Three Different Fonts
Used for the Post-WW2 Surcharge
Left: Sans serif
Middle: Thin '5'
Right: Fat '5'
During the World War 2 occupation, the Esch-sur-Alzette Allegory communal revenue stamps were issued in Reich pfennig and Reich mark denominations. When the occupation ended in 1945, surviving stocks of the pre-occupation 1-franc Allegory were surcharged to five francs.
The surcharge is known in three different fonts, as shown above.
The identity card seen below shows two of the surcharged stamps with the sans serif ‘5’ used to pay the card issuance fee on 30 June 1945 for Mathias Roth, a master plasterer (maitre-plafonneur). Notice that French, banned during the occupation, is again in use by the government.
.
Here are the German-language Esch-sur-Alzette Allegories issued during the occupation:
