Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
Discussion - Member to Member Sales - Research Center
The Holocaust Stamps Project, now in its fifth year at Foxborough (MA) Regional Charter School, has surpassed 3.2 million postage stamps in its collection goal of 11 million to honor the memories of 6 million Jewish victims and 5 million others considered "enemies of the state" by the Nazis. THANK YOU TO STAMPORAMA MEMBERS who have contributed stamp donations up 'til now!One envelope the Project received contained numerous sheets of Easter Seals. As (I have learned from Stamporama members)they are considered "Cinderellas" in the philatelic world, they have been set aside and haven't been included in the Project collection. The donor was obviously well-intentioned; I'm curious about opinions of StampoRama members regarding whether or not these should be included in the Stamps Project collection.
Cancelled postage stamps were chosen as the focus of the collection for a number of reasons. There is strong symbolism in the act of discarding a "used" stamp as having no value, once it's served its purpose delivering the mail, as human beings were "tossed out as worthless trash" by the Third Reich. Also, the images on stamps represent and teach so much about the extraordinarily diverse world in which we live;yet intolerance for differences is what led to 11 million Holocaust deaths. Much is being learned by the students - and adult volunteers - as they count and sort the donated stamps.
I'll be looking for a Cinderella collector among you who would like these if they are not to be added to the Project total...even better if a swap could be made for your unwanted duplicates!The Holocaust Stamps project needs every single postage stamp that needs a home!
Lots of info about the Holocaust Stamps Project is available on its website...easily reached via GOOGLE- It's the first URL listed.
What's the concensus out there - should the Easter Seals be included?
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Given the number of stamps you have accumulated, odds are that you probably already have several hundred cinderellas that passed through your filtering process (yes, there are CTO cinderellas). I'm including "bogus" issues in the cinderella category.
Regarding "used" stamps, there are probably thousands of CTOs in your accumulation as well.
Since you asked, I wouldn't be too concerned about the Easter Seals. Unfortunately, Easter Seals and other cinderellas often get tossed out or shunned (even by stamp collectors) -- so it fits in well with your line of thinking about used stamps being discarded. I'd be more worried about filtering out stamps with Swastikas or Nazi themes.
The Easter Seals were not from me, and I have no idea who may have sent them. So these are just my honest thoughts...
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08:27:59pm
Kim said:
"I'd be more worried about filtering out stamps with Swastikas or Nazi themes."
That brings to mind an interesting thought as I am sure there are hundreds (if not many thousands) of stamps from Nazi occupied areas among the donated stamps, which were licked by genuine, board certified fascists (perhaps even guards or officers at the death camps themselves). This means that the DNA of the very monsters who participated in these atrocities is present in the memorial to their victims!
Maybe including a few charity seals can offset the evil a tad...
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i'll speak for the Easter Seal sheets. I'd love to have them and have lots of stamps for the project.
David, Cinderella's other step brother
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09:50:47am
" ....I am sure there are hundreds (if not many thousands) of stamps from Nazi occupied areas among the donated stamps, which were licked by genuine, board certified fascists (perhaps even guards or officers at the death camps themselves). ...."
At the same time since stamps of the Nazi era were required on postage in most of Europe for several years, it is just as likely that any given used stamp was "licked" by one of those unfortunates who were slaughtered or perhaps a member of the resistance in Norway or Holland.
Imagine that, all mixed together without regard to which side of the political spectrum the user came from.
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12:12:01pm
I didn't mean to imply that all persons sending mail in Nazi occupied areas were among the fanatics who perpetrated the atrocities referred to. In fact, even among registered members of the National Socialist Party, the fanatics were in the minority (else why would the hierarchy make efforts to conceal the knowledge of the death camps from its own citizens - they knew that many, if not most, of the bigots among them would draw the line at the "final solution"). My sole point is that, if the stamps collected symbolize the victims, why not leave the charity seals in the collection to offset the "evil" of the few {EXPLETIVE DELETED} monsters whose saliva taint the collection.
