Month: June 2022

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Tunisia 1960, the system? what system? I am the system!

Is this what independence activists were about. A President for life, living in the old Ottoman Bey’s house and insulting the French, who educated him, then jailed him, and by the look of this stamp still dressed him. 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.

Is this a French stamp? The writing is French and this guy could pass for a French President. He was educated in France at no expense to himself. He married a rich French widow. This stamp was printed in Paris. No, this fellow hates France, lead riots against it for which he was jailed, blames all the countries problems on France. You can see the disconnect between that attitude and the image this stamp of independent Tunisia puts forward. Maybe they resent what they desire to be but know deep inside that they don’t measure up. Many Tunisians vote with their feet and head for France. Love and hate, two sides of the same coin.

Todays stamp is issue A69, a 20 Milemine stamp issued by the Republic of Tunisia on June 1st, 1960. The stamp shows President Bourguiba ratifying the new constitution and was part of a four stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents whether it is mint or used.

After the war French control of the Maghreb of north west Africa was at an end.The French colonial administration allowed for some self rule by leaving in place an Ottoman empire Bey Lamine. The independence fighters, all of whom were violent were divided into modernists who were secular and socialist and another traditional and religious. Bey Lamine chose to stack his ministers with modernists including Habib Bourguiba, his prime minister. At the first meetings after independence, the Bey presided now as King of Tunisia dressed in the uniform of a Marshall of the Ottoman Empire. This was not what the modernists had in mind and with the French gone and the traditional Arabist in exile, in Geneva so maybe not so traditional, it was time to go after the King.

At Bourguiba demand, Tunisia was declared a republic and the elderly Bey/King put under house arrest in the borrowed apartment of a recently departed Jewish friend. Bourguiba of course wanted the Carthage Palace for himself. Next came the search for the Crown Jewels which were never found. Queen Lalia did not survive the four day interrogation over the location of the jewels that went as far as having her stomach pumped. The King died a few years later.

Bourguiba liked to put himself forward as modern and like many modern rulers of post colonial countries he kept all power for himself. In 1976 he declared himself President for life. He modeled himself after Turkey’s Ataturk but had lessor results. As he got old and infirm his second wife began to rule in his place. Eventually the deputy, Prime Minister Ben Ali enacted a medical coup that placed the former President out of the Palace and under house arrest. Bourguiba’s wife ran for Paris before it was her turn to have her stomach pumped and Bourguiba divorced her. Prime Minister Ben Ali fell himself during the Arab Spring. He fled in the Presidential Jet but to France’s credit was denied landing and had to divert to Saudi Arabia. His wife Leila, a former Paris hairdresser made it out with him but is wanted by Tunisia for money laundering. The more things change, the more they stay the same. Perhaps Turkish President Erdogan could appoint a new Bey in exchange for a modest annual Suzerainty.

Well my drink is empty and I am left wondering whether on Tunisian independence Day if the celebrations were bigger in Paris or Tunis. There was definitely nervousness in Carthage(Palace). Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

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San Marino, in a small surrounded country political violence in dangerous, so think twice while you admire our prison

Staying independent is job one for a small state. Sometimes modifying behavior to get along is necessary. 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.

Here is something you never see on a postage stamp, the state prison. Now San Marino’s prison was really an ancient fortress on a hill so worth a look. The year before though, there was a political murder that threatened relations with Italy. Showing the prison may make the point that San Marino could handle any crime itself.

Todays stamp is issue A24, a 5 Centesimi stamp issued by San Marino in 1922. It displayed the Roca state prison and was part of a 19 stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott Catalog, the stamp is worth $1.50 unused.

San Marino  and Vatican City were the only city states that maintained their independence during the unification of Italy in the 1860-70s. The people are Italian and the population is small. After the devastation of World War I, politics in Italy turned toward the extremes. This was understandable as mainstream politics had just been completely discredited by the war, not just in Italy. San Marino had remained neutral in that war but did not completely avoid the wars deprivations or the political radicalization. In 1921 radical leftists murdered a prominent doctor, Carlo Bosi, who was known to have fascist views. This greatly angered Italians and there was a great fear that San Marino would be invaded by gangs of Squadrismo. Squadrismo were localized groups of blue shirted fascist that often responded in kind to Socialist violence, they were right wing rivals to Mussolini’s black shirts. Among methods they were known for was forcing people to take castor oil a strong laxative, leaving victims naked tied to a tree, and made to swallow a live toad. San Marino quickly asked the Italian state police to send 30 officers to help keep the peace. In 1923 a fascist government was elected and a government was formed under a fascist who had voluntarily fought for Italy in World War I.

