Rust-not just a Canadian Crayola color from 1987

In 1987, Crayola produced for the Canadian market a set of metallic crayons-which included the color Rust.

This post isn’t about that, what it is about is the “rusting” of stamps and envelopes, also known as foxing. I knew about foxing from my experience in the way back-but rusting is new to me. This is the process by which a stamp or cover is attacked by mold and funguses. This can turn the stamp/cover various colors (orange, black, green, and blue) and is usually as a result where the items were located and stored and how humidity affected the items. Here are two images of a stamp and of a cover with rust.

I have only been aware of the orange and the black spots. The mold and fungus attacks the glue etc. and will make the item worthless. As I dove into the hobby I picked up just a few items that had significant or faint rust. I destroyed them-a couple of covers I put aside and I reexamined and I can’t determine if it is rust or a stain and I will need an UV light to do so-so I have placed them in plastic non-acid sleeves and isolated them from collection for further observation. These images really give you an idea of what to look for-fairly easy to do so.

While no stamps were involved I did lose some stamps on cut paper and covers. I am bummed but thankfully it wasn’t much and a lesson learned. So what were the lessons learned?

1. If a cover is listed that has interesting franking and bidding is slow to nonexistent-it is probably because there is rust, or another fault.

2. Use the zoom on the Bay to examine every inch of the cover or stamp that is listed.

3. Don’t be afraid to pass on something if you detect what you think is rust unless you get it for dirt cheap and you can examine further to determine if rust or not, and if it is you aren’t out of much $$. If it isn’t, rust then you picked up a steal.

4. Spanish covers seem to be hit hard-again from the environment.

Here is one cover I destroyed-really broke my heart as I loved the franking.

I have read various posts and threads on whether to remove the rust or not-and I understand both sides, but as some have pointed out the issue is when these cleanings are not disclosed when the item is sold off. For me, I am not going to remove any as I threw them out. Could you freeze them to stop the fungus/mold? Probably just end up with a soggy piece of paper.

“Thank you. Thank you so much, for everything.”

This is a line from the movie Cinderella as the topic of this post are cinderella stamps issued by the North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy. Issued during the war were five labels issued to raise funds and awareness of the Republic's cause. I won two of the five this week. The first one I picked up, and the first known to be issued is a Christmas label "Christmas Greetings" and "Help Spain's Children" with an image of a mother carrying a dead child. A little departure from the initial season's greetings.

The committee was located in Brooklyn at 38 4th Ave and was made of ethnic and labor groups that raised money, food, and supplies for the Republicans. Unsurprisingly, this was a Communist front group with links to the Communist Party U.S.A. The organization funded an ambulance, and medical care for the war as well as gave lectures and produced various literature to bring information to the public.

issued in 1939, the third set of labels issued were also very well designed and very compelling. These are the two I Gave that Spain's Children May Live. Two stamps issued in 5c and 25c values were for fund raising. The 5c was blue with a 11 3/4 perf and the size was 5x4 mm. While the larger (44X51 mm) 25c was red and designed to be placed on back of envelop. We won the 5c one. Both stamps feature a crying toddler with "I Gave That Spain's Children May Live", "North American Committee to Aid Spanish Democracy".

There is also two more, one "Christmas Aid for Spanish Refugees", no value and was black on orange paper. There was also a pin that went with the stamp.

The second stamp was issued in 1937 by the Motion Picture Artists Committee Hollywood "Give to a Spanish Child", perf 12, no value, and red and green graphics. Wonder how many of these folks were later blacklisted? At the conclusion of the war the committee disbanded.

Pan's Labyrinth (El laberinto del fauno “The Labyrinth of the Faun') (2006)

Written and directed by Guillermo del Toro.

During the Summer of 1944 just five years after the end of the war Ofelia, a young girl whose mother is married to a Falangist officer, floats between the real word and a mythical one in which The Faun assigns her several missions that he says are to make sure she reigns over her kingdom.

