The Szekula Family of Stamp Dealers

This website is dedicated to the Hungarian born stamp dealers Béla, Géza, Eugen and Frank Szekula. Each one of them ran his own stamp business with emphasis on international stamp trade, most likely driven by money rather than the love of stamps. All four assumed Swiss nationality and were at one time based in Lucerne. Especially Béla’s creative business ideas provoked more than one philatelic scandal during his career. However, the history of philately would arguably be poorer without the Szekula brothers.

© 2018–2022            Contributors: Max Brack — Albert Little — David Rossall — Bob Medland

Emil Gogarten

 
Postage stamp with red E. Gogarten handstamp on back
Greece Michel #250 with
E. Gogarten handstamp on back
newspaper ad.
Freiburger Nachrichten
February 20, 1934
Dr. phil. Carl Emil Gogarten, born on November 29, 1881 in Dortmund, Germany, as son of Emil Gogarten and Friederica Bennekaemper, had already lived in Switzerland (Zollikon, Zurich) since at least 1909 when he joined Béla’s stamp business. He was employed as an officer with signatory rights (Prokura) from March 1920 to August 1923. In the following years he probably continued dealing with stamps as a private seller, and in July 1927 he opened his own stamp company Dr. phil. Gogarten in Ebikon. In December 1934 he closed his business and moved away. Dr. Gogarten died in January 1938 at age 57 in Zurich, survived by his wife Johanna (née Pieterse).


Cover — July 10, 1923

Sent registered via air mail on July 10, 1923, from Liepāja, Latvia, to Ebikon.

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Cover — May 18, 1925

Sent registered on May 18, 1925 from Lucerne to Vreed en Hoop, British Guiana.

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Cover — June 3, 1925

Sent registered on June 3, 1925 from Lucerne to Thun.

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Scan provided by Max Brack.


Cover — October 14, 1925

Sent registered on October 14, 1925 from Lucerne to Ennenda.

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Scan provided by Max Brack.


Cover — December 6, 1926

Registered cover sent on December 6, 1926 by Dr. Phil. Emil Gogarten, Ebikon, from Lucerne to Brandenburg a. d. Havel, Germany.

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REM
Bote vom Untersee und Rhein
February 11, 1927


Cover — December 4, 1928

Sent registered on December 4, 1928, from Lucerne to Nestal.

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Scan provided by Max Brack.
REM
Neue Zürcher Nachrichten
November 16, 1933