Vaclav Havel and Philately
by
Lubor Kunc (lubor.kunc@seznam.cz )
The
article has been published in the Czechoslovak Specialist No. 6 / 2003 issued
by
Society for Czechoslovak Philately, Inc., USA
ceský obsah
Tento text se snaží popsat prezidentská období V. Havla pomocí
filatelistického materiálu .
This year will be
probably marked in history as year, when Václav Havel left his office because
of finish of his second service period as President of the Czech Republic. I
believe, that the personality should be described not only in political point
of view, but also from our philatelic one. Don’t expect ”new discoveries” like
Václav Havel is stamp collector, but thanks to his life in turbulent period of
Czech history there is a lot of philatelic material having direct or indirect
connection to him.
We can start with
his family. He belongs to famous Prague businessman family. The Havel´s family
owned e.g. Lucerna Palace on Wenceslas Sq. as well as Barrande Terrace in
Prague (see a unused envelope of the Lucerna Palace from the 30s).
This property was
after WWII nationalized by Czechoslovak communist regime as illustrates the
envelope sent in the early 1990s. The words ”statni podnik” means ”national
undertaking” .Later in the 1990s the Havels got the property back.
The last Presidential election in communist
era was organized in 1985, when the communist President dr. Gustav Husák (being
in function since 1975) was ”surpassingly” re-elected. This event can be
illustrated by souvenir cover with special cancellation of presidential Praha
12 post office.
The radical
change occurred after November 17, 1989 (see letter of the day franked with
Opletal stamp issued few days ago to celebrate the 50th anniversary
of killing student Opletal by Nazis),
when police bot
the student manifestation and outrage of the people was so big, that they
started to demand changes on highest positions of state as well as end of
communist government. The Communist Party tried to calm the situation by
creating new government with few non-communist members, but public refused the
small change and insisted on deconstruction of communist regime. Because the
regime was weak and it can not expect any ”help” from Russia influenced by
Gorbatchov´s Perestroika Reform (see Czechoslovak souv. sheet honoring the
Gorbatchov-Bush Summit in 1988; this is a paradox issue: a communist stamp
celebrating US Capitol!), and the
Communists accepted the demand. On Nov. 19, 1989 Obcanské fórum (Citizen’s
Forum) was founded as representative of non-communist public, among which
founders we can find Václav Havel.
On Dec. 29, 1989
the Federal Parliament managed by Communists elected Havel for new
non-communist President. He immediately accepted the function, but only as
provisional President by first free elections in 1990. It is a paradox, which
Havel as anti-Communist fighter was elected to President of Czechoslovak
Socialist Republic (CSSR). This can be documented by letter sent during Havel´s
first period from Vienna (Austria) to Presidential Office in Prague. The
non-postal arrival cancel of the presidential office shows yet the abbr.
”CSSR”, however the new official name of the state has been in the meantime
changed to Czechoslovak Federal Republic (CSFR).
The first free
election in Czechoslovakia from 1946 was organized in June 1990. The winning
party was Obcanske forum (Citizen’s Forum). Because of the election result
Václav Havel was re-elected for President on July 5, 1990 – see following
souvenir cover. All the bodies elected in 1990 had the authorization for 2
years only, so Havel´s presidency should expire in 1992.
The second presidency
period of Václav Havel as Czechoslovak President can be illustrated by a letter
of Germany sent on the first day of second period of President Havel (July 5,
1990) to him via Czechoslovak Consulate in Germany. The consulate forwarded the
letter to Presidential Office, which received it on Aug. 1, 1990 as shows the
non-postal arrival cancel now showing correct abbr. of state name ”CSFR”.
The first
anniversary of ”Velvet Revolution” was celebrated by visit of American
President George Bush Sen. in Prague, where he had a speech on the Wenceslas
Sq. . I personally participated in the meeting, but it was not possible to see
both Presidents because of quantity of people being there. This visit was
celebrated by special postal cancel used on letter franked by first Havel´s
stamps issued in Jan. 1990 soon after his first election.
The change of
country name to ”Czechoslovak Federal Republic” (however federal constitution
was in force since 1968) illustrates movement in Slovakia asking more autonomy
for Slovakia within Czechoslovakia. Soon the demand was changed to Slovak
independence from Czechoslovakia. The Czechs were against division of the
country, which was supported probably by majority of Slovak people. President
Havel tried to organize a referendum deciding about future of the common state,
he introduced this idea in a TV speech on Nov. 17, 1991. The referendum must be
approved by Parliament, so Havel´s supporters printed cards with pre-printed
text asking members of Parliament to vote for the referendum.
