Postage Stamp Chat Board & Stamp Bulletin Board Forum
 

Regarding the almost total lack of vegetation and trees on the card mailed in 1913, I found that Vesuvius had a major eruption in 1906, whose ashes and hot gas may have killed much of the nearby plant life. The photo may have been taken in the interim, before the area recovered.

"...The eruption of 1906 killed over 100 people and ejected the most lava ever recorded from a Vesuvian eruption..."

Thanks Doug, I did notice the vegetation but just thought they had grown after 1913. I must admit when I visited Pompei I wasn't taking any notice of trees with so much architecture on display

Brummie, SB members ought to volunteer en masse as crime scene investigators (CSI, to US TV addicts) -- NOTHING escapes our attention, and every member of the Team has some tidbit of critical importance to contribute.

Hmmm, possibly not enough stamp murders to justify such a gargantuan payroll...

Couldn't agree more Doug, we have some terriers on Stampboards (you know the terrier grabs on and never lets go) and we would have all the cold cases sold in no time. We could do that or get a LIFE!

The view is looking south-west towards Freemantle. I cannot see Rocky Bay on any modern maps but it is the first loop on the river near Buckland Hill.

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The Postcard is sent from Berlin in 1914

While on the topic of arcitecture, I found these at the local marketplace:



Similar architecture, different places.

Stratford-on-Avon, England, 1918, travelled; and Lysekil, Sweden, 1911, unused.

Will put these up on the giveaway thread shortly.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Also a Japanese UPU card:

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

I don't collect postcards but in a stamp lot that I bought was a small cardboard box full of mainly unused postcards, over 250 in total.

They consist mainly of 4 printers: "The Rose Series", "Sidues Series", "Murray Views" and "Valentine".

The appear to from the early 1900's through to the 1960's.

Unfortunately, a lot of them appear to have been removed from an album and have "black" album page stuck on the reverse.

Here a few examples.....

























Do unused postcards have any value?

Cheers

Bill

Of course! Some collectors want them used, some want them mint.

In general, a postcard can be soaked off a scrapbook just like soaking a stamp off from an envelope corner.

Sometimes real-photo cards do not turn out very well, as the surface will not admit water, and the card fractures from the other side expanding outward.

If you want them off the backing, select a "test" card that is already damaged (or a trivial scene) and put it in a pan of cold water for half an hour and see if it floats free of the black page; if it does, use your thumb to gently scrub away all traces of glue or paste; lay the card picture side up on a paper towel, and when it is 99% dry, press it between two sheets of plain paper in an old book (a book you don't care if its pages get wrinkled, because they will) weighted down with something heavy.

For used cards, if you see the ink running right away, change the water several times in quick succession, otherwise your cards will take on a bluish or grayish tint.

This will usually restore a postcard to fairly original condition. It's essential if you are going to sell them; it's time-consuming if you merely plan to admire them.

Love your old postcards lakatoi lover, well except for the last one Keep them coming please.

The conservatorium is little changed and is a beautiful building. A bit of trivia, it was originally the Government stables, lucky horses.

I like "Main Street" of Atherton. I'm a sucker for street scenes full of old cars.

The Rose Series are very popular and there were thousands of them produced over the years. The State Library collects them as they are an important record of early street scenes, architecture, vegitation and social history.

The State Library of Victoria has many images on line and can be viewed via the link below.

http://search.slv.vic.gov.au/primo_libr ... mode=Basic

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We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm.

I like the street scenes too Doug and I like to find a modern image of the same scene to see how it has changed. Earlier I was looking at the conseratorium and found some very interesting information about Sydney Town Hall. Have a look and see what is under our town hall:-

http://www.caseyandlowe.com.au/sitethbg.htm

Thanks for that link Paul, The Powerhouse Museum has a good collection too:-

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/

A couple showing Egyptian obelisks that were transferred to London and Paris. I really need to do some research on how and when...


And a view of the Sphinx before westerners decided to "improve" it. Note that the lapels are rough and not concreted down to its shoulders; and there is the indication of the split near the hind legs.

Well there are three of them.