This was probably a poor attempt to communicate my thoughts, but I have very strong feelings toward the beasts who slaughtered so many innocent souls, and yet am very sensitive to the innate good within the vast majority of the German peoples. I apologize if I offended anyone.
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I am the first to admit that the "strong symbolism" of 11 million stamps in a fish tank is lost on me. In part, certainly, because as a stamp collector, stamps have value to me, and a used stamp is just the exact opposite of worthless trash. But also, as a matter of personal opinion, because the simile ( = a figure of speech) "a holocaust victim is like a stamp" is just fundamentally strange.
Not to be constructed as a criticism of the project. There is no right or wrong way, or "best" way, to honor or commemorate a tragedy. Recall the discussions about how to design the September 11 memorial in New York, or a Holocaust memorial in Berlin. I think it is a good project for the kids. The stamp collages I just love and that kids handle, and even see, postage stamps from all over the world, is only in the best interest of the hobby -- apart from the primary purpose to learn and reflect about the holocaust.
The discussion here, but what about any mint stamps, Nazi-era stamps, not-exactly-stamps (seals, cinderellas) inadvertently included in the mix?, shows that this is a stamp collector forum. We know our stamps and thus have sharp observations. The average spectator later will probably just look at the exhibit and go: Wow. That's a LOT of stamps ...
Arno
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Thank you all, for your interest in discussing my post and the Project.
I'm glad to know that David will be giving the Easter Seals a home where they'll be appreciated...
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I opened up the link to get details on the Holocaust project to mail stuff to them. The link is broken. Is this project still ongoing? if so, please provide details.
David
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10:48:09am
I sent an email and a Stamporama message to csheer requesting an update.
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I found the new page. Here is the link.
http://www.foxboroughrcs.org/students-families/frcs-holocaust-stamp-project/
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Thank you, Revstampman, for sharing the corrected URL to access the Holocaust Stamps Project based at Foxborough Regional Charter School in Foxboro, Massachusetts:
http://www.foxboroughrcs.org/students-families/frcs-holocaust-stamp-project/
Cyberstuff happens, I guess, and I was unaware that the school's web administrators had made that change to the URL. It's still just as easy to find it by Googling HOLOCAUST STAMPS PROJECT and clicking on the first link listed. Please check it out to learn about some of the important lessons being learned through "USED STAMPS" which might otherwise have just been tossed out!
"Eleven Million Reasons to Never Forget" - One of the students' earliest stamps collage artworks.
Each of the 11 figures is filled with stamps from one of the Nazi-occupied countries.Love stamps form the "broken heart of Europe" while German stamps form the background.In sharp contrast, stamps bearing Hitler's face form the eyes in the upper left corner, while teardrops are in the images of the Allied leaders, Churchill and Roosevelt. In the lower right the Star represents the Six Million Jews who died and the yellow candle is "lit" in memory of all who perished.
By the way, there has been an update to the total number of collected stamps since the last posting on the website. As of January 30, 2014, the total number of donated cancelled postage stamps is 3,455,069 stamps, about 30% of the 11,000,000 which the school community is striving to collect as a Holocaust education Community Service Learning initiative.
Progress continues to be made on the series of 18 stamps collage artworks that students are creating to depict what they have learned about the causes and effects of the Holocaust. Nine have been completed,using thousands of the donated stamps, with two more just about done and a new collage being designed/about to be started. I'll share pictures for the Stamporama community once the newest ones are done.
Thanks again to all members who have supported the Holocaust Stamps Project with their generous stamps donations!
(Modified by Moderator on 2014-01-31 16:10:22)
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Wonderful! We'll be watching for your stamps at school..thanks so much!
