Here we share short stories about a variety of individual philatelic items. The PDF contains background information on the theme of the item or stamp, which could be explored in an exhibit alongside the respective piece (whether in Thematic Philately, Open Philately, or Social Philately). Sometimes you may wonder whether the connection between the item and the theme is far-fetched; other times it will be more obvious. How far you personally wish to take it — perhaps in your own exhibit — is entirely up to you. In any case, we really enjoy letting our imagination wander when exploring possible links between item and theme.
TODAY
An unassuming envelope from 1943 shows how trade, propaganda, and control intertwined in the Nazi state. Fernet-Branca’s advertising eagle meets the Wehrmacht’s Reich eagle — a symbol of civic aspiration versus totalitarian surveillance. The sender’s address references Hans Schemm, a Nazi education ideologue and namesake of many streets and schools. Schemm was a key figure in the ideological alignment of the school system and was later glorified as a martyr by the Nazis. After 1945, his name disappeared from public spaces, and only recent studies have shed light on his dangerous role.
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