A unique collection of stamps which all have one theme in common -- World War II -- can currently be seen at the Institute Francais De St-Petersbourg.
The exhibition of 72 pages of stamps, first day covers and proof issues are on loan from the Philatelic Union in Moscow to commemorate 50 years since the victory of the Allies over Nazi Germany in 1945.
All of the stamps were issued either in occupied Europe -- Poland, France, Holland and Luxembourg -- or by various European countries after the Liberation, including Russia and Great Britain.
Although most of the stamps can be found in the British Museum's unique collection, this is the only comprehensive collection devoted to the war of its kind in the world.
The collection was started by a stamp enthusiast by the name of Ginsbourg, and after his death in 1975 it was donated by his daughter Ludmilla Baravaya to the Moscow Philatelic Union.
Among the most interesting examples are stamps issued for the Generalgouvernment in Poland by Nazi govenor Hans Frank in 1942. Other examples issued in Germany commemorate the success of the Blitzkrieg's lighting-strike tactics with colorful Junkers aircraft nose- diving on unsuspecting targets.
With the British issues are four first day covers commemorating the Battle of Britain, and there are stylistic French stamps showing the liberation of the concentration camp victims and others praising the heroes de la resistance.
This small but tidy exhibition is worth a visit and will be on display on the third floor at the Institute until Friday, May 26.