Eastern Silesia, Spis And Orava

"S.O. 1920 stamps were used in the three villages of Jablonka, Podvlk and Vysna Zubrica? And the CSR being removed from Podvlk?"

From what I understand yes! Only Jablonka and Podvlk used the CSP removed provisional postmark. I guess Vysna Zubrica must have made their own postmark from day one.

"I wonder if that means that is around the time Poland took over the post office, or if Polish and Czechoslovak stamps were concurrent?"

I'm not sure but I would assume so. All I can find so far is that Jablonka re-became part of Poland in 1920:

https://translate.google.com/transl...=en&sl=pl&u=https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jab%25C5%2582onka_(wojew%25C3%25B3dztwo_ma%25C5%2582opolskie)

I need time to dig for more. Searching with the Polish spelling or Slovak spelling seem to hit much more info than searching in Czech spelling for any info about Spis and Orava.

https://books.google.co.jp/books?id...ge&q&f=false

July 28th 1920??? hm... I'm confused

My goal is to make my map showing the area of Eastern Silesia, Spis and Orava with the boundaries during the period of use of the S.O. 1920 stamps.

From all this fantastic information, I have gleaned to following:

1. Czechoslovakia (CSR) and Poland declared their independence after the fall of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1918.

2. CSR occupied and claimed most of Eastern Silesia and all of Spis and Orava in 1918. CSR and Poland went to war over Eastern Silesia and by 1920 each occupied roughly half the area. CSR controls all of Spis and Orava.

3. The Conference of Ambassadors is formed by the Allied Powers in January 1920, to enforce peace treaties and to mediate various territorial disputes among European states.

4. A plebiscite was planned to be held in late 1920 or early 1921 for Eastern Silesia, Spis and Orava, to allow the inhabitants to determine whether they would become part of CSR or Poland.

5. S.O. 1920 overprinted stamps put into use in the areas on February 13, 1920. CSR overprinted stamps were used in the Czech held areas of Eastern Silesia (western half), and Polish overprinted stamps were used in the Polish held areas (eastern half).

6. It appears CSR S.O. 1920 stamps were used in all of Spis and Orava, but Polish overprints are known used in late July 1920.

7. On July 28, 1920 The Conference of Ambassadors announces a negotiated settlement of the boundary dispute and the plebiscite is cancelled. The CSR and Polish controlled areas of Eastern Silesia at the time become final, while CSR gives up the northern portions of Spis and Orava to Poland. This took effect on August 10, 1920.

As for the philatelic outcome, I am unsure when Polish stamps officially became valid in Spis and Orava, due to the information in the Fischer catalog as provided by Prahanoaki. It seems it should have been on August 10. Asides from this, were Polish S.O. 1920 stamps actually intended for use in Spis and Orava?

Any comments and corrections would be appreciated!

Bee, I'll try to puzzle through this when I have more time later today. However, I think that the plebiscite was cancelled before July 28, 1920. Wasn't that decided in advance and the agreement was that the Conference of Ambassadors' decision would be accepted by all?

You may be right KGB. I am not sure when the plebiscite was cancelled, I just worded it poorly, I meant in general it was cancelled.

KGB, I have captured some more information from Jesenky's The Slovak-Polish Border, 1918-1947.

According to information on pages 129-130, the Spa Conference of the Prime Ministers of France, Great Britain and Belgium, opened on 5 July 1920.

The following is quoted:




This would seem to indicate the plebiscite was cancelled in early July, 1920.

A "must read" for those interested in the "next generation" of the issues discussed here: http://www.dcstampclub.org/pdfs/Ell...opaganda.pdf

KGB, many thanks for the link. This is an excellent article. As you say, a "must read."

Indeed: great article

Yes a most interesting piece. Thanks for the link KGB.

In terms of philately it shows how some villages ended up using the stamps from several different countries. Take Jablonka in the Orava area, it's stamp use can be summarized:

1850-1867: Used stamps of Austria
1867-1918: Used stamps of Hungary
1918-1920: Used stamps of Czechoslovakia
1920: Used stamps of Eastern Silesia
1920-1939: Used stamps of Poland
1939-1945: Used stamps of Slovakia
1945 to present: Uses stamps of Poland again.

Try to get used stamps or a cover from all eras!

Double checking my Eastern Silesia duplicates, I found this Fridman cancel, which is now Frydman in the Polish part of Spis.