The Parliament
managed by newly established parties born after fall of Obcanske forum refused
the idea and the division of Czechoslovakia and establishing of Czech and
Slovak Republics was agreed by national governments after elections in
In 1992 the
Federal Parliament tried to elect new President, because of expiration of
Havel´s second period. Unfortunately, the members of Parliament had so
different opinions, that no candidate has been elected and President Havel
issued a demise letter on July 20, 1992,. This caused, that the country was
during the splitting without the President. I lived in Austria at that moment,
so I can not see all influences on that situation, but in my opinion is the
country should have a President and the situation disillusioned me very much.
The new republics
were created on Jan. 1, 1993. President of Slovak Republic was Mr. Kovac, the
President of Czech Republic was elected first on Jan. 26, 1993 – see bellow
letter sent on the day.
The function was
again occupied by Václav Havel for next 5 years. In 1993 Czechoslovak stamps
were valid on territory of both republics, so it was possible to create similar
mixed frankings like shown on next picture – old stamps showing Havel as
Czechoslovak mixed with new stamps showing Havel as Czech President.
Another
interesting usage of Havel material is envelope with pre-printed Czechoslovak
Havel´s stamp has been up-franked by Czechoslovak commemorative stamp as well
as by Slovak commemorative (2 stamps no. 1!) and definitive stamps creating
nice Czechoslovak-Slovak franking. In addition, the letter has been addressed
to a Slovak member of Czechoslovak UNPROFOR troops in Macedonia (former
Yugoslavia).
envelope
COB 91
After 1 year of
his Presidency of the Czech Republic Václav Havel organized a meeting of
presidents of Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and USA. Czech Postal
Administration issued special postal card and cancel for the occasion.
Card
CDV 4
The USA were
represented on the meeting by President Clinton (see letter sent from his
office and franked with a White House stamp).
In generally we
can say that the Czech President has very close relation to all three US
presidents he co-operates in period 1989 – 2003 with: G. Bush Senior, W.
Clinton and G. Bush Junior. He had positive relation to statesmen of other
countries as well : he closely co-operated with Polish, Slovak, Hungarian,
Austrian and German heads of states, the Czech Republic was visited e.g. by
members of British, Swedish and Spain Royal Families, the Pope, Dalaylama,
worldwide leading philosophers, artists and managers. Some of the visits were
accompanied by philatelic material as well (see a card celebrating the visit of
British Royal Family members).
In 1996 Czech
Republic asked for membership in the European Union (see Czech stamp of the
year), which was heavily supported by President Havel.
The step started
our preparation and negotiation with the international organization leading to
the Copenhagen Summit of Dec. 2002, on which the Czech Republic was invited to
join the EU. The entrance process to be finished in 2003 – 4 by new President
Klaus, Havel´s participation in the process should expire with his leaving of
presidential function, but didn’t. In June
In 1996 Havel´s
first wife Olga died and a year later he married Dagmar Veskrnova. Popular
journal Mlada fronta-Dnes made a joke from its readers on April 1, 1998
informing about issuance of first stamps with President’s wife using design of
at that time valid Havel´s stamp. Havel celebrated his 60th birthday
in 1996, which was commemorated by the Czech Postal Administration by souv.
sheet used on a registered letter sent to Canada.
In 1998 Havel´s
first Czech presidency period expired, but he has been re-elected for period
1998 – 2003 (on Jan. 20). Another milestone of Havel´s Presidency was 1999,
when the Czech Republic joined the NATO organization (see stamp celebrating the
event). In Nov. 2002 first meeting of NATO in a new member country occurred
(see next stamp). This event was used to say good bye to President Havel. It
was organized a celebration with participation of all heads of NATO countries,
e.g. George Bush Jr., French President Chirac, British Prime Minister Blair
etc. .
Havel´s last
presidency period expired on Feb. 2, 2003. It can be illustrated by registered
following letter. As you can see, there was no special stamp or cancel to the
occasion , the one on the cover is normal postal cancel of Presidential Post
Office at Prague Castle. As franking you can see all definitive stamps showing
President Havel (1993-2002) being valid at the moment of his retiring.
He was first
Czechoslovak / Czech President leaving his office in expected moment; all his
predecessors left their offices by death, demise or by ”historical events” like
Munich Treaty. It is important for us to see, that President can leave his
function in expected time and I am personally pleased that it was not used
similar procedure like in 1920, res. 1948, which incorporated into Czechoslovak
Constitutions paragraphs removing the limitation of presidential periods for
Masaryk and Benes Presidents.
