Social Security, national health care, paid family leave, and urban Jews rising to prominence. Sounds like Argentina shifting left, but the image on this stamp tells the real story, Peronism was not just socialism but national socialism, albeit more Italian than German. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage, and sit back in your most comfortable chair. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.
Whatever else you think of him. Peron really unleashed his stamp designers. Under his brand of politics, professionals are part of a grand tradition to benefit the state above all. This stamp is for the 100th anniversary of a financial institution. As a comparison, look at this American stamp I covered here. https://the-philatelist.com/2017/12/18/celebrate-the-savings-and-loans-now-the-party-is-almost-over-and-the-hangover-terrible/
The stamp attempts to show a solid, useful institution but none of the over the top majesty of today’s Argentine stamp. This type of image was only under Peron. See also a before Peron bank anniversary stamp from Argentina I did here.https://the-philatelist.com/2017/12/26/the-radicals-are-revolting-in-the-park-so-we-better-start-a-bank/ Just the founder and a stone edifice.
Now look at how the stamp engraver saw himself under Peron. See article on it here.https://the-philatelist.com/2017/11/03/paying-extra-to-celebrate-the-art-of-stamp-designing/
The stamp today is issue A242, a 1.5 Peso stamp issued by Argentina on August 26th 1954. It was a single stamp issue that marked the centennial of the Buenas Aires Grain Exchange. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents.
Juan Peron was elected President in 1946. He had served in the military and in political positions previously and been exposed to the by then defeated fascist governments of Italy and Germany that Argentina earlier had a flirtation with. His political movement was influenced by them but the Argentine masses were much poorer so his movement was more centered on elevating the poor. His policies were quite left wing but his image making was definitely from the right. He was thus able to attract support from both left and right which guaranteed reelection but made for an unstable alliance.
The massive government programs put in place created much inflation, which of course is terrible for those that are already established. Peron tried to clamp down on opposition via control of the press and arrests of his political opponents. Eventually there was a coup that sent Peron into exile in Franco’s Spain. His party was banned but the string of grey men that replaced him were not able to bring stability or economic opportunity. Meanwhile Peron was able to issue missives from Spain telling how great thing would be after he returned. He eventually did return in 1973. When back in power he had to chose between his left and right wing supporters. He chose his right which splintered his base. He was by then a sick old man who died in 1975. He tried to will his movement to his young widow but soon the grey right wing generals were back in charge and embarrassing the country with their lack of achievement.
The stamp depicts the Roman God Ceres of Agriculture and female fertility. She comes up a lot in the imagery of right governments of the late 19th and early 20th century. In addition to this Argentine depiction. she appears on stamps of Napoleon III era France and on the money of the Confederate States of America.
Well my drink is empty and a may have another before consulting the crop report from the Buenos Aires Grain Exchange which still continues. I hope the harvest will not be drought effected yet again. Come again tomorrow for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting