Even though the game, or, better, sport, of bridge is internationally known, it has not drawn much attention in the world of philately: bridge-themed stamps are few and difficult to find.
This article aims to outline how bridge has featured in stamps editions. Since the author is an experienced bridge player, but not a stamps expert, I apologise for any omissions, for not indicating the perforations and for not referring to the international catalogues such as Yvert and Tellier.
We will go through international philately, Italian philately, the Intercontinental tournament in Rome and a review of Italian essays on this topic.
Fulvio Manno
Bridge & Philately – Part I
International stamps issues (§ 1)
The International Bridge League was founded in 1937 and in that year the first World Championships took place in Budapest in June. Nineteen teams took part, including the first “blue team”: Paolo Baroni, Pippo Moroni , Raoul Morpurgo, Enzo Pontremoli. The team was third in the group stage, but then declined to compete in the play off. Austria won the title with Paul Stern (npc) , Hans Jellinek , Karl Schneider , Karl von Bluhdorn , Edouard Frischhauser , Walter Herbert , Udo von Meisl. Immediately after the German invasion of Austria, some team members fled abroad, except for J who died in a concentration camp. The American team won silver with Ely Culbertson , Josephine Culbertson , Helen M. Sobel , Charles Vogelhofer. Ungary came thrid.
In that occasion the first philatelic cancellation:
The first stamp issue dedicated to bridge is recorded in 1962 in Lebanon, to commemorate the 22 European championships held in Beirut. The values were 25 and 40 libanese liras (written in French on the stamps). France won gold in the Open category that year, over 12 contestants. Italy won silver with Giorgio Belladonna, Giovan Battista Brogi, Camillo Pabis Ticci , Giuseppe Messina , Massimo D’Alelio , Benito Bianchi e Giovanni Pelucchin the Women’s category Sweden won gold.
In 1965 Lebanon issued another stamp dedicated to the 13th World championships (Bermuda Bowl), which took place in Buenos Aires. The values were 2,50, 15 , 17,50, 40 livres. Italy won gold that year with Giorgio Belladonna , Massimo D’Alelio, Pietro Forquet , Benito Garozzo , Camillo Pabis Ticci, Walter Avarelli and Sergio Osella as non-playing captain.
Ten years had to pass for the next stamp issue, in 1975, for the World Championships that took place in Southampton (Bermuda). The values were 5, 17, 20 e 25 cents (local dollar currency). Again Italy won with Giorgio Belladonna , Benito Garozzo, Sergio Zucchelli, Arturo Franco, Vito Pittalà , Gianfranco Facchini and Sandro Salvetti as non-playin captain.
In 1976 Monaco issued a 60 cents (franc) stamp dedicated to the 5th Bridge Olympics, which took place in Montecarlo, with 45 participating teams. Italy won silver this time, after Brazil, with Arturo Franco, Benito Garozzo, Carlo Mosca, Giorgio Belladonna, Silvio Sbarigia, Antonio Vivaldi and Sandro Salvetti (npc).
In 1977 the sixth Central American and Caribbean Championships took place in Aruba “one happy island” (which until 1986 belonged to the Netherlands Antilles, together with Curacao and Saint Marten). It was organised by the Central American and Caribbean Federation. The Netherlands Antilles issued three stamps to celebrate the event: 20+10 , 25+12, e 40+18 cents of a guilder.
Thirteen teams participated. Mexico beat Panama and Venezuela beat Colombia, and in the final Venezuela beat Colombia 257-97. The home team of Aruba was last. In the Venezuelan team we find a famous player who then moved to Milan, Italy, where he still lives and teaches: Steve Hamaoui.
The Netherlands Antilles issued stamps in two sheets. The first had four stamps and the second three, dedicated to Amphilex 77, showing a bridge hand.
The end part 1.
Bridge & Philately Part II »
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Fulvio Manno
English Edition by Laura Cecilia Porro
