STAMP STORY

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33804, 29 March 1975, Page 11

STAMP STORY

(By Kenneth Anthony)

The news that Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia has been ousted from power by an army revolt lends added interest to the stamp illustrated here. It shows the first portrait of Haile Selassie to appear in the stamp album, and it was issued as far back as 1919 when he was crown prince. History has turned full circle in Ethiopia, for it is often forgotten nowadays that Haile Selassie himself seized power by force.

In this 1919 issue Haile Selassie's portrait appeared on three of the low-value stamps — while the features of his aunt, the reigning Empress Zauditu, were reserved for the three highest values. The contrast is significant, because for many years relations between the two were strained.

Eventually, nine years after the stamps were issued, Haile Selassie led a coup d’etat. The old Empress was allowed to remain as a figurehead

but all power was transferred to the young crown prince. The Empress died in 1930 and Haile Selassie was proclaimed Emperor in her stead.

The Ethiopians have been a Christian people since the fourth century, but with the subsequent advance of Arab power they were virtually cut off for centuries from the

rest of the world. They are said to have been the inspiration for the legendary lost African kingdom of Prester John. In fact Ethiopia degenerated into a feudal backwater, a loose confederation of petty warring kingdoms, it was not until 1888, when a strong Emperor. Menelik. came to power, that Ethiopia started to advance. Menelik founded the present capital of Addis Ababa, and among many reforms he introduced the first postal service (and with it the first stamp) tn 1894.

Even in those days Italy was casting covetous eyes on Ethiopia, but Menelik preserved his country’s independence by defeating an Italian army at Adowa in 1896. This was the action which Mussolini set out to avenge 40 years later. Apart from the Italian occupation of 1936-42, Haile Selassie’s features have appeared on most Ethiopian stamps for more than 40 years. Now, presumably, they are destined to disappear and new stamp designs will reflect the course of events as Ethiopia begins another chapter of its

long and troubled history .