Czech Postal Stationery Catalog

Is there a catalog that is for Czechoslovakian Postal Stationery? Other than Michel or Higgins & Gage? I would venture a guess that
some philatelic group in Czechoslovakia has done one.

I have found a series of postal stationery cards (listed with Prefix "PC") in H&G and also listed in Michel's, BUT they do not go into any detail as to the designs or numbers in sets (H&G mentions numbers in set, but I believe these are wrong).

These items in question were done in the early 1950s and it has been indicated there are upwards to some big number (1000's) of different designs.

I particularly like the B&W set of 28 (?) (found 27) of one set dealing with the construction of what appears to be a nuclear power station. It would be nice to know which ones one might be missing in the series'.

Thanks beforehand for any information.

The Czech specialist catalog publisher is Pofis (published in Prague). They may have something specific for postal stationery. Also try the Merkur Revue catalogs (published in Brno).

Thank you. Will check them out.

PoStat4evR - What you are looking for is the POFIS katalog: Èeskoslovenské celiny ÈSR 1918 – 1992 , I. díl / POFIS Catalogue: Czechoslovakian Postal Stationery, Part I (see Tábor Philatelic Club Library : http://kftabor.webnode.cz/products/...-1992-i-dil/ ). It was published by POFIS in 1998 and is now out of print but still sought after in auction sales.

Part II of the POFIS katalog: Èeskoslovenské celiny ÈSR 1918 – 1992, II. díl (see: http://kftabor.webnode.cz/products/...1992-ii-dil/ ) containing the large-format postal stationery was published in 2001 and is still available.

florian: Do you have either catalog? I am only interested in one particular SET (issued 1951) of cards and would like to know what numbers I am missing in that set. If you might have the catalog, I could give you the H&G number for the set. I have 27 cards of what H&G claims there are 28 cards to obtain. I can list the numbers on the back to see which I am missing if you could check same in the catalog you may have. Let me know.

PoStat4evR - I am sorry I have got neither of the POFIS catalogues as I only collect postcards carrying messages by senders reflecting historical facts of interest to me. Also, I am afraid Michel or Higgins & Gage postal stationery catalogues are not available here.

What I have got is a copy of Speciální pøíruèka pro sbìratele èeskoslovenských známek / The Specialized Handbook for Collectors of Czechoslovakian Stamps by Ladislav Novotný, published in 1971 and listing all postal stationery issues between the years 1918 and 1968.

What you will be interested in are the so-called "fotopohlednice" = postcards with a photo on one side and the stamp printed on the other.

According to the Novotný, in the early 1950s, there were 1,081 diferent items issued in 37 sets depicting towns, castles, mannors, health resorts and places of interest.

All that Novotný says is that the so-called "basic production number" helps to identify the set each card belongs to. He does not mention any other numbering of each particular card nor does he give details of the designs. I do not, however, know what details are mentioned in the POFIS Catalogue: Czechoslovakian Postal Stationery, Part I of 1998.

I understand that the cards were printed in sheets of different designs comprising the set as used to be the case.


For the year 1951, Novotný lists 5 sets:

Series # 3 consisting of 24 items, basic production number R 211, R 212-2704700, size 137 by 90 mm, date of issue 01/20/1951.
Series # 4 consisting of 24 items, basic production number R 215-2704700 or 90-2704700, size 137 by 90 mm, date of issue 03/08/1951.
Series # 5 consisting of 24 items, basic production number: numbers ending /perhaps beginning?/ in 91 or 92, size 140 by 90 mm, date of issue 03/08/1951.
Series # 5a consisting of 28 items, basic production number: FB (just the letters, no numbers given), size 140 by 90 mm, date of issue 03/14/1951.
Series # 6 consisting of 24 items, basic production number FP 5093 or FP 5199, size 137 by 90 mm, date of issue 06/281951.
Series # 7 consisting of 28 items, basic production number F 4042, size 140 by 90 mm, date of issue 09/01/1951.

These data were published in the Post Office Gazette.

So series # 5a or # 7 come into consideration, both consisting of 28 items. The Novotný does not say anything about the designs of each set.

In order to try and proceed with further research the numbers on the back of your cards might help as well as images of the front and the back of a couple of items that both fit your description (nuclear power station) and do not.

Florian: Here are a few scans per your request.
1st rear of all cards same (FP 4092 individual numbers change)



2nd and 3rd shots of construction. It may not be a nuclear plant, but the cooling towers indicate it might be...






The cards have a "FP4092-025XXX" series number sequence.

H&G catalog says they were issued in 1952.

After looking at them again, this could be a oil refinery of some sort.

Hope this helps.

PoStat4evR - Sorry, I was put on the wrong track by the year 1951 you had said the set was issued in.

Now that I can see your scans there is now doubt about the set consisting of 28 items, one of them depicting the (iron) ore bridge under construction (= Rozestavìný rudný most) in the new Klement Gottwald metallurgical plant at Kunèice (= Nové Hutì Klementa Gottwalda v Kunèicích). První ès. stavba socialismu roughly translates as The first (or foremost) Czechoslovakian construction of the era of socialism - a propaganda slogan.

