MAIL OF THE CZECHOSLOVAK LEGIONS IN FRANCE
By Jaroslav Verner
This is the first book published on the subject of the mail of the Czech legions in France during World War I. It is a very well researched and written study, which will fill the void on this subject for many years.
The author has taken special care to insure that the reader is able to understand this little known subject. From the establishment of the first military unit of Czech expatriates in the French Foreign Legion, Company Nazdar, in August 1914, through the creation of the Czechoslovak 5th Division in France in 1918, to the conclusion of the Versailles Peace Conference in 1919, the author examines all matters relating to the mail generated or handled by the Czech legions in France. This includes postal cancels, unit cancels, censor markings, the Czechoslovak military stamp, labels, and field post cards. Due to the close relationship between the Czech units and the Czech National Council in Paris, the author also discusses the various cancels used by the latter organization.
To aid the reader in understanding the subject, and philatelists in identifying specific markings, the author has lavishly illustrated the work with excellent drawings and color photos of all the postal markings discussed in the text. Each is cited in a text reference, which leaves the reader in no doubt about what is being discussed. Included are photos of some extremely rare postal usages and covers. The author has appended a point valuation system for each postal marking discussed in the text.
Finally, Mr. Verner uses his skills as a researcher and writer to do what few philatelic authors do, provide the complete story. His ability to weave history and philately together into a single coherent narrative is exceptional. It allows the reader to understand who the members of the Czech legions were, how they got to France, why they joined, and their importance to the establishment of an independent Czechoslovak state, placing this little-known philatelic story in context. As if to emphasize the groundbreaking importance of this work, it contains both an English and Czech text. In either language it is very well done.
Tom Cossaboom