Postcard Collections
Collection of 116 postcards of different male types in Eritrea and Abyssinia during the Italian occupation. B
Price: $2320.00
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
With artwork by Dandolo Bellini, this complete collection of 6 postcards brings to life the Ethiopian countryside. Entitled Le Ambe Dell'Impero, or 'the Mountain Empire', this series was done in 1925, ten years before the invasion. Included is the cover of the collection, with explanatory text inside. BB
Price: $180.00
Collection of 6 military propaganda postcards issued during the fascist period glorifying Italys invasion of Abyssinia in 1935. Many cards are devoted to specific Italian and Ascari Battalions and in some cases there is good information on the back of the card concerning the history of battles in Africa. The fighting spirit of the Ascaris is best summed by Mackenzie when he says 'Except for the German parachute division in Italy and the Japanese in Burma no enemy with whom the British and Indian troops were matched put up a finer fight than those Savoia battalions at Keren (Eritrea). Moreover, the Colonial troops, until they cracked at the very end, fought with valour and resolution, and their staunchness was a testimony to the excellence of the Italian administration and military training in Eritrea'. The heavy reliance of Italy on these Ascari battalions is indicated by the fact that in 1940, of the 256,000 Italian troops serving in East Africa, 182,000 were East African Ascari. Over 5,000 died in the 1935-6 war and a number of them were decorated with the gold medal for performance at the battles of Cheren and Amba Alagi against the British. ASK FOR AVAILABILITY
Price: $400.00
This group of 6 postcards is similar to the collections in IEAPC 008 except that they were never issued. The original artwork for the cards was carried out but never converted into postcard format. A photogrpaher took the effort to locate this art and then made a limited numbered edition of postcards. There are several things to note here. First is that this is the only image I have ever seen of Ascari navy personnel. Second, this is the only image I have seen of the Basci Buzuks that the Italians borrowed from Egyptian garrisons when they first arrived in Assab and Massua. Used initially for gendarme duty and patrolling the brothels, they were utilised until 1889 when the first Colonial Battalions were raised. Third, I have never seen any artwork related to the Carabinieri Battalion in Eritrea. mB AH KN
Price: $300.00