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DANZIG STUDY AND RESEARCH GROUP

Editor: John H. Bloecher Jr., 1743 Little Creek Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21207

“Good evening, everyone .... Boake Carter .... speaking.”

Amos ‘n’ Andy, Edwin C. Hill and Boake Carter were a ritual observed by our grandfather behind closed doors, not to be disturbed by us kids. Now museum pieces known as Old Time Radio, their words were familiar and ominous in 1939. Our May feature article deals with the 1.9.39 period, with excerpts and thanks to The Stamps of Germany -Third Reich by A. Harper and W. Scheck (1966, publisher unknown but once available thru GPS), Michel Specialized Catalog of Germany 1974, and Wm. L. Shirer’s The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. Please add your thoughts to this interesting time.

Our article on the Luftpost labels and their importance in dating covers is not complete and should be ready for June. Future studies will include Danzig Zeppelin flights and... (If someone would volunteer to translate 6 or less pages) “Geschichte der Danziger Post u. Poststempel” from an early Ruberg catalog. If you can spare the time to translate this interesting story, please write the Editor A.S.A.P. Thanks!

Jim Bowman of Santa Susana, California, reminds me that the one test for “favor” cancellations is the one shown on the left. The postmark “DANZIG 1 Z” illustrated is from a series of articles that appeared in The American Philatelist from February to December 1959. This excellent series, entitled “The Pleasures of Danzig Stamps”, was written by Harold W. Fox, and is also available from HJMR. Jim also reports on good source material for writing up exhibits in the October and November 1939 issues of National Geographic. They are titled, “Historic Danzig; Last of the City-States” and “War Clouds over Danzig and Poland’s Port”. Thanks to Jim for reminding us of the postmark omission.

Pete Rickenback’s German Philatelic Review lasted for 23 issues until economics caught up in the mid-1950’s, but all who read his editorials cannot help but enjoy or suffer his caustic comments and wit. For instance, in March 1954: “Writing in the arctic freeze which we are experiencing in London, and hoping that the weather gods will have mercy on us by the time this magazine reaches you, I have really very little to say for a change.” In May 1955: “The sun is shining, and I had better put it on record for, who knows, it might be the only summer’s day we are getting this year, and it would be a pity to miss it. So take notice, my noble reader, that I am sacrificing this glorious London summer to write to you all, and even those who are too proud to submit humble sums for magazine subscriptions.”

 

Danzig Report  Nr. 3 - May - 1975, Page 1.