Five million dollars worth of stamps from all parts of the world went on display here yesterday at the opening of the “Tabil” International Stamp Exhibition sponsored by the Union of Israel Philatelic Societies. Stamp collections from postal administrations of 33 countries, as well as some private collections of international fame, were shown at the exhibit at the Histadrut’s Hamlin House here.
Among the private collections were an exhibit of New York’s Frances Cardinal Spellman’s assembly of Biblical interest; “Palestine Forerunners,” a collection owned by Benny Guggenheim of Zurich valued at $400, 000; and an exhibit of a collection of architect Otto Hoffman of Israel, whose Jerusalem stamps include examples going back to the 17th Century when French monks had their own postal service in Western Europe.
One of special interest to Jewish collectors was that of Prof. Roman Wienarski who sent his unique “Collection of Ghetto Motives,” which includes letters and cards from the Auschwitz and Theresienstadt Nazi death camps. The Vatican, the Soviet Union, the United States, France and the United Nations are officially participating but Great Britain’s postal administration, in a letter giving no reason, said it would not participate.
Afro-Asian countries participating included India, Japan, Burma. Ghana and the Union of South Africa. Exhibition sponsors have established armed guards to protect highly-valued stamps. More than 16,000 sheets were on exhibition. The annual Congress of the International Federation of Philately was opened here today in connection with the exhibition which will be open until September 23. The Congress will conclude its sessions September 20.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