This set appeared in Burda Auction #20 of May 2008 (lot #1327) as set CPH13/1-28, which will be the numbering used by the POFIS Catalogue: Czechoslovakian Postal Stationery, Part I of 1998, which will list all of the designs in the set. I will look around for a copy of the POFIS catalogue to consult. It will give the number (here: 1 to 28) of the card in the set (this number is not shown on the card itself) and the subject matter of the snap (here: Rozestavìný rudný most). To find out which number you are missing I need at least the first word after the colon (here: Rozestavìný ...) unless repeated on another card. In that case the first two words are necessary, again, unless repeated on another card.

On the cards, FP stands for fotopohlednice (= photo postcard), 4092 denotes the printing series, -025XXX specifies the snap used in the Nové Hutì Klementa Gottwalda v Kunèicích set.

The numbering of sets in the POFIS Catalogue: Czechoslovakian Postal Stationery of 1998 is different from that used in The Specialized Handbook for Collectors of Czechoslovakian Stamps of 1971 because the POFIS Catalogue includes all postcards with photos or drawings on one side and the stamp on the other in a single section while the Handbook has a separate section for each.

Different CPH sets can be seen in lots 3144 - 3163 on http://www.burda-auction.com/en/pub...cze-1945_92/ .

florian: Thank you. Sorry for the mis information earlier. I will get the subject names put up when I get home tonight.

FLORIAN:

Here are the photocard numbers and the description line of the 27 I have. Which one am I missing?

FP 4092-025352 HLOUBENI ZAKLADU
FP 4092-025353 MLADEZ NA STAVBE
FP 4092-025354 ODKLIZENI ZEMINY
FP 4092-025355 POSLEGNI PRACE NA PLYNOVEM POTRUBI
FP 4092-025356 MONTAZ PLYNOVEHO POTRUBI
FP 4092-025357 MONTERI PRI PRACI
FP 4092-025358 ODEHOD BRIGADNIKU ZE SMENY
FP 4092-025359 SVAREE NA STAVBE
FP 4092-025360 PHLED K VYSOKE PECI
FP 4092-025362 MLADI BUDOVATELE SOCIALISMU
FP 4092-025363 ROZESTAVENY RUDNY MOST
FP 4092-025364 SVARENI KOLEN PRO ARMATURU CISTICU PLYNU
FP 4092-025365 PRUHLED K VYSOKE PECI
FP 4092-025366 PRACE MONTERU
FP 4092-025367 NA SMENE MIRU
FP 4092-025368 PRUHLED ROZESTAVENOU BLOKOVNOU
FP 4092-025369 ZAKLADY CISTICICH NADRRZI
FP 4092-025370 MOHUTNY JERAB PRI PRACI
FP 4092-025371 MEZI NEBEM A ZEMI
FP 4092-025372 ODVAZNA PRACE NYTARE
FP 4092-025375 OCELOVA KOSTRA ELECKTRARNY
FP 4092-025376 NA UPATI VYSOKE PECE
FP 4092-025378 PHHLED K CISICUM PLYNU
FP 4092-025505 PRVNI KOUR Z KOMINU KOKSOVNY
FP 4092-025506 PREDHRIVACE VZDUCHU
FP 4092-025507 PRACE ZELEZARU V MOHUTNEM ZAKLADU


Thank you. Let me know if I did this wrong.

PoStat4evR - Perfect. The description lines are OK. Now I can look around for a copy of the POFIS postal stationery catalogue. As I live a very long way from Prague, I might take some time to find a copy for consultation unless the volume is available in the local club's library at the next meeting, which is this Sunday.

PoStat4evR - Here is an attempt at a traslation of the captions (without seeing the pictures):

