Exhibition

History is built by people and their experiences as well as behaviours that have directly contributed to the development and emergence of today’s society. Numerous findings indicate that other peoples used to live in the territory now inhabited by the Slovenes.

Who are we and where do we come from? We will showcase various objects from the territory of Slovenia, which belong to the very top of global cultural heritage, to visitors and impress them with the legacy of everyday life. It is museums and similar organizations that today preserve all of our history and will enrich the program of Collecta – the largest collectors fair – with a piece of history and their collections.

EXHIBITION:

THE SLOVENIAN LITTORAL AND ISTRIA 1945-1947
philatelic exhibition

24 sheets of stamps and travel envelopes or cards from the 1945-47 period from both Zone A and B.

PREPARED BY: Dr. Veselko Guštin, FZS

All the stamps used on the territory of Zone A and Zone B of the Slovenian Littoral and Istria in the years 1945-47, which is now part of the Republic of Slovenia, will be displayed. Particular emphasis will be on the stamps drawn by Oražem.

Photo: Stamps as drawn by Miroslav Oražem, 1945

ORIGINAL STAMP DRAFTS FOR THE SLOVENIAN LITTORAL AND ISTRIA IN 1945 BY MIROSLAV ORAŽEM
philatelic exhibition

The exhibition will showcase 10-15 drafts of unreleased stamps and 10-15 sketches of released stamps. Sketches of banknotes will also be displayed.

PREPARED BY: Dr. Veselko Guštin, FZS

The exhibition will present for the first time all the drafts of unreleased stamps (“annexation”, traditional attire, seagull) made by painter Miroslav Oražem in May 1945. On the basis of the “program” sent by the Post Office in Ljubljana on June 7, 1945, he began to prepare stamps for the Slovenian Littoral and Istria. It will also display for the first time the original drafts of unreleased stamps / triumph, Trieste, farm couple, fig tree) and the original sketches of ten well-known Zone B stamps of the Slovenian Littoral and Istria in 1945.

Photo: Miroslav Oražem’s 1945 draft of the unreleased “Victory” stamp, presented to the public for the first time.

FROM TRIESTE AND ISTRIA TO THE ALPS 1943-1954
philatelic exhibition

The collection contains 84 A4 sheets, the first sheet is an introduction to the collection, the second sheet contains 2 small colour maps, the first one depicting the status on 12/06/1945 – 15/09/1947 and the second one on 16/9/1947 – 25/10/1954

PREPARED BY: Branko Morenčič, FD Dr. Franc Marušič, Nova Gorica

The collection contains postal items during the indicated periods in the Primorska region. With the collapse of the Kingdom of Italy, Primorska became a part of the Italian Social Republic (RSI), which became a vassal of the German occupying military authorities, i.e. the newly established Alpenvorland, where German stamps were also in circulation. This was also reflected in the postal business and the issuing of stamps with the overprint of Repubblica Sociale Italiana and the corresponding new stamps, but by the end of the war Italian non-overprinted stamps were still in circulation. A partisan postal service without stamps was organized in the liberated parts of Primorska.

When Primorska was liberated, partisan forces first liberated Trieste, and soon afterwards met with Anglo-American forces in Tržič (Monfalcone). With the Belgrade Agreement on June 9, 1945, Primorska was divided into zone A AMG-VG, which included areas of Trieste, Gorizia Karst, Gorizia and right bank of the Soča River upstream from the town of Kanal, whereas the rest of Primorska was included in zone B VUJA or VUJNA. In zone A, stamps of the Italian Kingdom and stamps of the Italian Social Republic with the AMG-VG overprint were in circulation, as opposed to zone B, where new stamps with the indication ISTRIA SLOVENIAN LITTORAL or its Croatian alternative were used. For a considerable period of time, Zone B continued to use the Italian postmark from which the name of the former province was carved.

Both zones lasted until 15/9/1947, when most of Zone B was annexed to Yugoslavia and most of Zone A to Italy. At that time, a new zone was formed for Trieste and its surroundings within the Anglo-American military administration called Allied Military Government – Territorio Libero Triestino (AMG-TLT). Part of Istria from Ankaran to the Bay of Novigrad was included in Zone B under the military administration of the Yugoslav Army (STT VUJA, Free Territory of Trieste Military Administration of the Yugoslav Army). In both zones, especially in AMG-TLT, Italian postmarks were still in use at least during the first year, whereas they were already being replaced in Zone B. The abolition of both zones took place on October 25, 1954, with Zone A given to Italy and Zone B to Yugoslavia.

