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A Former Colleague Returns
- with his Wife!

by Erik Jensen

Recently, two interdependent paintings of Councellor, Post Office Administrator, Elias Johannes Svane von Stöcken (1769-1827) and his wife Anne Dorthea (1779-1839) respectively were offered at an auction in Copenhagen. The two paintings from the early 19th century, both measuring 50 x 40 cm, immediately caught our attention as von Stöcken is wearing his conspicuous red postal uniform.


One of the Originators of the Ball Mail Coach

The artist is unfortunately unknown, but the postmaster is certainly not. For five years as of 1st March 1810 von Stöcken was in charge of the "The Danish Post Office for Incoming Parcel Post" in Copenhagen. It was therefore no coincidence that the General Directorate of Posts in 1811 designated him for member of a commission with the task of evaluating the possibilities of improving the conveyance of mail and in particular avoiding damages during the frequent transship-ments of the mail on the way. A proposal from the commission about using locked caskets or boxes did not find favour in the eyes of the Post Office management, but four years later their work resulted in the construction of the famous ball mail coach. Its story is told in MuseumsPosten vol. 2/1996.

On 1st March 1815 the postal service in Copenhagen was restructured. Von Stöcken’s department was combined with the department for outgoing parcels and named "The Danish Parcel Post Office of Copenhagen". On the same occasion his title was changed from postmaster to post office admini-strator. Von Stöcken’s reference stipulated that besides possessing the necessary professional knowledge he also has "acquired much routine in the association with the mixed public of all classes from the highest to the poorest, (…) and the resourcefulness and rapid composure which is necessary for the manager of an office through which the entire foreign letter exchange is passing and distribution of newspapers is conveyed, as well as the authority required in order to manage a large office personnel". E.J.S. von Stöcken discharged this high position his death on 20th October 1827.

The New Acquisition

The museum is now the owner of the portraits of von Stöcken and Mrs Anne Dorthea in her nice black dress, and for the time being the paintings can be seen in the foyer on 4th floor of the museum.


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