Great info here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cleopatra%27s_Needle

Cleopatra's Needle is the popular name for each of three Ancient Egyptian obelisks re-erected in London, Paris, and New York City during the nineteenth century. The London and New York ones are a pair, while the Paris one comes from a different original site where its twin remains. Although the needles are genuine Ancient Egyptian obelisks, they are somewhat misnamed as they have no particular connection with Queen Cleopatra VII of Egypt, and were already over a thousand years old in her lifetime. The London "needle" is one such example, as it is originally the work of 18th Dynasty Pharaoh Thutmose III but was falsely named Cleopatra's needles. The Paris "needle" was the first to be moved and re-erected, and the first to acquire the nickname.

Lesser known, Cleopatra's thimble (thanks, Lt. Meredith!!) --

"...the enormous shaft of granite, nearly one hundred feet in height, called indiscriminately "Pompey's Pillar" or "Cleopatra's Needle," to each of which appellations it has about an equal claim. The French, in that spirit of sublime braggadocio inherent in their character, had hoisted and affixed to the top of the column a metallic bonnet rouge, or cap of liberty, to eternise the record of their passage through the land; but a British officer of marines, Lieut. George Meredith, of Birmingham, vowed he would neither eat nor drink till he had dislodged the...emblem, and rescued the pillar from such profanation. By the aid of a kite a rope was flung over the monument, and at the risk of life, with incredible toil the bold Briton accomplished this daring exploit, which occupied him from two in the morning until sunset. He brought the prize to England, where, on Friday, Dec. 2, 1802, it was suspended from the great hall of the British Museum..."

"...We are equally jealous of antiquarian treasures; and we cannot help regretting the loss which the future votaries of Egyptian lore, the ifavans of the next generation, will experience in the removal of an object so fitted to start inquiry, and to give rise to speculation; for, no doubt, with the help of tradition, the rusty old metal pot would in a few centuries be honoured as "Cleopatra's thimble"..."

The stamp's not in such good condition, but it DOES have a AB&P (Adams, Bell & Pope) constant variety (not sure which one! )

Went to the APTA fair at Box Hill today - bought no stamps but picked up a couple of postcards...

A good side view of the Sphinx whilst it is only partially uncovered. Gives a great view of the cracks etc before the "improvements". Also note that the head profile is remarkably small for the body/neck size...(but don't let Dr Hawass read that or I'll be in trouble....). Dated July 1922

The Nile in flood. Shows how close the Nile used to go to the Giza plateau. With the closer view, you can understand how the theory surrounding a moat being made around the Sphinx may not be so far fetched...just love the reflection image.


And another obelisk - this one at Heliopolis

Here's my postcard that I picked up from an auction lot recently.
Can anyone shed light on what the event was it about?

Some old ones from TAA. This is a TAA Prop-jet Friendship at a TAA port in inland Queensland. Powered by 2 Rolls-Royce Dart prop-jet engines, totalling 3,400 horsepower. Pressurised, air conditioned. Max cruising speed 275 m.p.h. Carries up to 36 passengers.



Next is the 'latest' TAA Prop-jet Super Viscount over NSW coast. Powered by 4 Rolls-Royce Dart prop-jet engines, totalling 8,000 horsepower. Pressurised, air-conditioned, radar equipped. Max. cruising speed 365 m.p.h. Carries 40-67 passengers



Last, is a TAA Prop-jet Electra over Melbourne. Powered by 4 Allison prop-jets, totalling 15,00 horse-power. Pressurised, airconditioned, radar equipped. Max. cruising speed 405 m.p.h. Carries 68-85 passengers.



Bit different from todays travelling !!

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I am having fun collecting WW and Indian States.

The heraldic blazon on the wall is the arms of the city of Prague. So possibly in Prague Castle, or a cathedral.

The standard (flag thingy) was the arms of Bohemia before 1918, and is now the small arms of the Czech Republic (split from Czechoslovakia 1993). The full (large) arms of the Czech republic are quartered from its constituent states. Or it could be just the crest part of the Prague arms.

I have no idea of the event. Any writing on the front of the card?