Photo: Philatelic material from the period of 1945 and 1946 post-war period, which is very important for philately of the Primorska region.

VENEZIA GIULIA – ZONE B – 1945-1947
philatelic exhibition

18 A4 or 17 A4 sheets and 1 A4 sheet, 1 A3 format map or print on A4, in addition to 12 letters, 6 postcards, 2 plain postcards and 8 snippets.

PREPARED BY: Mitja Jančar – Philatelic Numismatic Society of Piran, Portorož

An overview of postal history in Venezia Giulia from the capitulation of Germany to the signing of the Paris Peace Treaty. The focus is on Slovenian Istria and partially on Postojna.

In addition to regular mail, military mail service also operated in the area. Only the censorship stamp of the IV. Army headquarters is stamped on the postcard. We can gather from the text that the postcard was sent on July 16, 1946 and that headquarters of the 26th Division of the IV. Army were stationed in Portorož. The censorship stamp is the only evidence that it has travelled.

First day cover from 15/ 8/ 1945. The first four Oražem stamps are on the cover. The post office was not in the cave, but on the platform in front of the cave.

An oval stamp (P./PAGATO) is imprinted on the cover and an amount of 4 liras is handwritten.

Unchanged postal regulations from the Italian period. The letter was sent as a service mail – free of charge.

The first day of use of this postcard is July 11, 1940. The Italian post office intended it for postal traffic with their occupied territories in East Africa (Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia). The postcard was sent on March 13, 1946 from Postojna to Trieste. However, it was accepted by the Zone B and Zone A post offices.

Front and back side. Letter sent from county to local committee on 27/ 6/46 returned to Koper. The postal employee wrote on the back of the letter that he could not deliver the letter because he could not speak Slovene.

Front and back side. Problems with naming places. These were caused by St. Peter. The letter was sent on 5/ 5/47 to St. Peter.

TRADITIONS OF THE NATIONAL LIBERATION WAR IN SLOVENIA
philatelic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

Particularities of the National Liberation War in the territory of Slovenia, partisan post, post during occupation, Battle of Dražgoše, the Wire around Ljubljana, partisan couriers, units.

COSTUME MASKS IN SLOVENIA
philatelic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

16 sheets with mask motifs in philately/stamps, postcards, letters – stamped letters) such as Brkinški škoromat, Vrbiška šjema, Šelma, Maškara and Pelelini.

FOLK COSTUMES IN SLOVENIA
philatelic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

16 sheets: stamps, sheets, postcards, maximum cards, letters. Costume motifs: from Istria, Pohorje, Carinthia, Smlednik, Ljubljana.

SLOVENIAN CULINARY TRADITION
philatelic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

16 sheets – presentation of Slovenian cuisine by regions, protected designation of origin, guaranteed geographical indication. Protected agricultural products and food, traditional specialty guaranteed (potica, sausage, terrano, cviček, prekmurska gibanica). Philatelic forms: twin stamps, letters with stamps of the early days.

CULINARY HERITAGE IN SLOVENIA
philatelic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

16 sheets of philatelic products on the subject of culture: the Philharmonic, Tartini, Avsenik brothers, hayrack, kamšt of Idrija (pumping device), klavže of Idrija, Bible – Bible of Dalmatin, Catechism, Protestantism, Reformation, people’s superstititon, Kresnik, Martin Krpan, Dr. France Prešeren, Zdravljica poem.

SLOVENIAN CULTURAL TRADITION
philatelic exhibition

 PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

16 sheets: stamps, blocks, letters, maximum cards, copies of manuscripts (Freising manuscripts, Klagenfurt manuscript, Stična manuscript, archaeological findings: flute, wooden wheel, bronze dagger from Ig, necklace made of glass strawberries, Emona, Illyrian Kingdom, Ptuj and kurents, Counts of Celje and the ceiling, St. Hieronymus, helmets from Negova, Carantania, Slovene language in Zollfeld).

