile but were never placed in regular postal use in Albania itself. They primarily served a political and propagandistic purpose, asserting the legitimacy of the exiled monarchy.