France 1955 - Deportation Camps

March 1933 marked the beginning of a terrible chapter in world history. That chapter was entitled 'Nazi concentration camps'. After Hitler became Chancellor in Germany, his Nazi Party was given control over the police at the behest of Reich Interior Minister Wilhelm Frick and Prussian Acting Interior Minister Hermann Göring. Immediately after Hitler seized control, the first concentration camps were built. Initially the camps were used to hold and torture political opponents and union organizers. At this time the camps held some 45,000 prisoners in horrid conditions. 

In 1934 things went from bad to worse when Heinrich Himmler's SS took full control of the police and concentration camps throughout Germany. The role of concentration camps changed dramatically. They now also held the so-called "racially undesirable elements" of German society, such as Jews, criminals, homosexuals, and Romani. Before this change occurred the number of people being held in the camps had dropped to 7,500, but it now grew again to 21,000 souls. Astonishingly, that number grew and grew to peak at 715,000 in January 1945. Of this rather alarming number of people, some 200,000 had been deported from Vichy France.

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On 25 April 1955 France issued a stamp in remembrance of the 200,000 French people deported to Nazi concentration camps during WWII. The stamp was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris.

This stamp is a poignant reminder of the desolation and stark terror of being trapped behind walls of barbed wire with very little chance of leaving alive. One shutters to think what it must have been like for all those poor, wretched souls.

Until next time... 

France 1955 - Television

Radio-PTT Vision was the first television station in France. It began broadcasting on 26 April 1935. Through a transmitter located atop the Eiffel Tower the station broadcast programmes three days a week from 11 am to 11:30 am and 8 pm to 8:30 pm and on Sundays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. This channel was the only one in France for 28 years, and it is one of the oldest television stations in the world. Incidentally, the world's first television station started in 1928. It was called WRGB and it broadcast from the General Electric facility in Schenectady, NY. 

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On 18 April 1955 France issued a stamp commemorating television in France. The stamp was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris.

In this design Decaris has illustrated a television signal emanating from the Eiffel Tower, which has been placed right in the centre of the image. Elongated antennae represent all the television antennas in the city of Paris, picking up the signal. The radiating signal to me suggests of a rising sun spreading its light on a new dawn - a new dawn of technology.

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!

France 1955 - Sainte Claire Deville

Henri Étienne Sainte Claire Deville was a French chemist, born 11 March 1818. Among his many scientific achievements, in 1849 he discovered anhydrous nitric acid (nitrogen pentoxide), which was the first of the anhydrides, a mono-basic acid. But perhaps his most important discovery occurred in 1855 when he successfully obtained metallic aluminium. He also worked out a method whereby large scale production of the metal could be achieved. 

But this isn't the whole story. It seems that unbeknown to Sainte Claire Deville, a German chemist ten years earlier had already discovered aluminium. If only they had access to the net! That scientist's name was Friedrich Wöhler. Apparently there was no hard feelings, as they collaborated in 1857 and together discovered silicon nitride.

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On 7 March 1955 France issued a set of six stamps under the theme Famous Inventors. One of these stamps featured Sainte Claire Deville. The stamp was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris.

I think this design is fabulous. Decaris has incorporated the various uses of aluminium over time in a most unique and effective manner. The combination of the streamlined car and interestingly shaped building in the background makes me think of the art deco period in the early 20's.

And of course, I can't finish without mentioning yet another engraved beard for my collection! 

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!

I Found...Another Decaris Stamp

A few days ago I spoke to a fellow Decaris collector on a stamp forum. Through him I was made aware of a Decaris engraved stamp that I had no idea existed. I usually always like to verify for myself if a stamp was indeed engraved by Decaris (not to impugn the word of the collector who told me about the stamp). So far I haven't been able to find any information that conclusively proves the stamp was engraved by Decaris, but I am still assuming he did.

With that said, let's take a look. The country of origin of the stamp, I have to say, surprised me somewhat. The stamp in question is from Peru! It was issued in 1957. Below is lovely block of 4 I managed to track down. When I look closely at it I can definitely see signs of Decaris' style.

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!