‘ΑΘΗΝΑΙ 8-5-1945 / ΝΕΝΙΚΗΚΑΜΕΝ’ [Athens 8-5-1945 / We have been victorious] pictorial canceller, used in Athens from 8 to 10 May 1945 to mark the Allies’ announcement of the final victory over Germany. A representation of Marathon runner Pheidippides carrying a branch of olive-tree is shown.
This marking was used to cancel-to-order a 2dr. 1939 postal stationery card [not valid in 1945] and, on its backside, the only eight ordinary and one charity new Greek stamps in circulation after the country was liberated in October 1944: 3 ordinary issued on 11/11/44 and 5 more plus the charity one issued on 1/3/45 respectively.
[Emergency Law 18 established the monetary reform on 11 November 1944, stating that one postwar drachma would equal 50 billion war drachmas.
3 ordinary plus 1 charity stamps were added after 9 May 1945, to finally complete the two sets.]
It should be noted that the 2Dr postal cards encountered are generally those of the 1941 reprint (new engraving by Papachryssanthou, in various carton colour Variations). The copies of the first printing (1939 by Aspioti-ELKA) had already been consumed much earlier and copies encountered to have been used after the Occupation should be considered quite rare [they probably amount to 4-5% of the total].
Condition: fine; see scans.