It was not easy
to find new President after Havel´s demise. There were totally three election
rounds in Parliament of the Czech Republic. In first two (on Jan. 15 and on Jan
24, 2003) the members of Parliament didn’t elected any candidate, so on the day
of Havel´s leaving of his office no new President was in function. First in the
third round on Feb. 28, 2003 the new President Klaus was elected with important
support of Communist Party expressing its support to him yet before the
election and with help of social democratic members of Parliament voting
against candidate nominated by their party. More information about existing
material celebrating the office leaving of President Havel and elections of his
successors you will find in following ”philatelic section” of the article.
President Havel
was celebrated not only in the Czech Republic. On Feb 12, 2003 House of
Representatives of US Congress issued ”Concurrent Resolution Honoring Václav
Havel (H. Con. Res. 22)”. The originator of the resolution was Congressman Kind
of Wisconsin (see official business envelope with signature of Mr. Kind instead
of franking).
We can now go to
the philatelic material relating to President Havel. There are stamps and souv.
sheets, postal stationery, cancels, meter stamps as well as stamp booklets
showing Havel. I have prepared list of such material, but without guarantee of
its exhaustiveness .
|
Czechoslovak Stamps |
||||
|
Year |
Face Value |
Pofis Nr. |
Scott No. |
Fig. In the Text |
|
1990 |
0,50 Kcs |
2928 |
2777 |
10 |
|
Czech Stamps |
||||
|
1993 |
2,00 Kc |
3 |
2879 |
23 |
|
1995 |
3,60 Kc |
72 |
2948 |
23 |
|
1996 |
S. sheet 12 Kc |
A124 |
2994 |
20 |
|
1998 |
4,60 Kc |
168 |
|
23 |
|
2000 |
5,40 Kc |
248 |
|
23 |
|
2002 |
6,40 Kc |
335 |
|
23 |
|
Czech Stamp Booklets |
||||
|
Year |
Face Value |
Pofis Nr. |
No. Of Booklets |
Motif on Jacket of the Booklet |
|
1993 |
2,00 Kc |
ZS 3, ZS 12 |
2 |
Havel ; Prague |
|
1995 |
3,60 Kc |
ZS 39 |
1 |
Prague |
|
Postal Stationary of the Czechoslovakia |
||||
|
Year |
Face Value |
Motif |
Color |
Pofis No. |
|
1990 |
1 Kc |
Havel envelope |
Blue |
COB 91 |
|
1991 |
1 Kc |
Havel envelope |
Green |
COB 92 |
|
1991 |
1 Kc |
Havel envelope, text ”ZSF” |
Green |
COB 93 |
|
Postal Stationary of the Czech Republic |
||||
|
1994 |
5 Kc |
Presidential Summit Prague |
Multic. |
CDV 4 |
envelope
COB 93
|
Commemorative Envelopes of the Czech Republic |
||||
|
1993 |
4 Kc |
Havel become first President |
Multic. |
POB 2 |
|
1998 |
4,60 Kc |
Havel´s become President |
Multic. |
POB 3 |
|
Commemorative Sheets of the Czech Republic |
||||
|
1993 |
6 Kc |
Havel become first President |
Multic. |
PAL 1 |
In addition to the
above official material there are known private products relating to the
President Havel. Big quantity of such material was issues this year to
”celebrate” Havel´s leaving of office and elections of new president. Examples
of the products you can see on next two illustrations. First of them shows an
envelope celebrating second election round of new President on Jan. 24, 2003.
Similar items were produced for the next rounds (Jan. 15 and Feb. 28, 2003) as
well as for inauguration of new President Klaus (March 7, 2003).
Another example is an envelope issued to commemorate
Havel´s last day in office (Feb, 2, 2003).
There are known
postal envelopes without and with stamps, postal cards as well as souv. sheets,
they exist in more colors. However all such items were produced privately, they
were sold at the Postal Offices as ”ware in commission” . Unfortunately, the
postal employees didn’t inform the buyers about non-postal origin of the
material, so many people bought them as postal one. The philatelic value of
such material is zero, it will be not listed in catalogs: in short think
carefully over buying it.
As you can see,
there is plenty Havel´s philatelic material. We could yet add some special
cancels, meter stamps or foreign material (see a SCP special cover of 1990),
but this would increase the article to the thickness of book, which is not my
goal since I am no writer or dramatist .
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