V is for Victory

I am going to label this as a fun fact item. As a thematic exhibitor, I always have my eye open for interesting items that I can add to my exhibit. There is a category known as INNOVATION which allows me some leeway to add such items. I should add that not every thematic judge understands how this category can be used well, and not every judge will accept the innovation of the exhibitor. 

I came across this neat item shown here which was used in 1945 for the end of WWII. I saw the V sign of victory and I felt it would go nicely in my exhibit especially the bells as I could use the text, "heard the bells of victory".

But there is far more to this slogan than meets the eye.

The original "V" for Victory" slogan was first conceived by Victor De Lavelye, a Belgian lawyer living in London, England in January 1941 but it did not display the victory bells.

In 1941, it really was over confidence to win the war (wishful thinking in retrospect) as Britain was not exactly winning and the Americans had not yet entered the war. However this slogan was known to have been used in Canada.

Peter Congreve, from Twitter, reports that a similar slogan was introduced in Australia from Aug 1941 and was generally withdrawn by mid-November 1941. It was reported to have only been used on Mondays. Strange!!

In 1943 the British added the Victory Bells to the slogan and dies were sent to all postmasters to be opened only when receiving specific instructions, hopefully when peace broke out, again over confidence as the war was far from over.

The slogan was officially released for use from 8th May to 9th June 1945 to celebrate Victory in Europe Day. However, the 8th and 9th of May, 1945 were Public Holidays, when the Post Offices were presumably closed, this making the 10th May the first day of official usage.

They were used again from 15th August to 15th September 1945 to celebrate Victory over Japan Day. However it turns out that the 15th and 16th August were Bank holidays and the post offices were closed.

But what makes this special? The image is of two bells, with a letter V between them, set in between 5 wavy lines, the 1st, 3rd and 5th of which are partially dotted. Here is the cool part, the wavy lines in the slogan make up ..._ or Morse Code for the letter V for Victory! But wait, the opening motif of Beethoven's 5th Symphony, the short-short-short-long rhythmic pattern also corresponds in Morse code to the letter 'V'. The allies, France, England and America adopted a German's Symphony as an icon of solidarity and resistance!

Note: One source reported that there was premature usage in Birmingham on 22nd April and London on 7th May. I have not yet seen an item like this. "Collecting Slogan Postmarks" by Cyril Parsons, Colin Peachey and George Pearson.