Joint French-Czech stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the battle of Austerlitz 4.5.2005

This joint French-Czech stamp is devoted to the 200^th anniversary of one the most important battles of Napoleon Wars, to the great Napoleon's victory at Slavkov-Austerlitz (South Moravia, Czech Republic).

On stamps of both countries are Identical stamps, namely a portrait of Emperor Napoleon 1st, and the Peace Monument, and text “Austerlitz | 1805-2005” or “Slavkov | 1805-2005”.  

The 71,000 soldiers of Napoleon's "Grande Armée" beat the 91,000 men of the combined Russian and Austrian armies in less than six hours.

Considered Napoleon's finest tactical masterpiece, the "Battle of the Three Emperors" left 28,000 dead.

The Battle of Austerlitz (2 December 1805/11), also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. In what is widely regarded as the greatest victory achieved by Napoleon, the Grande Armée of France defeated a larger Russian and Austrian army led by Tsar Alexander I and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire (modern-day Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic). Austerlitz brought the War of the Third Coalition to a rapid end, with the Treaty of Pressburg signed by the Austrians later in the month. The battle is often cited as a tactical masterpiece, in the same league as other historic engagements like Cannae or Arbela.

200th Anniversary of the Battle of Austerlitz 4.5.2005

The Czech Republic also known by the short name Czechia, is a nation state in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west, Austria to the south, Slovakia to the east and Poland to the northeast. The Czech Republic covers an area of 78,866 square kilometres (30,450 sq mi) with mostly temperate continental climate and oceanic climate. It is a unitary parliamentary republic, has 10.5 million inhabitants and the capital and largest city is Prague, with over 1.2 million residents. The Czech Republic includes the historical territories of Bohemia, Moravia, and Czech Silesia.

The Battle of Austerlitz (2 December 1805), also known as the Battle of the Three Emperors, was one of the most important and decisive engagements of the Napoleonic Wars. In what is widely regarded as the greatest victory achieved by Napoleon, the Grande Armée of France defeated a larger Russian and Austrian army led by Tsar Alexander I and Holy Roman Emperor Francis II. The battle occurred near the town of Austerlitz in the Austrian Empire (modern-day Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic). Austerlitz brought the War of the Third Coalition to a rapid end, with the Treaty of Pressburg signed by the Austrians later in the month. The battle is often cited as a tactical masterpiece, in the same league as other historic engagements like Cannae or Arbela.

Czech Republic - Jan Jakub Hartmann

The painting depicted on this beautiful stamp has been made by the famous artist of Czech Republic and is from National Art Gallery, Prague. The miniature sheet shows painting 'Allegory of Water' by Jan Jakub Hartmann. He belongs to the painters who in the course of the second half of the 17th century specialised in landscape painting. Based on the Dutch landscape models mainly from the late 16th century, his concept of landscape painting was at his time rather archaistic. He worked together with his sons František Antonín and Václav Jan. Their paintings are not signed and were created by cooperation of all the painters. The postage stamp features a cutting of the painting Allegory of Water which is the counterpart painting of the Allegory of Earth. The paintings come from the series The Four Elements. They are painted on copper plates and belong to the best of Hartmanns' production. The scheme of the landscape on the painting Allegory of Water, based on a contrast between the darker rich forest and the lighted view of the river scene with an ample crowd broken into smaller groups, numerous ships, fish and sea fruit is at the same time an inconspicuous picture of the Biblical scene of Christ's miraculous fishing. The miniature sheet which includes this postage stamp features almost the whole painting Allegory of Water. Date of issue 5.11.2008

Czech Republic

Stan sent me these two cards recently from the Czech Republic. The cards and the post marks which are quite descriptive of the seasonal celebrations need no further elaboration. Thanks Stan for these nice cards.

Czech Republic – Marie Brozova - The Colored Pencils

The project "Defence of the Coloured Pencils" was started by artist Marie Brozova in 2004. She felt the need to show to the public as well as art professionals, that it is possible to draw really great drawings (great in their message and beauty, but also large in their format) with such humble art materials as coloured pencils. The colored pencils have been accompanying Marie Brozova since her early childhood, just like every one of us. Maybe they are disregarded, even despised and refused as an "unsuitable" medium for "real art" because they are so easy to get and you can see them everywhere in children’s hands. Marie met this prejudice shortly after she had entered the art school and she has been trying to push them forward ever since. Marie decided that it was important to defend colored pencils - openly and publicly - and at the moment the concept of her project, The Defence of Colored Pencils was born - a travelling project of public drawings, in frames of which Marie can prove what amazing things can be done with colored pencils.

Her instinct was right; it is proved by growing interest of children visitors as well as adults, who come to watch intently the process of creation in Marie’s drawings. Marie is very glad about the fact, that her public drawings are often visited by school classes, and even gladder, when children come back in the afternoon and bring their parents with them. Also the references in the media are entirely positive. The Defence of Colored Pencils has been shown in TV news and reports, and has been commented in the press. Marie is regularly being referred to about her project on the radio.

Stan sent me this painting by Marie Brozova. The Obverse side of the card shows the lovely commemorative stamps. Stan’s comments are self-explanatory and do not need any further elaboration.