The National flag of Luxembourg was used on this stamp issued in honor of this small country that was over-run by the Germans in May 1940.
On July 10,1942, the die proof for this stamp was approved and two days later the Post Office Department announced that the stamp would be issued on August 10,1943. On August 4th, the first delivery was made to the Philatelic Agency and to the Post Office at Wailuku, Hawaii. On August 10, 1943, the stamp went on sale at Washington and again a ceremony was held at the White House in Washington, D.C., where in the presence of the Luxembourg Minister, Hughes DeGallaes, and the President, Franklin D. Roosevelt bought the first sheet from Roy M. North, Deputy Third Assistant Postmaster General. There were 552,749 stamps sold the first day and 166,367 covers cancelled.
These stamps were printed from two upper panes of the plate and the country name blocks are obtainable showing the registration markers.
Twenty million of these stamps were printed and almost one-quarter of the issue was sold through the Philatelic Agency. These stamps remained on sale at the Philatelic Agency until January 3,1945.
