PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1938)

This page was last updated
23-Feb-2025 04:20

REICHSWETTKAMPFE DER S.A
(15th/17th Jul 1938)

BACKGROUND: This unofficial series of six coloured postcards was issued to commemorate the National SA Sports competition held in Berlin from 15th to 17th Jul 1938. The SA high command (Obersten SA Führung) sanctioned the series which was published by F. Bruckmann K.G of München. The six cards were sold in a packet which was inscribed 'Reichswettkämpfe | der SA | Berlin 15.-17.Juli 1938' and depicts an oak leaf wreath with swastika and sword in the centre. In addition to these six cards there was another that had a private silver foil added.

SPECIAL CANCEL:




ABOVE: Packet that the six postcards were sold in.




ABOVE: No. 1




ABOVE: No. 2




ABOVE: No. 3




ABOVE: No. 4




ABOVE: No. 5




ABOVE: No. 6

PRIVATE PRINTING WITH SILVER FOIL

There is at least one of the cards above that had a privately affixed silver foil applied to the image side of the card in the bottom left-hand corner. The foil depicts the S.A Symbol and the letters 'S' and 'A' beneath in large letters.

OTHER EXAMPLES

POSTALLY UNUSED

DOMESTIC USAGE

1. This example of a domestically used card is a little suspicious. The Anschluss commemorative stamp Michel 662 has the correct slogan cancellation used at the time (Apr 1938), however the slogan cancellation does not extend beyond the edges of the stamp, indicating it was cancelled and removed from another card/cover and stuck on this card to make it look more intersting.

The other stamp is a 1943 issue Michel 843, which was valid from 26th Mar 1943 until May 1945. Again it looks like it has been removed from another card/cover and fitted to this one. My conclusion is that this is a philatelic creation designed to make an unused card more interesting and hence more valuable.




2. The following postally used card No.5 was cancelled in SCHOTTEN on 7th Sep 1938




ABOVE: No. 5

FOREIGN USAGE

1. The following foreign usage No. 6 postcard was cancelled in GOTHA on 22nd Jul 1938 and was sent to ELMONT, VIRGINIA, USA. The card was correctly cancelled with 15Rpf of self-adhesive stamps.