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The Holocaust Stamps Project, now in its fifth year at Foxborough (MA) Regional Charter School, has surpassed 3.2 million postage stamps in its collection goal of 11 million to honor the memories of 6 million Jewish victims and 5 million others considered "enemies of the state" by the Nazis. THANK YOU TO STAMPORAMA MEMBERS who have contributed stamp donations up 'til now!
One envelope the Project received contained numerous sheets of Easter Seals. As (I have learned from Stamporama members)they are considered "Cinderellas" in the philatelic world, they have been set aside and haven't been included in the Project collection. The donor was obviously well-intentioned; I'm curious about opinions of StampoRama members regarding whether or not these should be included in the Stamps Project collection.
Cancelled postage stamps were chosen as the focus of the collection for a number of reasons. There is strong symbolism in the act of discarding a "used" stamp as having no value, once it's served its purpose delivering the mail, as human beings were "tossed out as worthless trash" by the Third Reich. Also, the images on stamps represent and teach so much about the extraordinarily diverse world in which we live;yet intolerance for differences is what led to 11 million Holocaust deaths. Much is being learned by the students - and adult volunteers - as they count and sort the donated stamps.
I'll be looking for a Cinderella collector among you who would like these if they are not to be added to the Project total...even better if a swap could be made for your unwanted duplicates!The Holocaust Stamps project needs every single postage stamp that needs a home!
Lots of info about the Holocaust Stamps Project is available on its website...easily reached via GOOGLE- It's the first URL listed.
What's the concensus out there - should the Easter Seals be included?
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re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
Given the number of stamps you have accumulated, odds are that you probably already have several hundred cinderellas that passed through your filtering process (yes, there are CTO cinderellas). I'm including "bogus" issues in the cinderella category.
Regarding "used" stamps, there are probably thousands of CTOs in your accumulation as well.
Since you asked, I wouldn't be too concerned about the Easter Seals. Unfortunately, Easter Seals and other cinderellas often get tossed out or shunned (even by stamp collectors) -- so it fits in well with your line of thinking about used stamps being discarded. I'd be more worried about filtering out stamps with Swastikas or Nazi themes.
The Easter Seals were not from me, and I have no idea who may have sent them. So these are just my honest thoughts...
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
12 Nov 2013
08:27:59pm
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
Kim said:
"I'd be more worried about filtering out stamps with Swastikas or Nazi themes."
That brings to mind an interesting thought as I am sure there are hundreds (if not many thousands) of stamps from Nazi occupied areas among the donated stamps, which were licked by genuine, board certified fascists (perhaps even guards or officers at the death camps themselves). This means that the DNA of the very monsters who participated in these atrocities is present in the memorial to their victims!
Maybe including a few charity seals can offset the evil a tad...
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re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
i'll speak for the Easter Seal sheets. I'd love to have them and have lots of stamps for the project.
David, Cinderella's other step brother
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Silence in the face of adversity is the father of complicity and collusion, the first cousins of conspiracy..
13 Nov 2013
09:50:47am
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
" ....I am sure there are hundreds (if not many thousands) of stamps from Nazi occupied areas among the donated stamps, which were licked by genuine, board certified fascists (perhaps even guards or officers at the death camps themselves). ...."
At the same time since stamps of the Nazi era were required on postage in most of Europe for several years, it is just as likely that any given used stamp was "licked" by one of those unfortunates who were slaughtered or perhaps a member of the resistance in Norway or Holland.
Imagine that, all mixed together without regard to which side of the political spectrum the user came from.
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
13 Nov 2013
12:12:01pm
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
I didn't mean to imply that all persons sending mail in Nazi occupied areas were among the fanatics who perpetrated the atrocities referred to. In fact, even among registered members of the National Socialist Party, the fanatics were in the minority (else why would the hierarchy make efforts to conceal the knowledge of the death camps from its own citizens - they knew that many, if not most, of the bigots among them would draw the line at the "final solution"). My sole point is that, if the stamps collected symbolize the victims, why not leave the charity seals in the collection to offset the "evil" of the few {EXPLETIVE DELETED} monsters whose saliva taint the collection.
