Hírközlési Múzeumi Alapítvány, Évkönyv, 2008
Rövid tartalmi összefoglaló angol nyelven
which we were referring to a volume called ‘The History of the Hungarian Post Office, ’by dr. Vilmos Hennyey, published in 1926. ” Alexandra Haldsz’s writings tell us not only about stamps but also of St. Elizabeth, our own Hungarian saint. She also offers us food for thought on life’s injustices, in which a benefactor is often not even respected by the beneficiary. In addition, Halász has reviewed the work of Erzsébet Angyal, who is highly popular among young people for the classes she organizes. We hope to see the children she works with as grown up stamp collectors! The study by Jenő Szabó, offers new detail to even veteran collectors, yet is fraught with secrets. I read with fascination to learn whether the post office director had or had not given a princess a stamp at face value, knowing that it soon would become an extremely rare and valuable collector’s item. What would happen if he gave it to her and what if he did not? And where are these stamps today other than in museums? Are they worth looking for? The article also tells us how a rare stamp comes into being. But, only the fűmre will reveal whether the study itself increased interest in this rare stamp, and thus enhanced its value. Staying with stamps, I recommend Gabriella Nikodém ’s study, the third in a series on stamp collecting in Hungary. Much has been written on stamps and on the historical content of collections. However, there is also history in the act of collecting and in the collectors themselves, as well as in the activity of their organizations and societies. Nikodém tells of the luxury tax and of rivalries between stamp collecting societies, and the key disputes. Postal history is rich in anniversaries and an important one was the 50th anniversary of the start of Hungarian television. Ildikó Makkai-Várkonyi focused on that date in expounding the efforts of the Hungarian pioneers of television broadcasting: Dénes Mihály, Kálmán Tihanyi, and Tihamér Nemes. She concentrates on less well-known aspects of television history. Ferenc Hernitz continues his story of the Sopron post office. He describes how the imperial postal service was restored after the 1848 war of independence was crushed and how the railway affected postal development. He covers 75 years, which included a failed revolution, compromise, world war, and loss of much of the country’s territory. For that is our history. Éva Grünwald Kozma is a restorer who has focused on factors that damage artefacts - she describes moths with what actually appears to be a measure of fondness for them... József Hajdú has taken the sale of the post office headquarters in Buda as an opportunity to discuss the history of the building. Finally, I would like to recommend Adrienn Kovács’s study of Hermes. I am delighted that she gave us a chance to focus on an ancient deity who continues to be active, for, and I quote the author: “From their very beginnings, communications, commerce, and transportation were intertwined. Since by mythological tradition, all three areas were under Hermes ’jurisdiction, it is understandable that his figure appears throughout postal history. Often the first images of technological innovation... in these areas are linked to Hermes... ” so learning about him is always topical. Looking over these studies, I really would like to recommend all of them. Each is different, and all are excellent! Special thanks go to the authors, and to the readers all I can say is ... enjoy! 213