Once elected radicals become undemocratic and the fascists remained ensconced  until 1943 when the fascists fell in Italy. It was then the turn of the communists to get elected and then overstay their welcome. There was a governing crisis in 1957 when the communist lost their majority but refused to yield power until threatened with violence from Italy.

Rocca prison on todays stamp ceased being a prison in the early 1970s. It is now a tourist attraction as an 11 century fortification. It regularly fires off 19th century cannons to the delight of spectators. San Marino, now quite wealthy is somewhat known to have very few prisoners. So few that it is easier to have their food catered by a restaurant than maintain a cafeteria. There are periods where a prison sentence means solitary confinement because there are no other prisoners. What happens when a small town is it’s own country.

Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast the diplomats of San Marino. It must require the great skill of many generations of diplomats to keep San Marino from being swallowed. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

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Paraguay 1972, Peron to the left of me, Peron to the right of me, stuck in the middle with Stroessner

Sometimes tough times call for a strong leader. In South America that often means a claudillo. What to do though when your military leader is bland and ineffectual. 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.

This is my favorite stamp issue from Paraguay. There was a Presidential summit of the anti communist, military Presidents of Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia, and todays stamp Argentina. Decked out formally with serious expressions and being South America, a flag sash. I did the Brazil President issue here, https://the-philatelist.com/2017/10/19/a-friend-and-ally-who-wears-a-sash/, The failed lefties of the time are so much better remembered today, but the chaos that comes with them less so. So a stamp issue showing a coalition of the forgotten is interesting, and very different stylistically.

Todays stamp is issue A250, a 75 Centimo stamp issued by Paraguay on November 18th, 1972. It was a four stamp issue that was also available as a souvenir sheet. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents whether it is mint or used.  Even the souvenir sheet is only worth $2.50. must not be much of a demand for a souviner like this but I love them. A stamp issue will portray them as they saw themselves.

Anti communism was a big agreement of the people at the summit. They were all close to the then in power Nixon administration. In Argentina’s case this unity was short lived. General and de facto President Alejandro Lanusse was scheduling the first election in a long while with the hope of increasing legitimacy. Argentina was on it’s third junta government since 1966. Peron was still in exile but his stand in was running. His stand in represented the left wing side of Peron’s support. As such he was able to retain Peron’s support and also tear away votes from the far left. His inauguration saw Chile’s Allende and Cuba’s Castro there to cheer but the fellows on this stamp issue were nowhere to be seen and glum. They need not have worried Peron would soon be back in power, and prove to be more right than left.

In Argentina there was a fairly strange group of centrist in power after Peron was overthrown. Peronists were banned from participating in elections, so the people elected proved weak and unappealing to both left and right. In 1966, the last elected President was deposed. The military hoped to install a public government similar to Brazil that was stronger but less ideological. However the left is only going to be upset by the uniforms and these type armies had many generals that thought they were the one to make it work, of at least get rich trying. So under the generals, left wing violence increases, and yet there was little progress in stamping it out. Guns and butter centrism also had the old South American problem of runaway inflation.

In the mid 1990s as an old man, President Lanusse released his autobiography where he criticized later General leaders for their excesses during the late 70s dirty war. He also criticized then President Menem a member of the Peronist party. The old fellow who himself lacked achievement thinks everyone else does it wrong. I suppose I should be sympathetic to an old man claiming people should have listened to him. However instead I think President Menem did the right thing by putting the old fool in house arrest. Hopefuly his home poccessed a lot of mirrors. Strong and wrong beats weak and right according to Bill Clinton.

Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast the Paraguay stamp designers of 1972 for offering such a visually striking alternative to the 68er visuals. Come again  for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

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Spain 1870, Can Amadeus stop the rocking after the glorious revolution

Queen Isabella II was not well regarded. She vacillated politically disappointing all sides. Yet when she was deposed it was her replacements turn to vacillate. 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.

The Queen is gone! Long live the Queen, in Paris exile. So who is this on the stamp. One of the upstart faceless general/ politicians that replaced her. No they don’t inspire confidence and change places so fast there isn’t time to get a stamp designed and printed. So what are Spanish stamp designers to do to show Spain’s best. 19th century European stamp fans can guess. Here we have Espana, the Latin female embodiment of the Spanish nation. The full face gives it away, Royals prefer profile portraits.

