After more than twenty years of preparation, the book " SLOVENSKO 1938-1945 Poštová história (SLOVAKIA 1938-1945: Postal History)" by author Miroslav Bachratý, dedicated to the postal services of the Slovak Republic in the period of 1938-1945, was published in the first half of 2022.

As many collectors know, this area of philately has not yet been comprehensively professionally treated, and it is this gap that the above-mentioned publication seeks to fill. In six main chapters, the author deals with the events that led to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the establishment of independent Slovakia (Slovenský štát), describes the historical events of 1939-1945 that affected Slovakia and their impact on the postal service, as well as the activities of the Slovak postal administration in all areas of postal relations and the activities of postal administrations in the ceded territories of Slovakia (German, Hungarian and Polish). All this is done with a brief description of the historical background, but above all with documentation and cataloguing of all types of philatelic materials and with the use of the latest knowledge gained through the study of specialized literature, official postal documents and archival collections.The publication, which was self-published by the author, has 773 pages (size A4), it is divided into two volumes and contains almost 2,200 images of stamps and cancellations, 160 tables and 36 maps! The hard-cover book is printed in full colour on high quality paper and is priced at 79 € for both volumes + 2,- € packing + postage. Considering the scope of the work, this is a very symbolic price indeed. According to the information from the author, only the last few dozen copies are available, and it is to be expected that once the work is sold out it will immediately become a scarce commodity. I therefore recommend its purchase even to those who do not have the stamps of the Slovak State as their primary area of collecting interest.   

The book can be ordered directly from the author at tecons77@gmail.com (Mr. Bachratý will be happy to sign it for you).

#slovenskystat #slovakia #bachraty #philatelicliterature