Italian Colonies - Bud's Big Blue

Speculation about Mussolini’s ambitions

Bud's Big Blue
Bud's Observations

After leafing through many feeder albums, especially if they are Scott Internationals, one becomes aware that the stamps for some countries are almost always found in mint condition. It’s a sign that trouble was brewing. Either the country died and there were lots of unused stamps left over, or run-away inflation made the stamps worthless, or some foreign country had taken over.

In the case of Italian Colonies stamps, the trouble was brewed by Il Duce, Mussolini. He wanted to make Italy “great again” by forming a Neo-Roman Empire. The Mediterranean should be Italy’s pond, he thought. So, he set about by making colonies by force, starting with several North African countries. The Italian Colonies stamps were to be used there (the dark green bits in Africa on the above map, except for Ethiopia).

His plan didn’t work out very well. Folks in the colonies resisted and the Allies intervened, effectively crushing Italy’s expansionist ambitions. How far might Mussolini have gone had he not been deterred? No one knows for sure; even he probably didn’t know. Nationalistic fantasies tend to be opportunistic and capricious. Guessing what he might have liked has become a parlor game among amateur historians. The lighter greens on the above map represent one such guess. Others speculate that he wanted not only that, but much more, even parts of South America.

I blame Mussolini for the scarcity of cancelled examples of Italian Colonies stamps in my collection. There are only two. Even they might be courtesy cancels. But, come to think about it, without Il Duce's lunacy, I wouldn’t have any Italian Colonies stamps at all.

Census: 54 in BB spaces, 18 on supplement page.

Jim's Observations

Italy was late off the mark with colonies in Africa, only initiating colonialism in 1890 with the colonization of Eritrea. And it was done more for enhancing the prestige of Italy, and converting native populations to Christianity, rather than for primarily economic benefits. 

But in the 1930s, Italian imperialism became molded by Fascist doctrines. Ethiopia was occupied in 1936. Then Ethiopia, and the former colonies of Eritrea and Italian Somaliland were formed into the Italian East Africa colony. Italian colonialism in Africa was ended after the defeat of Italy, Mussolini, and the Fascist regime during WWII.

Italian Colonies Blog Post & BB Checklist

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Ireland - Bud's Big Blue

Clogheen Post Office

Bud's Big Blue
Bud's Observations

Because hostile tempers prevailed during the Irish War for Independence and long thereafter, I find curious the new Irish Free State’s continuing with overprinted British stamps. Was obliterating the British crowed head with Gaelic inscriptions in some sense a satisfying defiant gesture for the Irish political psyche? Was it a reluctant admission of Ireland’s reliance on continued relations with Britain? Was it simply a matter of convenience devoid of any anti-British animus? In any case, the practice of overprinting British stamps continued until 1935. Covers with overprinted British stamps are rarer than those with stamps with Irish designs. Still rarer are covers with mixed franking. The Irish likely preferred to use stamps with Irish designs.

The supplement page scans (below) show a modest run of the overprinted varieties, although it’s far from complete. Some of the super expensive “seahorses” are missing. The overprinted stamps differ, as Jim explains in the main Ireland post, by Gaelic inscriptions, colors of ink, size of the overprints, and British printing companies’ redesigns. The stamps on the supplement pages follow the ones on the BB page in, I think, Scott order. The first three are pre-war Dublin cancels.

I like the Clogheen post office (above) with its staff of pigs. Clogheen had in 2006 a population of about 500 souls and is located in County Tipperary. The photo likely predates the Irish Free State.

Census: 34 in BB spaces, two tip-ins, 66 on supplement page.

Clogheen  cancel, circa 1880

Jim's Observations

This bland introduction that follows belies the tumultuous history between Ireland and Great Britain.

Ireland was part of the United Kingdom from 1801 until December 6, 1922. 

From 1845-49, the Great Famine caused 1 million deaths, with another 1.5 million emigrating primarily to the United States.

After the Irish War of Independence, a revolt begun in 1916, and then a guerrilla war initiated in 1919 by the Irish Republican Army against the British government, a ceasefire was agreed to in July 1921. This lead to the Anglo-Irish Treaty in December, 1921. The treaty allowed Northern Ireland to opt out of the Free State, and indeed that is what they did.

On February 17, 1922, stamps of Great Britain, 1912-19, were overprinted in Irish Gaelic "Provisional Government of Ireland". And so began the Irish stamp issues.

Ireland Blog Post & BB Checklist

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Canada Pictorials 1908-1931

1929 Scott 158 50c dark blue 

Schooner "Bluenose""

Into the Deep Blue
Canada has had more than its share of nicely designed stamps, especially the commemoratives and pictorials. I think what helps is Canadian stamps were virtually all engraved during the classical era.

It would be a shame to bypass illustrating them, so we won't. ;-)

This post will look at the 1908-1931 pictorials, while the next post will continue with the 1932-1939 stamps.