Todays stamp is issue A20, a 50 Milesimas stamp issued by Spain on January 1st, 1870. It was a 14 stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $5 used. A mint version would be worth $125, proving praise be that the stamp was actually meant to be mailed.

Queen Isabella II was forced into Paris exile in 1868. A group of dismissed former generals/politicians  had landed from exile and most of the Spanish Army had defected to them. A self proclaimed glorious revolution. Unfortunately for the conspirators they were badly divided. They were from the left, so many of the conspirators desired a Spanish Republic. Others wanted a King, not a vacillating Queen. They themselves debated between Isabella’s young son. a German candidate, who seemed most competent but would likely lead to war between France and Prussia, A Portuguese who had served as regent there and Amadeus, the second son of Victor Emanuel I, the King of Italy and head of the house of Savoy.

After a regency that looked more like a military junta, Amadeus was named Amadeo I, King of Spain. Amadeus had previously annoyed his father by marrying a minor Piedmont noble who was rich and therefore made him less reliant on an allowance from his father. Soon after the marriage, she wrote to the King asking him to discipline her husband regarding his infidelities. Victor Emanuel wrote back that he understood her feelings but who was she to dictate how her husband acts and the jealousy was unbecoming in a woman.

Future King Amadeus with his wife Maria Vittoria dal Pozzo

Amadeus was not having much luck in Spain. The political party that brought him in relied more on election fraud than popular support. He faced House of Bourbon based uprisings in Basque and Catalonian areas and republican uprisings in the cities. The Army wasn’t much help as the artillery corps went on strike. Amadeus tried to go around the country to bolster his support but then faced an assassination attempt that shot up the Royal Carriage, killing the horses but leaving him unhurt. The political party than instructed Amadeus to discipline the artillery corps. He did that and then immediately abdicated. A Republic was declared and Amadeus made a surprise visit to the legislature declaring that Spain was ungovernable and he was going back to Italy. Any vestige of the glorious revolution ended two years later when the republic failed and Isabella II’s son Alfonso was crowned King. Alfonso had rumors swirling around that his father wasn’t really King consort Francis a homosexual, but one of Isabella’s generals that had conspired against her.

Well my drink is empty and I will pour another and toast the beautiful Espana as seen on todays stamp, even though perhaps Amadeus was right and Spain is ungovernable. Come again  for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting, First published in 2019.

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White/South Russia 1920, Fake stamp issued by the Black Barron

It was a hopeless fight. The landowning class of Imperial Russia trying to change the fate that awaited them from the much more numerous Red Army. Could they use the old aristocratic military tradition and playing to religion to win over the people and turn the tide? 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.

White Russia, renamed in retrospect South Russia, wasn’t a real country. So todays stamp was more to raise revenue and publicity for the military and political movement. The nature of the stamps, poor printing on poor paper but at the same time oversized show them not for postage but more like mini propaganda posters.

Denikin, named after the White movement’s general, are common and of little value. The exception being one of these stamps with a cancelation from actual postal use. The White movement half occupied a decent amount of territory including many post offices that mostly were not functioning but occasionally…

After the October 1917 Bolshevik revolution several former Czarist military formed a new volunteer White army to take on the new Red Army. The old Czarist army was mostly in tatters after being defeated by Germany in World War I. The Red Army, though larger, was not in good shape either. General Anton Denikin lead his forces and occupied much of Ukraine. the Caucus mountains and along the Volga river. The group appealed based on Russian patriotism and  Russian Orthodox Christian identity. The Bolsheviks were described as Jewish. In theory, a division along these lines was adventitious to the White movement, as Russia was only about 5 percent Jewish. The Bolsheviks on the other hand, while promoting atheism, had leaders that were 88 percent of Jewish background including the leader known as Trotsky who was Commandant of the Red Army.

The Black Barron

Despite receiving support from the West and from the wealthy landowning class, their forces of mostly Cossacks was not successful. The Red Army defeated the White Army at Orel 300 miles south of Moscow in October 1919. General Denikin resigned and went into exile and was replaced by General Pyotr Wrangel who the Reds made famous as the Black Barron. The force was gradually pushed back to the Crimea from which many went into exile including the Black Baron. Those that chose to remain suffered through decossackifacation  with many killed. The Black Barron himself was poisoned by his butler’s brother who was a Soviet agent while living in Belgium and working as a mining engineer. Denikin lived out his live writing memoirs in Paris and later in New York City. He lobbied against the provisions of the Yalta treaty that called for the forced repatriation of Russians in the western zone after World War II that included anti Soviet Cossacks and White Russians who were promptly executed as Denikin had warned. His daughter many years later made contact with Putin and Denikin has been rehabilitated and his remains returned to Russia and buried with honor. Among his writings from exile were discussions on the proper relations between Russia and Ukraine who he described as Great Russia and Little Russia. His work was extensively quoted by Putin during the Russian troubles with Ukraine recently. His injection of religious identity politics during the civil war in Russia means that he was considered an enemy by Israelis.

