As recent anthrax scares remind us, the postal system can be a potent political and propaganda weapon. That Irish nationalists and republicans have long appreciated this at key moments in our history is evident from fascinating items that go up for auction tomorrow.
The MacDonnell Whyte Ltd stamps and postal history auction at 12.30 p.m. at Jury's Hotel, Dublin, tomorrow, includes envelopes stamped: "Censored by the IRA" from 1921-1922; Fenian stamps from 1865-67; Sinn FΘin stamps from 1907-1916; IRA stamps from 1922; and British stamps overprinted by the Free State in the 1920s.
According to Mr Ian Whyte, director of Whyte's auction rooms in Molesworth Street, Dublin, the Provisional IRA continued the practice, overprinting British stamps in the 1970s. On envelopes, these can now be worth £50 (€63.50) to £60 each.
Dating from 1921-1922, lots 332, 334 and 335 comprise envelopes each emblazoned: "Censored by the IRA". During the War of Independence, the IRA used to raid post offices or post boxes, seeking out intelligence and money. They would stamp "Censored by the IRA" for publicity. Says Mr Whyte: "It gave them a presence, a propaganda coup."
Collectors can find out a lot about particular envelopes stamped in this way. "You can pin them down to a particular raid by looking at newspapers of the day." Today, envelopes so stamped tend to be worth between £150 and £300. Lot 332 is estimated at £180, while lots 334 and 335 each carry an estimate of £200.
Proof of an earlier period of Irish republican astuteness to the propaganda power of the humble stamp is evident in lots 403 and 404. Dating from the 1865-1867, these are unused Fenian stamps prepared in the US "to be used if the rebellion was successful", says Mr Whyte. Interestingly, the denominations are, respectively, one and three "cents". These tend to be valued at £200 to £500, with lot 403 expected to fetch £400 and lot 404 estimated at £200.
Lot 411 brings us to another period of the republican stamps. Dating from 1907 to 1916 and bearing the words "Sinn FΘin", this Hibernia broad crown TΩte-Beche pair - a pair of stamps printed side-by-side with one of the stamps upside-down - is estimated at £325.
The second Sinn FΘin design was of the Cross of Cong. These were effective publicity tools, causing uproar, and the British government made them illegal, says Mr Whyte.
During the Civil War, the IRA held Cork for a period and the city ran out of stamps. Lot 415 is an unissued block of IRA 6d stamps, which the republicans printed but were never used. This lot is estimated at £130.
With the formation of the Free State, British stamps were overprinted with, for instance, "Saorstβt ╔ireann 1922" (Irish Free State) or "Rialtas Sealadach na h╔ireann 1922" (the Provisional Government of Ireland).
Mr David McDonnell, director of MacDonnell Whyte Ltd, points out another highlight of the auction. Estimated at £1,750, lot 468 is valuable because the second stamp from the left of a row of four stamps was overprinted upside-down.
The stamp on the envelope was, in turn, inverted, making it more difficult to spot the considerable added-value of that stamp. Had the overprint not been inverted, the stamp might be worth as little as 30p.
MacDonnell Whyte is to be commended for the frankness of its descriptions of some possibly less desirable lots, such as the catalogue entry for lot 708: "Junk box with very untidy mixtures from Postal History to modern, including all manner of rubbish and indescribable nasties. Buyer beware."
Stampa 2001, the 30th National Stamp Exhibition, featuring exhibits, dealers and sets of limited editions, will take place from Friday, November 9th, to Sunday, November 11th, at the RDS, Ballsbridge, Dublin.
jmarms@irish-times.ie