Pictorials 1908-1931 - a closer look
100 Cents - 1 Dollar

1908 Scott 99 5c dark blue

"Champlain's Home in Quebec"

The Quebec Tercentenary Issue of 1908, eight stamps, has four historic scenes/pictorials among the set.

Because Canada was part of the British Empire, permission was sought to have non royal subjects and scenes depicted. King Edward VII gave his consent.

An illustration of the home (and fort complex) built by Samuel de Champlain in founding Quebec in 1608 is shown on the 5c dark blue. CV is $70.

Abitation de Quebec, 1608, established by Champlain

Habitation de Quebec was a group of interconnected buildings set up by Samuel de Champlain when he founded Quebec in 1608. It served as a fort for New France, and was located near the former First Nations village of Stadacona visited by Jacques Cartier in 1535.

1908 Scott 101 10c dark violet

"View of Quebec in 1700"

The 10c dark violet has an image of Quebec in 1700. CV is $125 used/$200 unused.

From page 252 of volume 2 of Historie des Canadiens-Francais 1608-1880

Book Published 1882; Image by Benjamin Sulte

Original held and digitized by the British Library

Looks like the stamp image was derived, in part, from this source.

1908 Scott 102 15c red orange

"Champlain's Departure for the West"

The 15c red orange depicts Champlain's travels into the west. CV is $160.

Apparently the scene on the stamp derives from a verbal description by Champlain: ""With our canoes laden with provisions, our arms and some merchandise to be given as presents to the Indians, I started on Monday, May 27th, from the Isle of Sainte Helaine, accompanied by four Frenchmen and one Indian".

1908 Scott 103 20c yellow brown

"Arrival of Cartier in Quebec"

Depicts "Grande Hermine", "Petite Hermine", and "Emerillon", the three small vessels of Cartier's second expedition and their arrival near Cape Diamond. The stamp set was designed by Jose Antonio Machado of the American Bank Note Company in Ottawa, and engraved by Elie Tomothee Loizeaux.

 CV for the 20c yellow brown is $225 used/$250 unused.

Painting/Sketch

Obviously part of the image design used for the 20c yellow brown

When I did a google search of the stamps image, I stumbled on a curious bit of history for New France. Between 1663-1673, some 800 single women from France were brought in to marry the men that had already settled there. The filles du roy, or the King's Daughters, is an interesting story indeed.

1927 Scott 145 12c dark blue

"Map of Canada"

In 1927, a five stamp issue was released celebrating the 60th year of the Canadian Confederation.

The 12c dark blue shows the extent of the Confederation in 1867, and Canada as of 1927.

CV (unused) is $25.

More detailed maps of Canada are available in the 1852-1902 Canada post.

1928 Scott 155 10c green

Mt. Hurd from the Bell-Smith's Painting

"The Ice-crowned Monarch of the Rockies"

In 1928-29, an eleven stamp "Scroll issue" was published, with the five higher denomination stamps showing scenes/pictorials.

The 10c green shows Mt. Hurd in the Ottertail Range of the Canadian Rockies in British Columbia. A Totem Pole (Gitksan tribe, Skeena River) is depicted on each side in the frame.

1929 Scott 156 12c gray "Quebec Bridge"

Gorgeous stamp! Does this bridge still exist?

Quebec Bridge (Pont de Quebec)

Yes, Indeed!  It is the longest riveted steel truss cantilever bridge in the world, and serves as a pedestrian, rail and road bridge over the Saint Lawrence River. It took over 30 years to complete - in 1919, 88 lives lost, and survived two collapses (1907, 1916).

1929 Scott 157 20c dark carmine

"Harvesting Wheat"

Note the transcontinental train in the background?

Scene near the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in Western Canada depicts harvesting wheat with horse drawn labor.

CV is $65 (unused)/$12 (used).

1929 Scott 158 50c dark blue

Schooner "Bluenose"

Please enlarge and look. Does it take your breath away?

Many consider this stamp the most beautiful of the Canadian stamps. and some consider this stamp the most beautiful PERIOD.

1929 Scott 159 $1 olive green

"Parliament Building"

The 1929 $1 olive green shows the Parliament buildings in Ottawa.

CV is $60.

Home to the federal government, the Gothic revival style buildings were opened in 1866, one year before the Confederation.

1930 Scott 174 12c gray black

"The Citadel at Quebec"

Cropped close-up

The Citadel, part of the fortifications of Quebec City. dates from 1673, and is still an active military installation. It has been involved in the Battle of Quebec 1690, and the American Revolutionary War - 1775. It was reinforced between 1820-1850 (star fort) in anticipation of more trouble with the Americans. Since 1920, the Citadel has been the home of the francophone Royal 22nd Regiment of the Canadian Army.

The 12c gray black was one of five pictorials released in 1930-31, part of the nineteen stamp "Arch Issue".

