A Holocaust Stampchart for Israeli and Topical Judaica Philately

(5/2008)

 

Kyung Eun Lee

 

Introduction

 

In the spring 2008, three peers and I began to research Emory UniversityÕs The Sol Singer Collection of Philatelic Judaic, a comprehensive collection featuring Israeli and topical Judaica philately. Composed of three comprehensive series, the Collection already included many details provided as a result of the efforts of the staff of Woodruff Library of Emory University, Dr. David Blumenthal, and Levi Stewart. From this point, Dr. Blumenthal led our group through the task of further classifying this collection, with each of us focusing on detailed topics. I decided to examine the collection and other non-Emory resources to make a complete postage stampchart on Holocaust stamps. Ultimately, this undertaking resulted in a much more thorough understanding of Judaica philately within this category.

 

ÒThe Emory Stampchart of Israeli and Topical Judaica Postage StampsÓ

 

             This stampchart is composed in a format designed by Dr. David Blumenthal and Geoffrey Horowitz, classifying the collection of stamps both within and outside of the Sol Singer Collection. The following eighteen rubrics are observed, all of which are contained on an Excel spreadsheet:

 

Basic

Country of Issue

Date of Issue

Scott Catalogue number (or other catalogue number)

IPS (Israeli Philatelic Service) number (for Israeli stamps only)

Content

Title (usually from one of the catalogues)

Description (usually from one of the catalogues)

Additional Information (usually provided by us)

Internet Links (provided by us)

Categories (the purpose of this is to provide searchable categories)

Category A

Category B

Category C

MARBL Categories (provided by the Library cataloguers)

Philatelic

Format

Denomination

Color

Locators

Volume (in the Singer Collection)

Sequence (within each volume of the Singer Collection)

Non-Emory Source (for stamps added to the stampchart not in the Singer Collection)

 

ÒThe Emory Stampchart of Israeli and Topical Judaica Postage StampsÓ is available online.

 

             Additionally, Professor Blumenthal created a subsequent stampchart designed to eliminate repeated entries. This compilation contains only one format per catalogue entry. It is called ÒA General Stampchart of Israeli and Judaica Topical Postage StampsÓ and is also available for online viewing in various forms.

 

Following these established categories, I sorted through the thousands of entries composed by the Library staff, separating and categorizing the stamps relevant to my particular study on Holocaust stamps. Having completed researching EmoryÕs resources, I then examined outside sources, taking advantage of the past research of Isaac Borodinsky[1], Scott Catalogue 2007[2], and the assistance of Gary Goodman[3], the author of Judaica Newsletter[4], and Keith Newbitt[5], one of the avid readers of the newsletter. Through these helpful resources, I found 221 stamps from the Emory collection, and 201 stamps from outside sources. This generated "The Stampchart for Holocaust Featured on Israeli and Topical Judaica Postage Stamps," arranged by country and date.

After entering all the data, I broke the organized rubric into three detailed categories to allow people to have further research on their interest. Category A indicates my philately topic: Holocaust. Category B indicates contents of the stamps: anniversary, concentration camps, ghetto, monuments (this label was used for memorials as well), and persons. Then category C gives specific explanations or names of the Category B. For example, if category B states Òghetto,Ó category C gives the name of the ghetto on the stamp, such as Warsaw. If category B indicates Òanniversary,Ó category C gives specific details about the anniversary the stamp is commemorating, such as the end of WWII. This generated "The Stampchart for Holocaust Featured on Israeli and Topical Judaica Postage Stamps," arranged by category B and then "The Stampchart for Holocaust Featured on Israeli and Topical Judaica Postage Stamps," arranged by category C. As all the stamps illustrate detailed information about their contents, future enthusiasts should have the convenience of comfortably locating relevant information about Holocaust.

 

ÒThe Stampchart for Holocaust Featured on

Israeli and Jewish Topical Postage StampsÓ

 

             The completed Holocaust Stampchart lists 422 stamps in total. After creating this stampchart solely featuring related stamps on Holocaust from EmoryÕs collection and non-Emory resources, I found interesting trends about issuing countries as follows:

¥ Israel published the most stamps (93 stamps). Israel also published the earliest known stamp in 1942.

¥ Other than Israel, the majority of the stamps were issued in European countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy and Poland; Europe issued 289 stamps on Holocaust.

¥ Fewer stamps were issued on other continents.

Japan issued one stamp on Chiune Sugihara, a hero who saved Jews from Holocaust

Asia (India, Japan and Maldive Island) issued 8 stamps

South America (Argentina, Nicaragua, St. Vincent and Uruguay) issued 4

Africa (Gambia, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Tanzania) issued 6

Oceania (Marshall Island, Palau, Tonga and Australia) issued 6

North America (Canada, Dominica Rep. and US) issued 11 and the

United Nation issued 2 stamps on Holocaust

It, thus, seems clear that those countries that directly experienced Holocaust, mostly European countries, devoted the most in commemorating Holocaust.

             The content of the stamps on the Holocaust Stampchart includes the following:

¥ anniversaries, such as that of the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII, the liberation of concentration camps, and of the Italian resistance movement

¥ fourteen concentration camps, such as Mauthausen, Fort Breendonk, and Terezin

¥ stamps generally portraying the uprising and liberation of the ghettos

¥ heroes, including Raoul Wallenberg, Hannah Szenes and Janus Korczak Janus

¥ Holocaust survivors, such as Elie Wiesel

¥ monuments or memorials which commemorate the Holocaust generally or commemorate specific events or places related to the Holocaust, such as various concentration camps, ghettos, and victims.

Overall, the stamps from the Holocaust Stampchart illustrate martyrs, victims and celebrations for the end of WWII or the Holocaust.

             The Holocaust Stampchart based on the Emory Collection and on additional outside sources indicates that each stamp ranges greatly in contents featured, date released, and country of issue. It is our hope that the research completed will aid others and will continue to grow in detail.

            

We welcome comments and articles written on philatelic Judaica that utilize our stampcharts. Correspondence should be directed to myself or Professor David R. Blumenthal, Tam Institute of Jewish Studies, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; or to his email address.



[1] Borodinsky, Isaac. Judaica in Philately. 3rd ed. 3 vols. 2003.

[2] Kloetzel, James E., William A. Jones, and Martin J. Frankevicz, eds. Scott 2007 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. North Richland Hills: Scott Pub Inc Co, 2006.

[3] Goodman, Gary. ÒRe: Hello.Ó E-mail to Kyung Eun Lee. 11 Feb 2008.

[4] Goodman, Gary. ÒNewsletter No. 28 March 2008.Ó The Judaica Thematic Society, 2008.

[5] Newbitt, Keith. ÒRe: Hi Carolyn.Ó E-mail to Kyung Eun Lee. 14 Mar 2008.