OUR SLOVENIA – GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES
philatelic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

16 sheets: sheets, stamps, envelopes. Geos, Robidišče, Ajdovski zid, Claustra Alpinum Iuliarum, Damelj, Benica, Budinci, Geopark Karavanke, Triglav, forests, national parks, Bled/pletna, cream cake, grapevine, salt pans, cliff, naturally golden, volcano, biggest walnut, Slovenian language, caves, intermittent lake, Vilenica,…

COLLECTA IN PHILATELY

PREPARED BY: Tone Simončič, FZS, Philatelic Society of Ljubljana

The Collecta International Collectors fair is the only one of its kind to have its own philatelic collection. Each fair features a series of philatelic products, mainly a commemorative cover of the first day, a commemorative postmark, personal stamps, postcards, maximum cards, etc. Collecta can boast that it has been releasing initially one, and later as many as three different personal stamps. Philatelic product designers are renowned designers, so it’s no wonder most of these products are gone soon. At the opening of the fair, most philatelic products, from the first to the last fair, are presented at the entrance to the showroom. This part of the exhibition belongs to the “iron” program of exhibitions.

TRIESTE, RIJEKA, ISTRIA AND THE SLOVENIAN LITTORAL
philatelic exhibition

Temporaries and regular stamps (1945-1946)

PREPARED BY: Peter Suhadolc, SFK “Lovrenc Košir”, Trieste

The purpose of the exhibition is to showcase, with the help of stamps and overprints, temporary and regular issues for the post-war liberated area under the administration of the Yugoslav Army. Emphasis is on a multitude of printing errors and stamp overprints. The postal use of these stamps is also shown.

PROTESTANTISM ON STAMPS AND MONEY
philatelic exhibition

The collection was created to mark the 500th anniversary of Protestantism.

PREPARED BY: Jože Nemec, Philatelic Society of Maribor

The exhibit, which began to emerge on the 500th anniversary of Protestantism, shows the evolution of this movement. The first set is dedicated to the initiator of the movement, Martin Luther, and the second one to important historical events related to this movement. The third set shows different individuals associated with this movement and the fourth the Protestant churches. Following are the stamps dedicated to various contemporary Protestant events. A special chapter is dedicated to Slovenian Protestantism.

PARK OF MILITARY HISTORY PIVKA – WHERE SWORDS WERE REFORGED INTO PLOWSHARES
photographic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Boštjan Kurent and Ana Čič – Park of Military History Pivka

The photographic exhibition shows the development of the present-day Military History Park since the creation of the former military barracks and their tumultuous history to nowadays one of the largest museum complexes of its kind in the country and the surrounding neighborhood. It shows the radical transformation that, in just 15 years, turn the ravaged barracks into a modern, organized and dynamic museum complex whose collection covers the military period from prehistory to modern times.

PARK OF MILITARY HISTORY PIVKA
transport vehicle exhibition

PREPARED BY: Boštjan Kurent and Ana Čič – Park of Military History Pivka

The AR-55 truck was manufactured by the Zastava factory from Kragujevac for the needs of the JNA under the license of the Italian Fiat. It is an all-terrain vehicle with a four-wheel drive that was robust and extremely useful in many applications and versions. In 1974, the JLA introduced the “new Campagnola” FIAT 1107, but the experience of armed units showed that the new vehicle, unlike the old one, was less reliable and extremely sensitive to rough terrain and impacts.

ŠENTJAKOB’S 100
archival exhibition

Exhibition to mark the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Šentjakob Theater in Ljubljana.

PREPARED BY: Glavan Antique Shop, Institute for Culture and Education. Material preparation: Katarina Batagelj

The Šentjakob Theater in Ljubljana is the oldest amateur repertoire theater in Central Europe, operating continuously since 1920. During this time, it has seen numerous performances, both premieres and replays, both big hits and avantgarde plays. The theater produced many famous Slovenian actors (e.g. Stane Sever, Frane Milčinski, Metka Bučar, Saša Pavček, Barbara Cerar, Jurij Zrnec, Nataša Barbara Gračner …) Yet amateur actors are still an active part of it, members who are students, regular workers, entrepreneurs, officials in their “daytime” lives and actors on the Šentjakob’s stage in the evening.

