Thrace

 under construction  

Thrace is/was a region bordering the Black and Aegean Seas that include parts of present-day Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.

Nearly all if not all overprints/surcharges have been forged.

Komotini/Gümülcine issue
Bulgarian forces captured the city in the First Balkan War, but it was taken back by Greek troops in July 1913.  File:Thrace arms.jpg 
 * In August 1913, Bulgarian stamps were surcharged with the Greek coat of arms and ΕΛΛ. ΔΙΟΙΚ / ΓΚΙΟΥΜΟΥ / ΛΤZΙΝΑΣ and new values.

Independent governmental issues
Later in 1913, Greek and Bulgarian troops withdrew from western Thrace and an independent government was set up. 
 * In October 1913, a lithographed design in two values was issued, inscribed mostly in Turkish but including the date "1913". This was withdrawn as it included the word "provisional".
 * The previous design was modified and issued a day later, on laid paper then on a soft paper.
 * A three-line Turkish surcharge on contemporary Bulgarian and Greek stamps followed.
 * A one-line 1 para Turkish surcharge on Turkish stamps was also issued.



Allied occupation
With the defeat of Bulgaria, western Thrace was occupied by French and Vritish forces. 
 * In 1919, contemporary Bulgarian stamps were overprinted THRACE / INTERALLIÉE vertically, reading up.
 * In 1920, Bulgarian stamps were again similarly overprinted in a different typeface/style diagonally.
 * Also in 1920, Bulgarian stamps were overprinted Thrace / Interalliée.
 * Again in 1920, Bulgarian stamps were overprinted THRACE / OCCIDENTALE.



Postage due issues

 * In 1919, contemporary Bulgarian postage dues were overprinted THRACE / INTERALLIÉE vertically, reading up.
 * In 1920, Bulgarian dues were overprinted THRACE / OCCIDENTALE.



Greek administration issues
Thrace was divided up between Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey after the end of World War I. Most of western Thrace thus became part of Greece.  File:Thrace arms.jpg 
 * In 1920, various contemporary Greek definitives were overprinted ΔΙΟΙΚΗΣΙΣ / ΔΥΤΙΚΗΣ / ΘΡΑΚΗΣ (25 lepta) or Λιοίχησις / Δυτίχἤσις / Θῤυχης. These were on litho, engraved or royal seal overprint stamps and were used in western Thrace.
 * In 1920, Λιοίχησις / Θῥἁχης was overprinted on various Greek stamps (litho, engraved and royal seal). These were for western and eastern Thrace.
 * In 1920, three-line surcharges on Turkish stamps were issued.

[[Category:T]]