1930 Scott 175 20c brown red

"Harvesting Wheat"

Note the tractor (1930 Scott 175) has replaced horses (1929 Scott 157) as the means to harvest wheat.

1930 Scott 176 50c dull blue

"Museum at Grand Pre and Monument to Evangeline"

The 50c dull blue celebrates the Acadian Memorial Church and statue of "Evangeline", located at Grand Pre, Nova Scotia.

The story of the persecution and deportation by the British of the 12,000 Acadians (Settlement: 1682-1775) was made famous by the American poet Longfellow, with the 1847 poem, Evangeline.

Today, their French derived culture is very much alive as the Cajuns of southern Louisiana.

1930 Scott 177 $1 dark olive green

"Mt. Edith Cavell"

Out of the Blue

Besides enjoying the great designs, I learned some Canadian history too. !!

Note:Paintings/sketches/pics appear to be in the public domain.

Links

Canada - Bud's Big Blue

Comments appreciated!

Iraq - Bud's Big Blue

Clay letter and envelope. [1]

Bud's Big Blue
Bud's Observations

Except for the 1928 British Mandate issues, BB’s Iraq selections show repetitious crowned heads, some with value changes overprinted. The 1969 BB omits the overprint recapitulation for official stamps, as found in earlier BB editions. But, since these overprints abound in feeder albums, I’ve given space to an assortment on the supplement pages.

Some of the scenic views on the British Mandate stamps, including the mosques, sustained damage during the Iraq War.

Mail service in what is now Iraq can be traced back to Assyrian times, perhaps the 8^th century BCE. Some authorities give an earlier date. Cuneiform messages were impressed on wet clay tablets with reed stylists. Some of these were enclosed in clay envelopes with addresses. As best as I can translate, the above example reads, “Ms. Hammurabi will be at home Thursday next at 4 PM and requires the pleasure of your company for tea.” Well, maybe not.

Census: 54 in BB spaces, two tip-ins, 48 on supplement pages (mostly officials).

See also BB’s Mesopotamia page for similar British Mandate issues.

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[1] British Museum.

Jim's Observations

Iraq has seen Akkadian, Sumerian, Assyrian, Babylonian, and Chaldean empires. The Abbasid Caliphate built Baghdad in the 8th century, and was the leading city for five centuries in the Arab and Muslim world, until overrun by the Mongols.

The Ottoman Empire controlled the territory from 1533-1918. During WW I, the area was occupied by the British, and Mesopotamian stamps were issued from 1917-1920.

Iraq stamps proper, under British mandate, began in 1923. The mandate was terminated in 1932, and the Kingdom of Iraq, under King Faisal I and King Ghazi, continued with both regular and official stamp issues through 1938.

Iraq Blog Post & BB Checklist

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Inini - Bud's Big Blue

The jungle grows back

Remains of the Crique Anguille camp

Bud's Big Blue
Bud's Observations

The art of remembering comes naturally to stamp collectors. Studying and arranging our paper bits often grows into imaginative and creative self-expression.

Remembering becomes art when it recollects forgotten pasts that shape, or ought to shape, the present. Artful remembering, being more than hearts and flowers sentimentality, has sharp vision into both past and future. It can be painful. Stamps provide this omni-focal view. Even “dead countries" stamps tell stories well worth remembering for their poignance and contemporary relevance.

Take Inini’s stamps. What kind of stamp collector wants to specialize in Inini? Who even knows what or where Inini was? Who cares?

·         Maybe a collector who cares about the plight of political convicts whose labor was exploited for hare-brained development schemes.

·         Maybe one searching for early predictors of the Viet Nam wars.

·         Maybe one tracing the fall of the French Colonial Empire.

·         Maybe one exploring South-East Asian cultural influences in South America.

·         Maybe one who remembers, or wants to.

Created by French authorities, Inini, the Amazonal hinterland of Guiana, was meant as a solution to three colonial problems: 1) saving the dwindling gold industry by improving infrastructure, 2) using the forced labor of political convicts from around the empire (mostly Indochinese) thereby neutralizing their dreams of independence, and 3) shielding the coastal areas of French Guiana from being known solely as a penal colony. None of it worked out well. Inini was a short-lived stamp-issuing territory (1930-1946). The jungle has quickly reclaimed the camps built for the Vietnamese prisoners (see above), but not the stamps. So we remember.

Census: 48 in BB spaces, one tip-in, four on supplement page.

Jim's Observations
Stamps of French Guiana were overprinted from 1932-1940. The Vichy government printed stamps in 1941 and 1944 without the "RF" inscription, but they were never placed on sale in Inini.

Was the attempt to build a railroad and colonize the interior a success? No. But the ruins of three prisons are still visible.

Despite the failed experiment, and lack of demand (to say the least) by the Ininians for post office services, the stamps of Inini are widely found in WW albums. The packet trade must have been busy. ;-)

Inini Blog Post and BB Checklist

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