Ionian Islands

The Ionian Islands are located west of Greece. The major islands are Kerkyra/Corfu, Ithaki/Ithaca, Kefalonia/Cefalonia, Kythira/Cerigo, Lefkada/Leucas/Santa Maura, Paxi/Paxos and Zakynthos/Zante.
 * In 1859, the islands were declared a British protectorate with 3 undenominated stamps issued.
 * In May 1864, the islands were returned to Greece.
 * In August 1923, Italy occupied Kerkyra/Corfu, overprinting Italian stamps CORFÙ. A settlement was reached and Greece took control of the islands in late September.
 * Italy once again occupied Corfu as well as the other islands except Kythira/Cerigo in 1941. Italian stamps were overprinted ISOLE JONIE.

Local issues of World War II

 * Stamps of Greece were overprinted in pairs with ITALIA / Occupazione Militare / Italiana isole / Cefalonia e Itaca. They were apparently intended to be used that way. Variant overprints exist on single stamps.
 * Stamps of Greece were overprinted for use in Ithaki/Ithaca with occupazione /Militare Italiana / Isole / Cefalonia e Itaca.
 * Stamps of Greece were overprinted CORFU for use in Kerkyra/Corfu and Paxi/Paxos.
 * In 1941, for Zakynthos/Zante, the Italian occupying forces used Greek stamps overprinted OCCUPAZIONE / MILITARE DI / ZANTE / 1 - 5 - XIX'''.
 * For Zakynthos/Zante, Germany replaced the Italians and re-overprinted Ionian Islands stamps with ΕΛΛΑΣ / 2-X-43 / ISOLE JONI'''.

Around 1944, the islands had been taken back by Greek partisans, and remain Greek to this day.

Almost all issues for the Ionian Islands have been forged.

 File:Ionian Is Brit blue.jpg|1859 1 penny British protectorate stamp. File:Ionian IS 20c.jpg|20c Italian definitive overprinted ISOLE JONIE. File:Ionian Is due.jpg|30c Italian postage due overprinted ISOLE JONIE. File:Ionian IS 25d Cephalnia.jpg|25dr overprint for Kefalonia/Cefalonia and Ithaki/Ithaca. File:Ionian IS Zante.jpg|German overprint for Zakynthos/Zante. 

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