SCOTT #909-21 OVERRUN COUNTRIES 5 CENT 1943-44

     During World War ll the Axis Powers, headed by Germany, Italy and Japan, overran many of the allied countries and others friendly to the Allied cause. In order to publicize our sympathy for these nations, and our desire to liberate their people, the U.S. Post Office Dept. awarded the contract for multi-color printings of these 13 stamps to the American Bank Note Co.--the first time a private firm had printed U.S. stamps since 1894.