This was probably a poor attempt to communicate my thoughts, but I have very strong feelings toward the beasts who slaughtered so many innocent souls, and yet am very sensitive to the innate good within the vast majority of the German peoples. I apologize if I offended anyone.
Login to Like
this post
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
I am the first to admit that the "strong symbolism" of 11 million stamps in a fish tank is lost on me. In part, certainly, because as a stamp collector, stamps have value to me, and a used stamp is just the exact opposite of worthless trash. But also, as a matter of personal opinion, because the simile ( = a figure of speech) "a holocaust victim is like a stamp" is just fundamentally strange.
Not to be constructed as a criticism of the project. There is no right or wrong way, or "best" way, to honor or commemorate a tragedy. Recall the discussions about how to design the September 11 memorial in New York, or a Holocaust memorial in Berlin. I think it is a good project for the kids. The stamp collages I just love and that kids handle, and even see, postage stamps from all over the world, is only in the best interest of the hobby -- apart from the primary purpose to learn and reflect about the holocaust.
The discussion here, but what about any mint stamps, Nazi-era stamps, not-exactly-stamps (seals, cinderellas) inadvertently included in the mix?, shows that this is a stamp collector forum. We know our stamps and thus have sharp observations. The average spectator later will probably just look at the exhibit and go: Wow. That's a LOT of stamps ...
Arno
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this post
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
Thank you all, for your interest in discussing my post and the Project.
I'm glad to know that David will be giving the Easter Seals a home where they'll be appreciated...
Login to Like
this post
Auctions
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
I opened up the link to get details on the Holocaust project to mail stuff to them. The link is broken. Is this project still ongoing? if so, please provide details.
David
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They who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. -Benjamin Franklin
31 Jan 2014
10:48:09am
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
I sent an email and a Stamporama message to csheer requesting an update.
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11:42:42am
re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
I found the new page. Here is the link.
http://www.foxboroughrcs.org/students-families/frcs-holocaust-stamp-project/
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re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
Thank you, Revstampman, for sharing the corrected URL to access the Holocaust Stamps Project based at Foxborough Regional Charter School in Foxboro, Massachusetts:
http://www.foxboroughrcs.org/students-families/frcs-holocaust-stamp-project/
Cyberstuff happens, I guess, and I was unaware that the school's web administrators had made that change to the URL. It's still just as easy to find it by Googling HOLOCAUST STAMPS PROJECT and clicking on the first link listed. Please check it out to learn about some of the important lessons being learned through "USED STAMPS" which might otherwise have just been tossed out!
"Eleven Million Reasons to Never Forget" - One of the students' earliest stamps collage artworks.
Each of the 11 figures is filled with stamps from one of the Nazi-occupied countries.Love stamps form the "broken heart of Europe" while German stamps form the background.In sharp contrast, stamps bearing Hitler's face form the eyes in the upper left corner, while teardrops are in the images of the Allied leaders, Churchill and Roosevelt. In the lower right the Star represents the Six Million Jews who died and the yellow candle is "lit" in memory of all who perished.
By the way, there has been an update to the total number of collected stamps since the last posting on the website. As of January 30, 2014, the total number of donated cancelled postage stamps is 3,455,069 stamps, about 30% of the 11,000,000 which the school community is striving to collect as a Holocaust education Community Service Learning initiative.
Progress continues to be made on the series of 18 stamps collage artworks that students are creating to depict what they have learned about the causes and effects of the Holocaust. Nine have been completed,using thousands of the donated stamps, with two more just about done and a new collage being designed/about to be started. I'll share pictures for the Stamporama community once the newest ones are done.
Thanks again to all members who have supported the Holocaust Stamps Project with their generous stamps donations!
(Modified by Moderator on 2014-01-31 16:10:22)
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re: Update: the Holocaust Stamps Project
Wonderful! We'll be watching for your stamps at school..thanks so much!
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