Unused parcel admission stamp for Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp

Identifier
irn76777
Language of Description
English
Alt. Identifiers
  • 2012.464.4
Level of Description
Item
Languages
  • German
Source
EHRI Partner

Extent and Medium

overall: Height: 1.125 inches (2.858 cm) | Width: 2.125 inches (5.398 cm)

Archival History

The postal stamp was donated to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 2012 by Hal and Robyn Klein.

Acquisition

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum Collection, Gift of Hal and Robyn Klein

Funding Note: The cataloging of this artifact has been supported by a grant from the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

Scope and Content

Unused parcel admission stamp for Theresienstadt ghetto-labor camp, depicting the surrounding landscape of Bohemia. The camp was established by the Germans in November 1941 about 40 miles north of Prague in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia created after Nazi Germany occupied the western region of Czechoslovakia in March 1939. It was a multi-use camp, acting as a settlement, transit camp, and propaganda tool. The stamp, which was printed in Prague, was issued by the Prague Jewish Council beginning in July 1943. Inmates at Theresienstadt could receive inspected packages of food and clothing from people outside the camp if the packages had this stamp. An inmate could request a package every two months. The Jewish Council in Prague would notify the sender to come pick up the stamp if they lived in Prague; if they lived outside of Prague, the stamp would be attached to the notice. Living conditions in the camp were horrible and about 33,000 inmates died there. On May 2, 1945, as the end of the war approached, the International Red Cross took over administration of the camp. The German staff fled on May 5 and 6, and on May 9, Soviet troops arrived and assumed responsibility.

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on access

Conditions Governing Reproduction

No restrictions on use

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Unused rectangular white paper stamp with 3 perforated edges, an attached margin on the right edge, and a pastoral landscape printed in dark green ink. In the left foreground are two large trees, with initials on the ground under the left tree. A winding road and a river cross through the center. In the background under a cloud filled sky are 2 mountains with a building with a tower at the foot, surrounded by trees. The image is enclosed in a green border with the place name across the bottom. On the back, there is adhesive and 2 words written sideways in the bottom left corner.

back bottom left corner, written cursive, black ink : Stampel / Gilbert

Subjects

Genre

This description is derived directly from structured data provided to EHRI by a partner institution. This collection holding institution considers this description as an accurate reflection of the archival holdings to which it refers at the moment of data transfer.