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

I've been trying to work out the banner with no luck.

On the wall behind you have Stalin and Lenin. Don't know where they fit in

The earliest possibility is perhaps the Prague Party Conference of Vladimir Lenin's Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party 5-17 January 1912.

The posters of that style continued in use till at least the 1950s ... so the event on the card may have been as late as that.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Here's the back of the postcard

No, that's the front, where the address goes. The picture is always on the back.

It looks trimmed on the left edge.

Now we need someone who can read Czech and extrapolate the missing bits.

First line reads "??? Beneš with wife".

"Beneš" is likely President Edvard Beneš who is famous for decrees issued from 1940 to 1945.

The second line reads "??? the old town square"

Ths cross of Lorraine on the arms is perplexing. I can find no reference to it yet. It is included among Czech heraldic devices, but I can't find it used in the way it appears on the card. Perhaps it relates to a specific time, place, organisation, or person.

More research ... the Cross of Lorraine has been used as a surcharge by other governments in exile ... so that may be it, but I haven't found a specific reference yet.

Found it ... Czechoslovakian government in exile 1939-45: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Czechoslovak_government-in-exile

And definitely Beneš directly behind the standard.

_________________
A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

I wonder if it was taken when he signed the treaty with Russia?

While Russia was theoretically an ally at this stage, Benes was extremely concerned that after the War, Russian hegemony would spread all across Eastern Europe.

He was spot on, as they say.

Doug, I have one similar to this. When I get the time, I'll put it up here.

Back to the Czech card a moment; I notice that none of the "suits" are saluting the standard, only the military. Interesting.

Not really.

In most of the world (USA excepted, it seems) the salute is only executed when in uniform AND wearing headdress.

When not in uniform, or in uniform and not wearing headdress, one simply stands to attention to offer the same respect.

_________________
A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Civilians don't salute the flag they just stand to attention. For military a salute may not be given unless a soldier is wearing his regimental headdress. I don't know if that is the same in USA.

EDIT: oops! already said very well by muruk

How about President Benes? He's not saluting either.

My explanation might have been that the Czech Government-in-exile had not been accepted as a "nation" yet, and that their standard did not carry the weight of a national flag.

Doug, the point made by the other posters is that President Benes would not have saluted under any circumstances. While there are possibly other leaders who will salute a flag, the President of the USA is the only one I have ever seen. Normal world protocol is to stand to attention and the only other gesture I have seen is a slight bow of the head.

Returning to the postcard, I think you will agree from this image that the second portrait on the wall is of Benes, rather than Lenin.



Before anyone else had posted I spent a lot of time trying to relate the Cross of Lorraine to European countries in the Soviet Bloc but with no success. I also looked at all sorts of crests, banners, lions rampant with crossed tails but to no avail. I must say that I was looking at the wrong decade. Perhaps a bit more checking might be useful in determining the exact function.

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Clever clogs, of course it is Benes what was I thinking Lenin has always had a beard and moustache (even when he was a baby ).

So here is the Provisional Czechoslovak government coat of arms (Government in exile) so we can see what we are talking about a little better. Now to find the association with the Cross.

The arms with the cross with two bars on top of the hills are those of Slovakia. The hills represent the Tatra, Matra and Fatra mountains.

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Nigel

Regarding the Cross of Lorraine, "...The flag and the coat of arms of Slovakia both include the cross of Lorraine."

Also, "...In France, the Cross of Lorraine is the symbol of the Free French Forces of World War II, the liberation of France from Nazi Germany, and Gaullism and includes several variations of a two barred cross."

Does that help?

The Cross of Lorraine has a lonnng history and is associated with a number of countries. The thing is to put it into context at the time of the postcard and we are uncertain what that might be.

He was Prime Minister for a time in the 1920s and then served as President for various periods including some time in exile. I favour the period as President from 1935 to 1939 before the Nazis threw him out.

I have had a look at The Old Town Square in Prague on Google street view and, although it is not possible to identify the exact site, it looks as though it is an outside ceremony (note the pavers) and probably in front of the Town Hall.

