Introduction 1882 - I 1887 1891 - II 1895 - III 1898 1899 1900 1901 - IV 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 - V 1908 1910 1911 1912 - VI 1913 1914 1915 1916 1918 1919 1920 - Local Events 1920 - VII 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 - VIII 1927 1928

SOKOL POSTCARDS and Poster Stamps 1926 - VIII - Prague (Click on any image to view an enlarged version)   Above, on the left, the primary poster for this Slet by František Naske (1884-1959), a popular Czech painter, portraitist, decorator and illustrator. On the right is a poster by famed Art Nouveau painter Alfons Mucha, assumed by most people who do not read Czech to be a poster for the Slet, but actually the announcement for a special outdoor historic spectacle titled "Slavonic Brotherhood," designed and produced by Mucha, to be performed each night during the Slet on the banks of the Vltava, Prague's river. A storm the first night destroyed the sets and the performance never took place! FULL STORY HERE Both images were reproduced on postcards, of course. ------------ The eighth festival lasted nine days, and was held on Strahov hill in Prague. Over 180,000 members marched in processions, with over 100,000 participating in the competitions, while over 800,000 spectators observed. Foreign attendance was in the hundreds of thousands - Sokol festivals had become a major international event. Above, Special printing of postal card franked with imprinted Masaryk 50 h. green stamp with additional text in red for the All-Sokol Slet of 1926, straight lines cancel, addressed to Prague XI. and hearing four differently coloured advertising labels. The written date: 1415 6. Cervence 1926 commemorates the anniversary of 6th July 1415 the date of the burning at the stake of religious reformer Mistra Jan Hus: born 6th July 1369. This day, 6th June in 1926 was the last day of the 1926 Slet in Prague and the writer mentions that coincidence and adds that Hus's death was the beginning of separation from Roman-Cathotic priests and other believers. (See also this card on the page of undated cards.)       Scott B140-B143 A special set of postage stamps was issued for the event. The four semi-postal stamps previously issued in 1923, depicting President Masaryk, were overprinted with embossed text, "VIII. SLET VSESOKOLSKY / PRAHA 1926".   Above, one of the most famous and sought-after Sokol cards, by world-famous Czech Art Nouveau painter and illustrator Alphonse Mucha. This is the same image used on his poster at the top of this page, created for the spectacle that never was. Note the US flag and english text on the poster stamp above. This is a travel agent's label advertising an ocean liner trip from New York to Europe to the 1926 Slet via the ship "Leviathan." Production quality on this label was low, the image is always blurred - HERE IT IS as a full-size poster. The artist is František Horník (1889-1955), who produced many posters and labels for Sokol groups and events. --------- Below, fundraising Cinderella (poster stamp) with image of Tyršův dům, or Tyrš House, home of Prague Sokol since 1921, and named after Miroslav Tyrš, one of the founders of the movement. I'm not sure these are all different colors, and do not know if there are more.             artist: Karel Stěhule (1899 -1975) print: V. Neubert, Smichov September 1925 - first edition - 4 colours October 1925 - second edition - 4 colours --------- Below, a postcard with the image from the official poster for this slet, as shown at the top of this page; and another card by the same artist.     ----------- Cards with photos of various aspects of the celebration - a spectacle in the stadium, an award ceremony, a street procession of riders on horses, and a military exercise.             ----------- BELOW are eight of the eleven cards in a set of rather stylized drawings of Sokol scenes by famed Slovak artist Martin Benka (1888-1971). You can see the reverse side of one of the cards HERE, with artist's name and card sequence number. His style reminds me of Mexican folk paintings.               ----------- BELOW, an assortment of the usual allegorical and heroic images typical of Sokol postcards by this time.       Artists: Viktor Krupec (1884-1965); Wachsmann; Lauda; Cihelka       ----------------       Artists: Ferd. Hiršl, Karel Šimůnek, Wachsmann, Wachsmann       ----------------     Artist (all 3 cards): J. F. Blažek     -------------     Artists: C. Bouda; Věnceslav Černý; Lonek     ------------- ------------- Sokol group from Vršac (Serbia) posing at their gym

1929 1930 1931 1932 - IX 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 - X 1939 1943 - London 1946 1947 1948 - XI 1948 - Rudé Právo labels 1951 1989 1990 1994 - XII 1996 UNDATED Chile USA Slovak Catholic Sokol DTJ Orel YUNAK Links References Acknowledgments UPDATES