Captain Antonín Fojtů took command of the Lednice in 1974 at the age of 44, so already
an experienced mariner. He is on the left in the photo.
Since the Lednice had been stranded on the Great Bitter Lake for seven years by then, he knew what to expect in Suez. He assumed command for four months in July 1974 after Captain Benda, who had already issued farewell stamps but took the remains with him. The new captain decided to issue stamps as well, but it wasn't easy. With no "artist" in the three-member crew, he applied his managerial skills, having Bulgarian sailors draw his design and getting them printed in Cairo. The professional printing provided one advantage: the stamps, unlike the vast majority of the Great Bitter Lake Association (GBLA) stamps, had gum.
It is said that the best comes last, and Captain Fojtů's stamps, which are the last Czechoslovak stamps of the GBLA, confirm this. They have a suitable size, excellent design, are in national colors, had current themes, and a low print run corresponding to the number of sailors on the Lake at that time. It's no wonder that there is extraordinary interest in them today, and it's not easy to acquire them.
One stamp celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Slovak National Uprising (SNP) and is perfect for collections of both Czech and Slovakia.
The second one depicted the funnels of the Ledmelaga (LEDnice, MELampus, AGApenor), which he commanded. While the theme may not be original, it was used for the first time by Czechoslovak sailors. Both stamps are, of course, ideal additions to ASFE collections.
He was the only Czechoslovak member of the GBLA, who wrote a book about his seafaring life – a two-part one. In its second part, there is also a chapter about captivity on the GBL.
If you are interested in seafaring, I recommend reading it. It is an interesting addition to the GBLA Encyclopaedia and Stamp Catalogue.
Sources: GBLA Encyclopaedia and Stamp Catalogue, files of the author
Contact to the author: valdpete@yahoo.com