THE SLOVENIAN NATIONAL AWAKENING IN THE LIGHT OF NUMISMATICS
numismatic exhibition

The Slovenian Numismatic Society will present the national awakening of the Slovenes from the camp movement in 1868 until independence in 1991 with numismatic material, postcards, phaleristics and other collectibles.

PREPARED BY: SLOVENIAN NUMISMATIC SOCIETY

The last 152 years have been a period of a true national revival and rise, as well as significant and groundbreaking historical moments for the Slovenes. Since the camp movement in 1868 until Slovenia’s independence and independent state, the history of the Slovenian nation was taking place in all its grandeur. The camp movement, the struggles for the Slovenian language, culture and education, the First and Second World Wars, the May Declaration, the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and the annexation to the newly formed State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs, the occupation and national liberation struggle, unification in Yugoslavia and later the renewed struggle for the Slovenian language, culture, human and civil rights therein, until the independence of the Republic of Slovenia and the war for Slovenia 30 years ago (the list goes on and on). All these are key milestones of the Slovenian history. The independence that represented the rise of our nation into an independent state actually took place before our eyes. Today, all these landmark moments are best preserved in the small historical objects that our society wants to present, since these objects (coins, banknotes, medals, signs, badges, postcards, photographs, leaflets, brooches,…) were very wide-spread (though some are very rare these days), and people have taken them as a souvenir or kept them as their greatest treasures. At this year’s Collecta, the Slovenian Numismatic Society will present the national awakening of the Slovenes in the period from the camp movement in 1868 until independence in 1991 with numismatic material, postcards, phaleristics and other collectibles.

155 YEARS FROM THE DISCOVERY OF THE MINERAL ZOISITE
exhibition of minerals

Mineral specimens of zoisite, printed and pictorial material.

PREPARED BY: Miha Jeršek, Slovenian Museum of Natural History

Vojko Pavčič, Slovenian Association of Minerals and Fossils Enthusiasts

A new mineral was discovered on Svinška planina, in the territory of today’s Austrian Carinthia, 150 years ago. It was originally called saualpite (after Saualpe), until in 1805 they named it zoisite in honor of Baron Sigismond (Žiga) Zois. Specimens of this mineral are kept by the Slovenian Museum of Natural History in Ljubljana. In the mid-1970s , purple-blue jewellery variants of zoisite were discovered in Tanzania and dubbed tanzanite. Green zoisite, along with ruby and hornblende, is in the rock anyolite found in Kenya and Tanzania. Zoisite with a mixture of manganese is pink and is called thulite after its finding place in Norway. Zoisite is also found in Slovenia, in Pohorje hills. It is usually colourless or white in eclogite, and rarely pink, like in the Donik quarry or in the Pohorje hils.

Photo:

1. Porphyroblasts of ruby, zoisite, hornblende in anyolite – Tanzania.
2. Porphyroblasts of ruby, zoisite, hornblende in anyolite – Tanzania, illuminated with a 365 nm UV light.

JAPAN AND THE SAMURAIS
family collection

PREPARED BY: Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti – private collection

Japan, the land of the rising sun, is known worldwide for its special fighters, the samurai. Their main and most famous weapon was the katana sword, which was sharp on one side. A special method of forging, so that the steel plate was repeatedly folded up to 100 times and then forged, gave this sword flexibility and firmness, hence a wavy pattern can be seen on the blade. The handle, separated from the sharp blade by the tsuba metal shield, was usually dressed in shark skin and so was the sheath. The same applies to a short sword or a knife called tanto. Many Japanese books described the samurai and their lives, such as the book from the Gearoku period (possibly older) from around 1680. 270 pages and 23 images (all printed on wooden boards) depict and describe samurais fighting a giant centipede, the ritual suicide of seppuku and many more (bottom right). The second book is printed in the same manner by the printer Hukuasi (Bunka 6, meaning 1806) in 60 pages and with 11 woodcuts (top left).