Well I am left with an empty drink glass and a fake stamp. Come again  for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

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Portuguese Guinea 1913, training assimilados to break away

Why did European countries try to hold on to colonies when the original reason  for being there had passed and the involvement is a burden for all involved? Let us consider. So slip in 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.

This stamp sets The Philatelist record for how many ways Portugal showed that they did not care about Guinea through the stamp issue. Notice that Guinea is just overprinted on a stamp of Macau, another Portuguese country on the other side of the world. Next notice that is the Vasco da Gama 400th anniversary issue from 1898. This version is from 15 years later. Next notice that Portugal’s form of government and currency had changed. Both great reasons for a new stamp issue but instead handled with overprints. Grade F for effort.

Todays stamp is issue CD26, a 10 Centavo on 16 Ries stamp overprinted for the colony of Portuguese Guinea in 1913 on a stamp intended for Macau. The colony also used the same stamp  but intended for Portuguese Africa and Timor. There were eight different denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $1.60 whether mint or used.

The Portuguese first arrived in Guinea in 1452. There was not much land area onshore controlled by Portugal just the trading post at Bassau  and a few close offshore islands. The name Guinea is from the Portuguese for black people. The trading was mainly in slaves. There was  a hope that some of the gold that came from the interior might pass through Bissau but most stayed in Ghana, then the Gold Coast.

After the end of the slave trade, Portugal sold the rights to economically develop /exploit Guinea to foreign firms. The area did not prove attractive to white colonists. Crops of peanuts and palm oil were exported in small amounts but not in quantities enough to be profitable. The population was growing fast and rice for food was an important crop. Again with this, productivity was quite low and the colony always had large trade deficits.

The colony brought with it a duty to civilize. Starting in 1913, the colonial administration began classifying local African as assimilated or unassimilated. To be assimilated one had to speak Portuguese, be baptized Catholic, and live in the manner of a westerner. Fewer than 10 percent of the Africans qualified. Getting certified Assimilado meant that there was better ability to get jobs and educational opportunities. The Portuguese claimed to hope that the Assimilados would inspire their fellow blacks to join them as sort of junior Portuguese citizens.

Instead the Assimilados lead the independence movement against Portugal. As the ones that inherited the colony after Portugal departed in 1974, they must take responsibility for the lack of progress since. The Assimilados are only a small minority and still live as colonial masters used to, except ever more degraded. As such they are more a connection to the past than the way forward for the bulk of the people who never assimilated. The junior Portuguese citizens proved to be something less than inspiration.

Well my drink is empty and I will open the discussion in the below comment section. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

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1924 Paris Olympics, the last of the modern Olympics that paid homage to the ancient Greeks

The ancient or the modern. It is easy to both idealize the ancient and get bogged down with the modern. It was understandable that a modern elite might view backwards toward Greece as a roadmap toward self improvement. 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 of The Philatelist.

An athlete celebrating his victory wearing a toga. Not how the Olympics are seen today. A fitting way to show the games as they were the last ones organized  by the Frenchman Pierre, Barron de Coubertin, the founder of the modern Olympics. Coubertin believed that emulating the ancients was a way to uplift modern elites to be better. The 1928 Olympic stamps showed modern athletes and showed additional modernity by having a surcharge to help pay for the elite’s games. I don’t think the Barron would have approved.

Todays stamp is issue A27, a 50 Centimes stamp issued by France on April 1st, 1924. It was part of a four stamp issue for the Olympics in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $5.75 used. A imperforate version of this stamp is worth $1,000.

Pierre de Coubertin was a French nobleman who was dismayed by the French loss in the Franco-Prussian War. In the same period the British Empire was at it’s height. He attributed the relative success of Britain to the elite public school system that many of it’s leaders passed through. The English public schools had played each other in athletics modeled after how they imagined the ancient Greek Olympic games. Coubertin thought the lack of athletics in the equivalent French schools left the aristocracy worthless and weak. He conceived a revived Olympics as a way to turn the system around. The events chosen were demonstrations of manly strength and soldierly skills. Intrinsic in the vision were amateur athletes and gentlemanly sportsmanship that tended to keep out potential participants from the working classes.

