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Description: | characters not clearly formed DS 114 45
obverse design : marten, wearing pill-box hat, standing, its back arched, upon a mail bag, tagged "POST", and holding
envelopes in its mouth. The bag which is floating in the sea has a tear in its side through which envelopes are falling
obverse text : ".DER + BRITISCHE + WELTPOSTMARDER +"
reverse design : envelope, positioned below date and text which is enclosed by a beaded rectangle at centre of design. Around edge of piece
an ornate crenellated border
reverse text : "1916" & "WER LÜGT. DER STIEHLT"
In this 1916 medal German sculptor and engraver Walther Eberbach makes satirical comment on the postal control and
censorship sought and established by Great Britain in conjunction with the naval blockade of Germany. Britain is depicted as a troublesome
and thieving 'marten', efffectively robbing neutrals of the their lawful communications. The obverse text is translated as 'The British
world mail marten' and the reverse text as 'He who lies steals'. The postal and censorship control established by the British economic
blockade did in fact yield much important information about the nature and activities of neutral firms. | Publisher: | http://www.iwm.org.uk | Subjects: | satirical First World War & Naval Blockade of Germany & 1916 | Source: | Imperial War Museum | Creator: | Eberbach, Walther | Identifier: | http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/o... | Go to resource |
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