Norway 1940 War Surtax Issue

Norway · 1940 · 20+10 øre

This definitive stamp features the crowned Lion of Norway holding an axe, a national symbol dating back to the 13th century. It was overprinted with a red cross and a '10 øre' surtax to raise funds for war relief efforts. The design is a classic representation of Norwegian heraldry, adapted for a specific wartime purpose.

Issued in January 1940, just months before the German invasion, this stamp's surtax was intended to aid victims of the ongoing war in Europe. It represents one of the last philatelic acts of an independent Norway before the occupation.