Barcelona & Catalonia Cinderellas

That is a very interesting label Cursus.
Such a diverse row of symbols on the inner left side of the circle.

And a question about your previous offering. What is the story behind Montjuic ?

Londonbus1

Hi Mike.
There's much to be told about Montjuïc and its relationship with the city of Barcelona on our two thousand years of history (not so long for a Mediterranean city...). On my Barcelona library I've got not less than 4 books about the mountain.
But I guess that is on the name "Mountain of the Jews" that you might be interested. It seems to come from a Jew cemetery that was located on the mountain.
The Hebrew community was very important in Barcelona from Ist century AD up to 1391 when it nearly disapeared after the riots following the Black Death (that in Catalonia took a heavy toll of about 30% of the population!).
The cemetery was neglected and destroyed by the quarries and the XVIII century fortifications of the Spanish occupation army. But ther're some tombestones on our museums.
It was the work of Catalan Hebrew culture (mainly from Majorca) the "Catalan Atlas".

El Vendrell, 1967, Philathelic Exhibition. "Castellers" (Human towers). A very typical South-Eastern Catalonia sport.

More interesting Cinderellas Cursus.
I see those symbols again, what's the connection with the main design portion.....also from the earlier Casals Cinderella.

Most unusual.

35 pages of pure joy.

Thanks to Cursus for the continuation of a great thread/topic.

Londonbus1...

Thank you vey much for your nice words,Mike. I just do my best to cooperate with this wonderful SCF, that's all!

As for the small symbols on the cinderellas, I've no idea about. I guess they can have a hidden political meaning in a context of a long-lasting (since 1939!)dictatorship, or simply being there to catch the interest of potential thematic buyers. Thus, the Olympic rings, the cross, the Loraine cross.
But, the five-ponted star, symbol of freedom...What's doing there? No clues!

Granollers, August 1954. 1st Philathelic Exhibition. Some of the cinderellas issued for the show. Already shown, but overprinted for a later exhibition.

June 24th Saint John (Sant Joan in Catalan) is considered the Catalan Speaking Lands National Day.
For this reason, this afternoon a fire was started on Mount Canigó (now in French territory) using the Sun light. This fire is already travelling to start bonfires through all lands that share a common language and heritage as a symbol of brotherhood. From Perpinyà (now, SE France) to Alacant (SE Spain, by now).
Some cinderellas have been issued. A mini-sheet of four ones was printed in Barcelona in 1982, for the 1982 "Expocultura". A show of the cultural vitality of Catalonia.
The first cinderella, shows a bonfire; the second one, places the Catalan speaking countries in Europe; the third is detailed map of the territory and the fourth one a view of Mount Canigó.

The face value is on pessetes (1/166 €).

After three weeks without new posts on this thread, I'm showing some cindys from Olot (North of Catalonia)from a 20 units issued in 1951 for the Ist philatelic exhibition.


In general Catalan cinderellas of the 1940's and 1950's show a deep quality decrease, as most relevant designer went to exile or ostracism after the defeat of democracy on the 1936-1939 civil war. These ones depict relevant artists Miquel Blay (sculptor)and Joaquim Vayreda (painter), together with two landscapes of the Garrotxa, the area around Olot.

Interesting items Cursus. I never see this sort of item over on this side of the pond. Most interesting. Keep them coming!

Thank you very much. For us is very common stuff that you easily find on open markets. I'm showing some more items of the same series:

Just bought this morning. 1960 Figueres Expo cinderellas with drawings from Salvador Dalí, who was born there.
Everything was writen on the, then compulsory, Spanish language. A very modern design.

Some more 1951 Olot cinderellas:

Cersus, those Olot cindys are beautiful. And I do love the Dalis as well. He's always been one of my favourite artists.

Thank you very much, James, for your nice comments. To be true with you, in my view, they're just ugly. I showed them because they illustrate a (dark) chapter of Catalonia's history and art. That's all.

As for the Dalí cinderellas, I fully appreciate the value of the design, very modern for its time. Another question is my opinion about Salvador Dalí, whose friendly behaviour with Franco's dictatorship I strongly disaprove.

El Vendrell, July 1959. Stamps, Cinderellas & Coins Exhibition