Barcelona & Catalonia Cinderellas

Our friends of the Terrassa (Catalonia) Collectors Association have issued 32 reproductions of Catalan Nationalists cindererellas form early XXth century.
Steps have been taken, so that the reproductions cannot be confused with the real ones.

Between 1940 and 1974 the, Barcelona based, Iberland company manufactured radio and tv sets. On the 60's they issued Xmas greetings cinderellas. This one, was issued in 1962 and wishes a merry Xmas and a happy 1963.

This thread has overcome the 100.000 readings. This milestone, has been reached, if I'm not wrong, just by four other threads on this forum.
The main difference is that, while the said threads deal with worldwide items, this one just shows cinderellas coming from a small country (Catalonia, "Catalunya" for us)just 32.000 sqkm wide, home (nowadays)of 7.50 mio people and not yet an independent one (we're progressing towards it!)
The interest of such a "local" issue amongst our friends, is still a mistery to me.
But I just can say: Thank you.

As a way to commemorate the fact of reaching the 100.000 milestone, I'm uploading a cinderella issued in 1919, nearly 100 years ago. Is the Catalan Freedom Flag, that we affectionaly call "l'Estelada" (the starred). It's origin can be traced to the Cuban and Puerto Rico flags (many Catalans fought on their independence wars) and, thus, to the "Lone Star" Texas flag. It was issued to ask the Society of Nations (the foreruner of UN) to recognise Catalonia's indepndence.




This flag, which is today hoisted all arround Catalonia, symbolises the peaceful desire of Catalan People of becoming a free democratic republic.

First of all conrgratulations with reaching the 100.000 milestone. Well deserved. I think that the succes of this post is due to the fact that it is well presented, ongoing and simply interesting. I personally am amazed by the large number of cinderellas that were issued in in Barcelona and Catalunya. The designs, printing techniques, colors and topics are always interesting. Keep up the good work. Kind regards, Johan.

Bravo Cursus,
Yes, well done, a truly amazing, interesting thread.

Thank you very much Rod & Johan for your nice words. Much appreciated coming from countries Australia & Netherlands which I hold in great estime; althought I've only been able to visit the later. I remember, five years ago, driving from Antwerpen to Amsterdam, visiting Rotterdam, Den Hage, Haarlem, Breda... Just 25 years ago, a Dutch (Ronald Koeman) scored a goal that was worth a European championship. And the much missed Johan Cruiff...
We, Catalans, aim to be "The Netherlands of the South", since early XVIII century!
And the days, spent with the Aussie Olympic team in Barcelona in 1992, drinking good Australian beer! And chatting with wonderful Olympic legends, like Dawn Frazer.

I knew there had to be some more Barca fans here. I have not visited yet but I deeply enjoy seeing the labels and thinking about the culture. 1992 hmmmm, wish I had been there with you all.

Wow!

I'm very sorry that the shortage of Money has prevented me from uploading more cinderellas, as I only show pieces of my collection. So, the interest of the thread is not as high as it used to be on its early days.
Lets hoope that things may change on a future.

Congratulations Cursus! To celebrate this milestone I put one of the cinderella in that I love the most. I hope you like it.

Thank you very much Alexandre.
This very nice cinderella shows the sculpture on the Palau de la Música Catalana main corner, made in 1907 (just 10 years before the issue of the cinderella!) by Miquel Blay honouring "La Cançó Popular" the People's Song.

Barcelona, 1907. Our first "stamp" to collect money for tuberculosis fighting. Actually a very small (25 x 30 mm) stamp, and a gift of a good friend.



On the stamp it can be read in Latin "Charity" and "The health of the people is the supreme law" and in Spanish "Catalan Trust to fight against tuberculosis". The design is clearly Modernist.

On May 20th 1992, 25 years today, FC Barcelona won its first European Championship on the old Wembley Stadium (London).
As far as I know, there's no cinderella showing FC Barcelona. But, in 1957, a lesser soccer team from Barcelona, called "Europa" celebrated its 50th birthday and two cinderellas were issued. By, the way, blue, is the colour of the team.
CD Europa, is from Barcelona's district of Gràcia, and its playing field it's a 5 minutes walk from my home.

Cursus:
Did you ever make it up to Andorra to get me a set of whatever was left on both sides (French & Spanish) in postal stationery?
Bob

Hi Bob,
I'm afraid it would be complicated. Andorra, for our W.European standards, is far away from Barcelona (220 km/ 4 h. driving/ 23 € in petrol). You only go there for shoping (it's duty-free) or leissure (skying or treking), on week-ends or holidays. Then, PO are closed. There's no bussiness (for me) to be done there and it's 2 h apart from the main roads across the Iberian península.
The last time (about 5 years ago) that I was there on a working day I went to the French PO (in the Spanish one, they don't have nothing!)and circulated my self some stationery, as they are very rare.
When I do need something from Andorra, I surf the net. It's just once in a while that you find circulated items (ussually postcards) on stamp Markets.