Coubertin’s vision of the modern Olympics was naturally watered down after his retirement. One of the most famous stories from the 1924 Olympics was told by the movie “Chariots of Fire” from 1981. The movie told the story of a Jewish English runner who competed and won despite his wealthy but less than Noble background. He further offended by hiring a coach as part of his training, that some felt violated the spirit of the amateur athlete. The story is told as a hero overcoming anti-Semitism and was that, but also demonstrates that the times were changing.

The 1924 Olympics were played at the Stade Olympique de Columbas first built in 1907. The stadiums renovations have seen it shrink from 50,000 to 15,000 seats. It is still slated to host the field hockey event when Paris hosts the 2024 Summer Olympics. The 1924 Olympics only had revenue of 50 % of the costs of the games, despite large crowds. The much more commercial 1928 games, after Coubertin’s retirement, almost broke even. Something gained, something lost.

Well my drink is empty and I pour another to toast the participants of all the modern Olympic games. The Barron believed that participating was far more important than who won. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

 

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Swaziland Protectorate, What Africa would look like if it were never colonized?

The key word on this stamp is protectorate. The Swazi tribe and the local King survived the colonial division of Africa in the 19th Century. The still present Protectorate status prevented it from being dragged into Apartheid South Africa and protected it even after independence from Zulu incursions from modern South Africa. As such it shows a unique more traditionally African situation. So slip on your smoking jacket, fill your pipe, take your first sip of your adult beverage. Welcome to todays offering from The Philatelist.

So if Swaziland was so independent with even it’s own King, why is British King George V on the stamp. In my mind, he shouldn’t be but lets be realistic about who was mailing and receiving letters in Swaziland in 1922. People from Britain and South Africa concerning business and administration. The stamps like the people described above came from London. Today Swazi stamps do a better job of showing the local King, with only an occasional nod to the Commonwealth and Queen Elizabeth.

Todays stamp is issue A2, a half Penny stamp issued by the British Protectorate of Swaziland in 1922. It was part of a 10 stamp issue of various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth 25 cents.

In the South Africa of the 19th century, the area was divided into English and Boer areas and included several African tribal homelands including Swaziland. The Swazi tribe had their own King, Sobhuza II, who ruled from 1899-1982. This is the longest royal rule ever recorded.

It was intended for Swaziland to transition into South Africa after World War II. This was against the King’s wishes and when South Africa broke ties with Britain to maintain white rule, Britain changed their mind and was now in favor of Swaziland independence under it’s King. Those in London that know better still required a new council that empowered urban educated socialist over the King. Four years after independence the King dissolved the council in favor of traditional tribal leadership. The urbans were a small minority so this worked out. The revenue for Swaziland comes mainly from a Southern Africa Customs Union that dates from colonial times. The population grows almost as fast as the economy so the place is fairly poor.

The King during a tribal reed dance.

Current King Mswatti III has been on the thrown since 1986. He has 15 wives and 35 children. The first two wives were picked for him by the tribe and their children are in the line of succession. In Swaziland, a prospective wife is called a bride until she becomes pregnant, then she is a fiancé and the marriage ceremony can go forward. In an effort to curb AIDS, the King decreed that Swazi teenage girls retain virginity until age 18. He then violated his own rule by recruiting a new under age bride. He was duly charged with the violation and paid the fine, a cow. There has been some controversy as to the Kings lifestyle, most notably a Maybach automobile. The King responded to the controversy by making it illegal to photograph the King’s cars. Things are not perfect, but they are much more stable and secure that the rest of Africa with it’s colonial legacy and the local crooks that now man it.

The Japanese First Lady with 6 of the King’s 15 wives. Imagine how impressed Madame Abe would have been with full attendance.

In 2018, the King became concerned that some people may confuse Swaziland with Switzerland. Therefore he renamed his Kingdom Eswatini, which is Swazi for land of the Swazis.

Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast the the Dlamini Royal House of the Swazi tribe. No it is not perfect, but a much better reflection of African heritage. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

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Crete, less than satisfied by a Danish/Greek Prince, the Cretans revolt with fake stamps

A Greek island rebels against Turk rule, sounds like a job for a Danish, no excuse me Greek Prince? I don’t think so and neither did the Cretans, but the Great Powers thought they knew better. 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.

