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 inscribed ΙΟΝΙΚΟΝ ΚΡΑΤΟΣ.
 * 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. See: Corfu.
 * 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. In addition, bogus issues were created, overprinted:
 * CERIGO / Occupazione Militare Italiana
 * PAXO / ANNO XIXO
 * ITALIA / SANTA MAURA

 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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