Accordions on Stamps

This post features my collection of accordions on stamps. It is the latest in my collections that depict specific instrument types. These collections are never complete, I will continue to add to them as my collections grow. It features both stamps that have representations of single instruments as well as those that show a player (or players) with an instrument.

I always think the depictions of instruments on stamps are interesting for a number of reasons. Obviously, as a music lover, they celebrate culture and music. However, they often have additional meaning, representing national identities, or sometimes highlighting minority cultures within a country. Check out these other articles for similar pages that feature trumpets, xylophones, and hurdy-gurdys.

Accordions

The accordion is a type of free reed instrument that uses bellows to provide air pressure that makes sound when forced over small brass or steel reeds. The vibration of these thin tongues creates the sound. Accordions are typically held in front of the body across the chest, and players press keys (like a piano) or buttons to create pitches. At the same time, players use their arms to push the bellows in and out to create the air pressure and to control volume. Similar types of instruments include the concertina and the bandoneon. The accordion is also related to other free reed instruments ranging from the harmonica to large reed organs and harmoniums.

The accordion may have been invented in 1822 by German inventor Christian Friedrich Ludwig Buschmann in Berlin. It was popular in Russia and German, having already become widespread by 1840. By the end of that decade more than ten thousand accordions were being made and sold every year.

In the nineteenth century, the instrument became popular across Europe where it became a part of many types of folk music as well as art music. From there, it spread to other regions of the world, particularly the Americas. The accordion became a popular twentieth century instrument in the United States, particularly for use in ethnic communities. In addition, the instrument was hugely influential in South American music, where the closely-related bandoneon became the primary instrument in Tango. The accordion is still in use across much of Europe and Latin America, and seems to be having a bit of a come back in North America.

The Stamps

Astor Piazzolla

One of the most famous musicians in Latin America, and probably the most famous accordion player in the world, was Astor Piazzolla. This extraordinary musician revolutionized tango music, creating the new style, nuevo tango. Piazzolla was an outstanding bandoneon player, using a button type of accordion most commonly used in tango music. His fame as a composer and musician led to many stamps featuring him, often with his ever-present bandoneon.

Advertising Covers

Though the following are not images of accordions on stamps, this seems like a great place to share a couple of advertising covers from my collection that depict the accordion. Of course, if the first one is an advertising cover it is not a very good one as it does not have the name of a company, store, or even teacher. It is a pretty great envelope with a large image of an accordion though! It is from 1931 and was sent from Accord (love it), Massachusetts.

Another advertising cover with an accordion in my collection comes from 1904. It is an envelope from the Boltmann Supply Company of Chicago, Illionois. The cover is in German and on the back are two different instrumetns. First, a button accordion on the right, and secondly a kind of barrel reed organ. On the front there is a cuckoo clock! Obviously, the company was selling products to appeal to the immigrant German community in the United States.

The final cover in my collection featuring accordions is the most important. It comes from the Italian town famous for making accordions, Castelfidardo. In addition, it comes from a member of one of the great families of Italian accordion building: Nazzareno Crucianelli. It features an accordion on the left side of the envelope, under the name of the maker/sender. The cover was sent to The Halifax Distributing Company in Syracuse, New York, in 1948.