Do You Collect The Third Reich?

Then if you haven't already, you should put this book on your Christmas list. Just received mine today, and it's amazing!

Philately of the Third Reich, by Robert W. Jones, available from MAR Historical (and no, I'm not a paid spokesman). It's got more info than a Michel specialized catalog, and it's in English!

MAR Historical is great. I really like the album pages offered on the website. This is by far the best information on Third Reich Stamps.

Great info, Postmaster. I'll add that one to my list :)

This will most definitely be on my Christmas list.

Nice pictures.
I have some Third Reich stamps.

No but sadly my Great Grandfather Kelchner was in the SS. I know this really offends some folks and for good reason and I have seen these kinds of threads go south really fast but it IS a part of our history and those who don't study history are bound to repeat it. Just sayin'. Thank you for the presentation as it was really fascinating. -Jay

i remember a guy that used to be at shows specializing in only that type of material..it didn't give me a good feeling and I avoided that area..

I think philatelists tend to be more reasonable about the topic. Perhaps it's because the study of postage stamps is synonymous with the study of history? In any case, no need to walk on eggshells. In this forum, one can be interested in 3rd Reich postage without being accused of having an agenda!

Brian

The book looks great but is a bit out of my price range at the moment.

Absolutely Brian! I certainly didn't mean to imply otherwise. in fact, it sort of intrigues me (philatelically)!
I just seem to remember a forum member getting really upset over a similar thread and wanted to avoid a repeat. My apologies.

Hey! I just noticed those Swastika/palm tree stamps. I see a lot of those on ebay and pages upon pages of information on the net about fakes and forgeries of those. Why were they so prolifically counterfeited? Just the rarity of the originals?

Philb, yes I feel the same. Mum and Dads 1940's Polish experience was graphically/continually told to us, the neighbours and anyone else not informed during the first 20 years of our childhood.

Mum was adamant that IF the people ever forgot there would be a 3rd attempt.

Interestingly, the largest group of TRS collectors tend to be from the groups that were persecuted.



Edit for spelling

To me, history is history good or bad. If someone avoids a certain area/country for personal reasons, thats up to them..thats what fredom of choice means.

One thing that I find interesting is that I've only ever heard about people avoiding Nazi related philatic material. I've never heard of people avoiding for example the Soviet Union (who under Stalin killed millions), or Japan (world war 2 atrocities), Cambodia (kymer rouge killed about 20% of it's population) etc etc

ILS, I believe the palm tree stamp you referenced is commonly counterfeited. I see them often as well, but have avoided them until I learn more.

ILS, I don't believe the sins of the father (or great grandfather in this case) should be visited on the son, as they say. He did what he did, those were the times.
There are also those who say "Be here now". A mind that wants to wander 'round a corner is an unwise mine.
One of the beauties of stamp collecting is that we can learn history and from history. We can learn from it, doesn't mean we have to follow it.

...oh, it's too early for this stuff. I need another coffee.