Archive / Articles / An extraordinary cover from the Czechoslovak Currency Reform 1953

06.01.2014   Author: Exkluzivně pro Burda auction s.r.o. Vladimír Dražan; Number of views: 6330

In cooperation with auction house Burda Auction, I attended the Silver Jubilee celebration of The Czechoslovak Philatelic Society of Great Britain, which took place in The Royal Philatelic Society in London in November 2013. During the wonderful session, the chairman of the society, Miss Yvonne Wheatley, asked me, if I could look over her cover from the Czechoslovak Currency Reform 1953. I have to admit, that I was really surprised when I saw such a brilliant item. At first glance I was holding in my hands an ordinary cover from 17th of June 1953, but sensationally franked with the stamp of the new currency Antonín Zápotocký 60h, catalogue Pofis Nr.737.


This commercial cover, like many others, was formerly used by one of Czechoslovak church organisation for regular correspondence. The original text „Exerciční dům HRÁDEK" was then overprinted by wide bar in black color and in lower left corner was printed a new text with the name and address of a new user. The 6-line rubber violet square cancel in upper left corner bares: „POZOR ZMĚNA PODNIKU / V důsledku reorganizace místního hospodářství byl na / místě dosavadní Služby veřejnosti OSKP MNV Místek / zřízen: / Okresní průmyslový kombinát v Místku / se sídlem ve Frýdku, Jeremenkova 837, tel. 129, 8...3.2", and indicates additional change of usage of this covers due to reorganization of the local industry.
Some letters from the cancel inscription are very toned which could signalise a frequent usage of this cancelation. The cover was sent to the People's Court in Kroměříž which apparently shows a non-philatelic origin of this entire. Its attractiveness is amplified by extraordinary franking. The post office MÍSTEK(2) used new currency postage stamp Zápotocký 60h on 17th of June 1953 - 2 days prior its official release (it means 2 days before the end of provisional period of the currency reform from 1.VI. To 19.VI. 1953). Sometimes there can be found the entires franked with stamps in new currency one day pripor the official release - with CDS 18.VI.53 - I am aware of 10 entires with this CDS and my collection obtains just one such commercial letter. I told Miss Yvonne Wheatley right just in London that she possesses a great rarity and I sincerely congratulate her. Now this only the second entire to be known franked with stamp of new currency with CDS 17.VI.53.

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Author: Exkluzivně pro Burda auction s.r.o. Vladimír Dražan (06.01.2014)