Finally (before a very late lunch) here are two pictures of the border between Czechoslovakia and "the Nazis" which has to be c1939. The Cross of Lorraine and the crossed tail lion are very clear.

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Thank you very much for the information.
I notice that the there was no crown on the coat of arm in the postcard, but it exits on Provisional Czechoslovak government coat of arms (Brummie's reply). Are they the same or just a variation?
Had this postcard been used, would it not shed some more light on its period

A crown or coronet on an achievement of arms generally denotes the rank (peerage) of the bearer.

I note that the crown disappeared from the various Czech arms during the time it was the People's Republic of Czechoslovakia. Before and after that, the crown is present.

I can only assume it was left off the heraldic items shown on the postcard in order to appease the Soviets, as they did not recognise nobility.

After all, Beneš was a president ... not a king or prince.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Ahoj there!

This postcard must date from the period 1945 to 1948. Stalin would not have been featured in Czechoslovakia before the end of the war. Similarly President Beneš died in 1948.

I have been unable to identify the occasion, but I suspect it is more likely to be in 1948, when President Beneš was already a sick man.

I was looking for Prime Minister Klement Gottwald, but the only other person apart from President Beneš that I can identify in the photo is Zdeněk Fillinger (second from the left on the front row). He had been a friend of Benes in London during the War as part of the Government-in-Exile and became a minister after the war with left-wing sympathies.

As has been said, the so-called "cross of Lorraine" is the symbol of Slovakia and nothing to do with De Gaulle and the Free French.

Hope this helps,

Honza

Honza, you should have got here first.

Would have saved me hurting my brain so much.

Was interesting research, anyway.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

"...As has been said, the so-called "cross of Lorraine" is the symbol of Slovakia and nothing to do with De Gaulle and the Free French."

I disagree. Accompanying an image of the Cross, "...The Cross of Lorraine, chosen by General Charles de Gaulle as the symbol of the Free French Forces."

Yes, the Cross of Lorraine goes a long way back. As well as Slovakia and the Free French it is associated with Poland, Hungary, Lithuana amongst others.

I wonder if we can narrow the period down further? I had a quick look in the libary today but the literature there is too generalised. Looking at Benes does not help a great deal because he was so involved for such a long period.

Whatever the result we can all feel satisfied that we did our best - as always happens with these things on Stampboards.

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I think he means nothing to do with it in this case doug...I'm off to work now so hope to find new stuff when I get home tonight

EDIT: Kevins post was at the same time, I'll read it when I get in.

The Cross of Lorraine on its own is often used by freedom seekers or governments in exile.

The Cross of Lorraine on top of three hills, as in this case, is specifically Slovakian.

So, coincidentally or deliberately, while the government was in exile, it did double duty.

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A man might as well marry ... if he finds a good wife he will be happy ... if not, he will become a philosopher.
Collecting Greater New Guinea & Macropods (Kangaroos & Wallabies).

Ahoj Doug!

Sorry I did not make myself clear. I meant in this instance on the card it had nothing to do with De Gaulle and the Free French.

and ahoj Muruk!

Slovakia at the time of the Second World War did not claim to have a government in exile. It collaborated with the Nazis and became a separate self-governing state under the leadershp of the Roman Catholic priest Mgr. Tissot.

Cheers,

Honza

So that no one gets their history scrambled, it's actually "Jozef Tiso," not to be confused with Josip Tito of Yugoslavia; here's a brief bio:

Jozef Tiso (Hungarian: Tisza József; 13 October 1887 - 18 April 1947) was a Slovak Roman Catholic priest, politician of the Slovak People's Party, and Nazi collaborator. Between 1939 and 1945, Tiso was the head of the Slovak State, a satellite state of Nazi Germany. After the end of World War II, Tiso was convicted and hanged for his activities in support of Nazism.

"Tissot" is a famous Swiss watch company.

Ahoj Doug!

Thanks for the correction. It is of course spelt Tiso. My lamentable excuse is that we don't often see his name in print any more.

Cheers,

Honza

Pop* will bail you out.

*poor old proofreader