This is a fake stamp. Issued at the time of the Theriso revolt, and of no postal value and does not have any catalog value. Being therefore a revenue raiser. I would have expected less ostentation and more revolutionary zeal.

Crete was a Christian/Greek island that was long a part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1897 the Cretans revolted against the Turks. At this point the Great Powers stepped in with troop deployments ending Turk rule, though a suzerainty to the Ottomans was still paid. This occupation was under a High Commissioner, Prince George, the second son of the King of Greece and also a Prince of Denmark. He was a lot more Danish than Greek and so many Cretans were less than satisfied with the arrangement. Prince George was quite imperious, immediately demanding the Cretans build him a palace. Where after all is a Royal to lay his weary head. He also proved unable to get the Great Powers to agree to union with Greece. The Cretans rebelled against Prince George and a civil war was on. This was not what the Great Powers signed up for and they ended up paying the Cretans for the right to leave and to take Prince George with them. Greece sent another high commissioner, this time an actual Greek and then the Cretans unilaterally declared union with Greece.

Prince George ended up settling in France where he married Marie Bonaparte. She was perhaps more famous than he was. She was chronically unsatisfied sexually despite 2 children with allegedly homosexual Prince George, and many affairs with Princes, Prime Ministers and stablemasters. She began a formal study of the then important psychological issue of female  frigidity in conjunction with Sigmund Freud. She studied the sexual histories of several hundred women and the physical distance between their clitoris and vagina. She discovered the greater the distance the greater chance of frigidity. She published the findings under the pseudonym A. E. Narjani in a medical journal. If the distance between the organs was greater than 2.5 centimeters, orgasm was difficult to achieve. She thought herself having this condition, she twice attempted corrective surgery. Her frigidity  remained.

Princess Marie

Well my drink is empty and I am left shaking my head. I intended my articles on stamps to be wide ranging but I never thought I would get that far afield. I may need another drink. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.

 

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Japan 1942, saluting the Japanese pilot

The fact of World War II was that most pilots gave their lives to the cause. Even in victory, the British pilot death toll was 46%. For Germany and especially Japan that toll was even higher. For a few, including todays subject, their skill was so great it saved them. 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.

A pilot saluting his flag. It must be remembered that this portrait is not a kamikaze. This pilot was expected to win and come back home to tell about it. In general, that was too optimistic. Without misplaced optimism, how many wars would be started.

Todays stamp is issue A150, a 15 Sen stamp issued by Imperial Japan in 1942. It was part of a 16 stamp issue in various denominations. According to the Scott catalog, the stamp is worth $1.50 used.

Today I will tell the story of Japanese Naval Lieutenant Tetsuzo Iwamoto who was one of Japan’s leading fighter aces. According to his diary from the time, he shot down 202 aircraft with his Mitsubishi Zero fighter. Iwamoto was an ace even before Pearl Harbor having been based in Nanking, China and scoring 14 victories against Chinese flown, Russian made Polikarpov I-15 fighters, an out of date biplane fighter. 1942-1944 saw Iwamoto stationed at Rabual in New Guinea where he was in almost constant combat with Australian and American flown fighters. Here his diary credited him with 48 Corsairs, 7 Wildcats, 29 Hellcats, 4 Spitfires, 4 P38s, and 75 various model bombers. The Zero became more out of date as the war went along but never lost it’s unparalleled agility in the hands of an expert pilot. Iwamoto stated that he knew how to beat the American fighters but was impressed how much punishment the heavier fighters could take and keep flying, much more so than his light Zero.

Iwamoto was promoted through the ranks and commissioned as an officer. In 1944 he was transferred back to Japan to train Kamikaze pilots and perform air defense missions including over Okinawa. Unlike Germany where some of the surviving aces were issued jets in the last days of the war hoping for a miracle, Iwamoto flew Zeros till the end.

Tetsuzo Iwamoto, Japanese Zero Ace

Iwamoto was not treated well by his homeland after the war. Called in for questioning several times by the occupation forces, he was not charged with war crimes. He was however blacklisted for employment. There was much pacifist propaganda that viewed the veterans as the pawns of warmongers. Though he desired to fly again for the rest of his life it was not to be. He suffered a misdiagnosed pendacites and then died of sepsis in hospital at age 38 in 1954. The Japanese Self Defense Force Air reformed that same year.

Well my drink is empty and I will pour another to toast Lieutenant Iwamoto. I think enough time has passed that we can admire the skill and bravery of veterans of all sides of World War 2. Come again for another story that can be learned from stamp collecting. First published in 2019.