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This Exhibition, under the patronage of the Minister ot Communications, the Mayor of Haifa and the Israel Philatelic Federation, is being hosted by the Haifa Philatelic Society during the week of Sukkot (October 1991).
The Society is the oldest of the Philatelic Societies in Israel. Established in 1938, it now has about 150 active members who meet regularly once a week. The Society strives to widen the knowledge about philately by organising various activities among ~ members and collectors of all ages.
Israel-Poland is the fifth Stamp Exhibition to be held by the Haifa Philatelic Society, the others being TABA (1952), TABAI (1964), HAIFA 80 and HAIFA 87. Each one of these was of the highest standard and enjoyed great popularity. However, this Exhibition is the first of its kind - in that it is being sponsored by both the Israel and the Polish Philatelic Federations and will include Polish exhibitors and jurors. This co-operation is the first philatelic expression of the critical changes taking place in Eastern Europe, and affecting Israel's status and relations with this important geographic region. The Exhibition is being held at a historic moment in time when we are welcoming waves of immigrants from the USSR, many of whom have joined the ranks of Israel philatelists. It is hoped that this increase in numbers coming from a large country with a highly developed philately will revitalise and stimulate Israel's philately and will express itself in this and future exhibitions. We extend a warm welcome to our guests from Poland who will participate in the Exhibition.
National Stamp Exhibition "Haifa '91"
The Souvenir Sheet issued for the "Haifa 91" Exhibition is based on one of Gustav Bauernfeind's paintings. The painting was included in a richly ornamented album given by the Templers to the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II, during his visit to the Orient in 1898. It portrays the German Colony in Haifa towards the end of the 19th century.
Gustav Bauerntelnd was born in the village of Sulz am Neckar, near Stuttgart in 1848. He studied architecture but devoted his life to painting. After his first visit to the Holy Land in 1880, he returned again and again, finally settling in Jerusalem, where he died in 1904.
Bauernfeind is considered the foremost German orientalist painter. He lived in the Holy Land for twelve years, mainly in Jaffa and Jerusalem - more than any other Christian artist. Because of mental disorders and a severe heart disease, he was self-effacing and found it very difficult to exhibit and sell his paintings. Consequently his name was almost unknown. Most of his work ended up in the hands of German colonists and tourists visiting the Holy Land and were dispersed all over the world. After the discovery of his estate, Bauernfeind's story was first written in 1990 in a book about him published in Stuttgart by the Templers researcher, Prof. Alex Carmel of Haifa University.