Photo: personal collection

NUMISMATIC POSTCARDS
family collection

PREPARED BY: Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti – private collection

At the beginning of the 20th century, sometime between 1905 and 1910, the World Postal Association began to issue postcards with the printed coins of individual countries and the flags of respective countries. The printing was done using a deep technique so that everyone could feel the coins by touching them, while gold pieces were depicted in gold color, silver coins in silver and copper coins in copper. Each coin also has an explanatory note on the denomination. The front also shows the conversion rate of the coins displayed to major European currencies. When a country had more coins than they could fit on one postcard, more were printed. A good example of this is Japan, where we can see only golden yens on one postcard and only silver yens, seni and rin on the other. Each of the postcards also has a different flag, one imperial and one military.  Several series of postcards have been printed and the series differ in certain details. The postcard that stands out on the top left side was issued on the anniversary of the reign of Franz Joseph in 1908.

ONE OF THE GREATEST TREASURES OF THE SLOVENIAN LANGUAGE
family collection

PREPARED BY: Zmago Jelinčič Plemeniti – private collection

One of the most sacred relics of the Slovenian nation, The Bible: tu je vse svetu pismu stariga inu noviga testamenta, slovenski tolmazhena skuzi Iuria Dalmatina, Anno MDLXXXIII, original on the left, on the right a facsimile from 1968, when Slovenian history was still appreciated. Today, Slovenian cultural heritage, especially for our “cultural” institutions together with the Ministry of Culture, is something obscure. Deliberate disdain for everything Slovenian, largely conducted by state-led and controlled multiculturalist movements, is so extensive that even this book is of no interest to anyone. There are about 80 copies of this book in the world, and only about 10 with complete pages or sheets.  Perhaps, intime, we will visit foreign capitals to see our treasures, while installations with faunal excesses reign at home.

DEAR SLOVENIANS

PREPARED BY: Andrej Šemrov, Numismatic Cabinet of the Slovenian National Museum

We very much like to talk about the milestones of Slovenism. This is discussed by politicians and historians, while collections preserve objects and records that highly characterize the events of the past. On our way to independence, we Slovenians lived in several countries, served in several armies and served foreigners – today we live independently in our own country. The objects that have marked the past events, however, show a great desire and will to live in the present-day Republic of Slovenia.

PHOTO: Silver Memorial Medal Lunder-Adamič / Love one another

SLOVENIANS THROUGH TIME FROM THE COLLECTION OF NANI POLJANEC, ROGAŠKA SLATINA PEOPLE’S MUSEUM

PREPARED BY: Nani Poljanec – Rogaška Slatina People’s Museum

Famous personalities, their signatures and personal items from the collection of the Rogaška Slatina People’s Museum. The Filograf Collection, a collection of original signatures of the Rogaška Slatina People’s Museum, located in the Ana’s Palace Museum in Rogaška Slatina, displays a number of signatures and personal items of famous Slovenians in the permanent collection. Local creator Nani Poljanec also published his first book on that topic in 2008. Collecta 2020 exhibits part of this collection: a pocket watch and a postcard of Anton Aškerc, an identity card of Franjo Malgaj, a small artwork by Roman Uranjek, a watch and a signature of Jolanda Čeplak, a purse and collection of poems by Mila Kakčič, a signature of the designer Miljenko Licul, a signed speech by Danilo Turk from the opening of KSEVT in Vitanje, a signature of Ita Rina, a dedication, a pipe and a business card of Demeter Bitenc, a signature and a button from Fredi Miler’s vest, etc.

PHOTO: Identitätskarte/Identity Card of Franjo Malgaj issued in Vienna, March 27, 1913. LMRS Collection

USE OF SPECIFIC STAMPS ISSUED IN ZONE B OF VENEZIA GIULIA AND THE FREE TERRITORY OF TRIESTE
philatelic exhibition

PREPARED BY: Damir Novaković, HFS, Royal Philatelic Society, London

A collection of letters from the above mentioned area exhibited on 96 A4 sheets

HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE SLOVENIAN POLICE
archival exhibition

From gunmen to policemen

PREPARED BY: Slovenian Police Museum and a retired policeman Štefan Abraham

You will be able to see the development of the police force throughout the historical periods when various bodies of public order took care of our safety. The uniform of a gunman from the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the uniform of a policeman from Yugoslavia, a working uniform that policemen wore during the independence war and the uniform of a modern policeman will be on display. The exhibition will be enriched by handmade models of former and modern vehicles and vessels of the Slovenian police, which show the development of the police vehicle fleet as well as the equipment of public order guardians from different periods.