FP 4092-025352 HLOUBENI ZAKLADU - Laying the foundations
FP 4092-025353 MLADEZ NA STAVBE - Young people on the construction site
FP 4092-025354 ODKLIZENI ZEMINY - Stripping the soil
FP 4092-025355 POSLEDNI PRACE NA PLYNOVEM POTRUBI - Finishing the gas duct
FP 4092-025356 MONTAZ PLYNOVEHO POTRUBI - Assembling the gas duct
FP 4092-025357 MONTERI PRI PRACI - Fitters at work
FP 4092-025358 ODCHOD BRIGADNIKU ZE SMENY - Work team leaving their shift
FP 4092-025359 SVAREC NA STAVBE - Welder at work
FP 4092-025360 POHLED K VYSOKE PECI - View of a blast furnace
FP 4092-025362 MLADI BUDOVATELE SOCIALISMU - Young builders of Socialism
FP 4092-025363 ROZESTAVENY RUDNY MOST - Ore bridge under construction
FP 4092-025364 SVARENI KOLEN PRO ARMATURU CISTICU PLYNU - Welding bends of the gas cleaner piping
FP 4092-025365 PRUHLED K VYSOKE PECI - Vista of a blast furnace
FP 4092-025366 PRACE MONTERU - Fitters at work
FP 4092-025367 NA SMENE MIRU - Working the "Peace" shift
FP 4092-025368 PRUHLED ROZESTAVENOU BLOKOVNOU - Vista of the rolling mill under construction
FP 4092-025369 ZAKLADY CISTICICH NADRZI - Foundations of the cleaning tanks
FP 4092-025370 MOHUTNY JERAB PRI PRACI - Powerful crane at work
FP 4092-025371 MEZI NEBEM A ZEMI - Suspended in the air
FP 4092-025372 ODVAZNA PRACE NYTARE - Riveter´s daring performance
FP 4092-025375 OCELOVA KOSTRA ELEKTRARNY - Steel skeleton of the power plant
FP 4092-025376 NA UPATI VYSOKE PECE - At the blast furnace foundation
FP 4092-025378 POHLED K CISTICUM PLYNU - View of the gas cleaners
FP 4092-025505 PRVNI KOUR Z KOMINU KOKSOVNY - First smoke from the coking plant stacks
FP 4092-025506 PREDHRIVACE VZDUCHU - Air preheaters
FP 4092-025507 PRACE ZELEZARU V MOHUTNEM ZAKLADU - Ironworkers at work in the huge foundations

By the way, there are 26 items only, so remember to add your 27th, please

Florian: Sorry it was the first card in the series:

FP 4092-025351 PRI MONTAZI BLOKOVNY

Hope that helps.

PoStat4evR - Yesterday evening, I called on a friend and mentioning the POFIS postal stationery catalogue, much to my surprise I learnt I could borrow both the volumes from him, so your problem is solved.

Here is the list of the items belonging to the CPH13/1-28 set:

(1) FP 4092-025351 PRI MONTAZI BLOKOVNY - Assembling the rolling mill
(2) FP 4092-025352 HLOUBENI ZAKLADU - Laying the foundations
(3) FP 4092-025353 MLADEZ NA STAVBE - Young people on the construction site
(4) FP 4092-025354 ODKLIZENI ZEMINY - Stripping the soil
(5) FP 4092-025355 POSLEDNI PRACE NA PLYNOVEM POTRUBI - Finishing the gas duct
(6) FP 4092-025356 MONTAZ PLYNOVEHO POTRUBI - Assembling the gas duct
(7) FP 4092-025357 MONTERI PRI PRACI - Fitters at work
(8) FP 4092-025358 ODCHOD BRIGADNIKU ZE SMENY - Work team leaving their shift
(9) FP 4092-025359 SVAREC NA STAVBE - Welder at work
(10) FP 4092-025360 POHLED K VYSOKE PECI - Bird's eye view of a blast furnace
(11) FP 4092-025362 MLADI BUDOVATELE SOCIALISMU - Young builders of Socialism
(12) FP 4092-025363 ROZESTAVENY RUDNY MOST - Ore bridge under construction
(13) FP 4092-025364 SVARENI KOLEN PRO ARMATURU CISTICU PLYNU - Welding bends of the gas cleaner piping
(14) FP 4092-025365 PRUHLED K VYSOKE PECI - Vista of a blast furnace
(15) FP 4092-025366 PRACE MONTERU - Fitters at work
(16) FP 4092-025367 NA SMENE MIRU - Working the "Peace" shift
(17) FP 4092-025368 PRUHLED ROZESTAVENOU BLOKOVNOU - Vista of the rolling mill under construction
(18) FP 4092-025369 ZAKLADY CISTICICH NADRZI - Foundations of the cleaning tanks
(19) FP 4092-025370 MOHUTNY JERAB PRI PRACI - Powerful crane at work
(20) FP 4092-025371 MEZI NEBEM A ZEMI - Suspended in the air
(21) FP 4092-025372 ODVAZNA PRACE NYTARE - Riveter´s daring performance
(22) FP 4092-025374 BAGR PRI PRACI - Excavator at work
(23) FP 4092-025375 OCELOVA KOSTRA ELEKTRARNY - Steel skeleton of the power plant
(24) FP 4092-025376 NA UPATI VYSOKE PECE - At the blast furnace foundation
(25) FP 4092-025378 POHLED K CISTICUM PLYNU - View of the gas cleaners
(26) FP 4092-025505 PRVNI KOUR Z KOMINU KOKSOVNY - First smoke from the coking plant stacks
(27) FP 4092-025506 PREDHRIVACE VZDUCHU - Air preheaters
(28) FP 4092-025507 PRACE ZELEZARU V MOHUTNEM ZAKLADU - Ironworkers at work in the huge foundations

So it is #(22) you are missing.

See my e-mail with photocopies attached.

You are welcome to make any other enquiries about Czechoslovakian postal stationery.

P.S. My granddaughter is telling me that no photocopies can be attached to your e-mail address. These include images of the cards.

Thank you for all your help. Now I will at least know which one I am missing, should I ever find it.