Book Description

SynopsisThe Great War Centenary commemorative postage stampsStamps, as time capsules, reflect the beliefs of the country at the time they are issued. Postal Authorities, many functioning as non-government organisations these days, take great care to design and send messages that are appropriate within a public awareness model and provide context to explain why the messages are relevant and serve a purpose for today.The Great War of 1914-1918 had a profound effect upon the history and future of the world and particularly in Europe. 100 years on the postal authorities, who use anniversaries as their prompts for remembrance, illustrate how history now sees the events that happened. There are shared experiences that have shaped events since in different directions. The Centenary of the Great War is a time for reflection of where we are now. Many countries suffered huge losses. Killed and wounded; so much that it is a period etched into the social psyche of the world. This analysis establishes that 69 country's / postal authorities made the decision to commemorate the Great War with the issue of almost 1200 postage stamps. The nature of the content and design from most countries reflects their style and culture, so much so that the viewer can work out from whence the stamp has come. The politics of the country can be assessed and also the changes in policy over 100 years. Who would have thought that Germany would issue just a single image over the five years of the Centenary imploring 'No more war' or the United States modestly suggesting their entry into the War had helped 'turn the tide.'Assembled into the single document is a kaleidoscope of sensibility as well as many images of the carnage that occurred. The imagination is stimulated but at the end of the day it is a sad story - so much wasted