Ofelia’s stepfather is hunting down the local resistance and since I haven’t watched any movies that address the fighting after the war between the Spanish government and Falangist and the resistance. I thought this was fascinating and look forward to seeing more movies on this subject.

The aforementioned Ofelia is lead by the Faun through his labyrinth garden on these special missions. During which she encounters several magical beings, fairies, giant toads, and a creature with eyes in his hands. As a fan of the TV show Faceoff I really enjoyed the make up and effects. Doug Jones who has been a guest judge in the show plays the Faun.

No Stranger to allegorical and fairy tale movies about the Spanish Civil War. This is Del Torros’ second film on the subject, the first being The Devil’s Backbone (2001). Del Torro says that Pan’s is the spiritual successor to The Devil’s Backbone.

Ofelia, the Faun tells her, is Princess Moanna whose father is the king of the underworld and that there were several portals in which her spirit was sent and at which he built his labyrinths waiting for her to return. These tasks are designed to bring her to her rightful throne. Not going to give you any spoilers-but I will say there is enough sadness to go around.

There is intrigue, violence, sadness, and magic. I really enjoyed the film, I wasn’t sure I would because I am no fan of fantasy films.

What a beautiful film, the special effects, the cinematography, and the story.

Ufficio Postale Speciale #4- July 13th, 1937

I have been looking for the areas where the locations of the various Ufficio Postale Speciales were. When mean looking I really am referring to Goggling. I have not bee able to locate then. But nonetheless we march on.

This letter was mailed on July 13th, 1937 from Angelo Bianchi of the 724th Bandera "Inflessibile", 2nd Company, 7th Gruppo, “Fiamme Nere” (Black Flames) Poste Speciale 4 (500) to the family of Luigi Bianchi in (Urgnano) Bergamo via aerea I can actually read Italian pretty well but there is one word I struggled with but looking at the Wiki entry for the Order of battle for Guadalajara the Console of the 7th Gruppo was Marino Marino. In my “search” I haven’t found out anything out about Angelo Bianchi. What happened to him? I wish I knew. The cover is stampless and has a nice patriotic slogan. I can't read the word in the top right corner.

So the letter was written after the disastrous Battle of Guadalajara.The Division XXIII di Marzo were part of the 2nd CCNN Division which was filled out with the disbanded 3rd CCNN Division (April, 1937) following their loses from the Battle of Guadalajara. Then from April-August of the same year the CCNN Division began to take on a different composition with Spanish troops being the foot soldiers while the Italians were the technical and officer component.

More changes for the Division XXIII di Marzo when in October following the ending of the Northern campaign they along with the 1st CCNN Division were consolidated with the Division XXIII di Marzo and renamed the XXIII de Marzo - Llamas Negras Division.

Order of battle for the Battle of Guadalajara 1937

2nd CCNN Division "Fiamme Nere" - Bgd. Gen. Guido Amerigo Coppi

6th Group of Banderas - Console Mario Pittau.
-651 Bandera "Ardita" - Seniore Spagnolo
-630 Bandera "Intrepida" - 1st Seniore Angelucci
-638 Bandera "Audace" - Seniore Alberto Zaccherini
 Support Battery 65/17
Engineers Section

7th Group of Banderas - Console Marino Marino
-724 Bandera "Inflessibile" - Seniore Gamberini

But before the August-September 1937 Battle of Santander which was a decisive victory for the Nationalists. Following this the Fiamme Nere were transferred to the Aragon front.The Division XXIII di Marzo performed very well in the Aragon offensive, which began March 1938. The Fiamme Nere led the break through of Republican‘s lines which led to the eventual ending of the war as Barcelona, the objective, would fall January 26th, 1939.

(Incomplete) Order of battle for the Aragon Offensive 1938

Commander: Luigi Frusci

IV Grupo de banderas

V Grupo de banderas

VII Grupo de banderas
-Battalion Implacabile
-Battalion Inflessibile
-Battalion Disperata
-Battery of 65/17