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Of Topical Interest

By Erik Jensen

Albanian Postage Stamps

The collection of stamps from Albania (See the MuseumsPosten no. 1, 1995), which should have been taken down now, is still on display during this period. However, some of the most recent stamps will be removed in order to make room for the stamps from Sweden (4th July-31st December 1995).

The reunion of North Slesvig with Denmark in 1920

On 9th July 1995 it is 75 ago that North Slesvig was reunited with Denmark, having been part of Germany since the war in 1864. The Post and Telegraph Museum commemorates the jubilee by exhibiting some collections of the special stamps which were used in the area during the period 25th January-16th July 1920.

The administration of Slesvig and the holding of a plebiscite about the future nationality of the borderland had fallen into the hands of an international commission (Commission Internationale Slesvig). The province was divided into two plebiscite areas: 1st zone comprising present-day North Slesvig and a smaller 2nd zone south of the present frontier.

The post and telecom administration had also been placed under the CIS, and the commission issued three series of postage stamps each with 14 indications of value and postcards with the inscription "SLESVIG/PLEBISCIT". Plebiscite is derived from French and means "referendum". For the use in both zones the first series was issued on 25th January 1920 with indication of value in German currency. The day after, the other series was issued, which was the same stamps with "C-I-S" printed on them to be used by the Commission as Government service stamps. The Commission was stationed in Flensburg, and the Government service stamps were used until its abolition on 15th June 1920.

The plebiscite in the 2nd zone showed that a majority wanted to stay German, and here the plebiscite stamps remained in use until 15th June 1920 when they were replaced by German stamps.

The 1st zone voted in favour of a reunion with Denmark", and a third stamp series to be used in this area was issued on 20th May 1920. The stamps had the same colours as the other two series, but the indication of value was in Danish currency. In order to avoid mistakes the stamps were provided with the overprint "1. ZONE". On the very day of reunion they were replaced by Danish stamps.

The postal service commemorated the reunion by issuing three commemorative stamps on 5th October 1920 with Kronborg castle, Sønderborg palace, and Roskilde cathedral as the motifs. Two of the stamps were re-issued in 1921 with changed colours due to alteration of rates.

The museum’s exhibition comprises drafts, proofs, and sheets of all the mentioned stamps as well as a special collection of "Slesvig Plebiscit" with a wealth of the many variants and specialities of Slesvig from the first half of 1920. The exhibition is on from 4th July to 4th October 1995.

Sweden’s Postage Stamps 1855-1994

Sweden’s first stamps were issued on 1st July 1855, and since then they have issued about 1,800 different postage stamps, not counting Government service stamps, postage-due stamps, field postage stamps, and trading stamps for private mail.

The Swedish postal service does not produce stamps in sheets, but is instead issuing stamps in rolls and booklets. Like in Denmark the printing methods have been letterpress printing, copperplate printing, photogravure, steel engraving, and offset. With regard to motifs Sweden has to a higher extent than Denmark made use of authentic reproductions based on photographic prototypes.

In 1985, Sweden and Denmark each issued two stamps with the same motif on the occasion of the 900th anniversary of Canute the Holy’s deed of gift to the cathedral in Lund, but it was not the first time that such a thing happened. On several occasions during the years 1956-1978, Denmark and Sweden issued common stamps with common motifs together with the other three Nordic countries (and with Norway in 1961). The exhibition is on from 4th July to 31st December 1995.



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