Bandage: A cloth cover to wrap, hold or press

Bandage is synonymous with healing and care. The word comes from “bind” or to hold together. It is a symbol of empathy and care. Some recent postage stamps designed to convey care, are shaped like bandages. These are a more modern version of bandage- small and sticky.

In 2022, Austria issued a postage stamp, literally on an adhesive bandage. The edges can stick on an envelope and the central part has a gauze padding. Here the bandage is used as a metaphor for care in the Covid times

However, bandages are not always small. When wounds are big, we need to cover them enough, so that they can heal well. Humans have developed wounds and injuries since antiquity, and covering these with a piece of cloth, must be as ancient as existence of fabric.

Switzerland issued a set of two stamps in 2021 on 50 years of Medicine sans frontiers (MSF). The stamp above pictures an adhesive bandage, and the one below a gauze bandage fixed with a hook. Bandages are again used to indicate healing efforts of the organisation.

Hence, we attribute oldest bandages to the Egyptians, who first grew cotton. It was a cloth, that was often soaked in healing pastes and resins, to enhance healing. Egyptians also developed an elaborate process of embalming and preserving human bodies. They created mummies. These were human bodies, smeared with chemicals, and extensively bandaged to keep moisture out. The bandages were rolls of cloth, made out of rectangular pieces of linen.

Bandages in postage stamps from the war times

To bandage a wound, is to care. It is an act of compassion, and a demonstration of love and affection for the human kind. In most postage stamps, a care-provider is seen bandaging another person. The person with an injury is often distressed, and others are seen as providing comfort. Most early bandage postage-stamps show injured soldiers, and correspond to the war years.

Please note that those getting bandaged in these stamps appear to be in pain. Act of bandaging, suggests compassion. From a set of postage stamps from Dutch East Indes, Now Indonesia, 1939
In this postage stamp, a bandaged soldier is being cared for, by a doctor and a nurse. Presumably his wife and daughter are at the bedside. Postage stamp from France, 1940

While some injured are depicted as distressed, this is not a constant feature. For instance, the following stamps from a Nazi territory show a soldier standing with a sense of pride. He wears a shouldr sling. These 1940 postage stamps were issued to raise money for the German Red Cross.

Bohemia and Morevia, was a territory occupied by Nazi Germany in 1939, and remained a protectorate till 1945. Today it is part of Czech Republic. This stamp was issued in 1940
Bohemia and Morevia, was a territory occupied by Nazi Germany in 1939, and remained a protectorate till 1945. Today it is part of Czech Republic. This stamp was issued in 1940

In contrast, a set of four postage stamps from Croatia, show an injured head-bandaged soldier. The person shown on the stamp is obviously in distress.

A set of postage stamps from Croatia, 1944. The stamps with a singular postal value have an inscription – “War effort”

In 1945, the second world war had ended, but the work of the red cross was far from over. The organisation was lauded for its work. the following 1946 postage stamp from Bulgaria shows an injured soldier helped by a nurse. Other stamps from the same set, show a bandaged soldier on a stretcher.

A set of stamps from Bulgaria, 1946. The stamps above show a soldier being helped by a nurse. The two stamps below show a bandaged soldier on a stretcher
A bandage gallery : Head

The following stamps show a variety of bandage uses, by body parts.

A health-worker is beginning to apply a bandage to the head. Gabon, 1966
This postage stamp from Honduras was first issued in 1969, with at 1 centavo. In 1999, the initial price was hidden with a heart, and it was issued for 2.60, 7.85, 10.65, 11.55, 12.45, 13.85 Honduran Lempira. In 2005, the second price was hidden and it was reissued for 20.00 and 40.00 Honduran Lempiras. In this stamp, head is well bandaged, and a nurse helping a person feed.
Bandaging head and a shoulder sling
An injured person is shown with a head bandage and a shoulder sling DPR Korea, 2009
A postage stamp on 125th Anniversary of Red Cross. A bandaged head in one, and a shoulder sling in another. Gibraltar, 1989
In this postage stamp from Malaysia 2008, health workers are securing the neck. The background shows a bandage, being applied to the arm
Liechtenstein 2009 again has a head-bandage and a shoulder sling. An injured person is on the way to a hospital in the background. The special cancellation shows hands, in an enveloping posture.
Shoulder slings alone
Shoulder sling, and first aid providers. Germany 1972
Shoulder is in a sling, and arm is bandaged against the chest. This is done to immobilise the shoulder further. Mozambique 1983
Bandaging arm and hands
Red cross issues from France, 1966. The stamp also shows a transition from first-aid provider from 1859 to a modern nurse in 1966.
A postage stamp on 100 years of red-cross in Romania, 1976. A nurse is bandaging arm of a scout
Sri-Lanka 2006. This postage stamp was issued on 100 years of St John ambulance. A nurse is helping an injured person’s hand
How to bandage a hand. This is depicted in first day cover from Liechtenstein 2009
Bandaging legs and feet
Hundred years of Red Cross, Germany, 1963. A nurse is applying a bandage on an injured leg
Soldiers helping with dressing of a child. Congo 1966
50th Anniversary of Girl Guides, Grenada, 1976. Guide is applying a bandage on the injured leg.
Scouts helping an injured person, who presumably has a wound on this right leg. Dominica, 1977
A person being carried, and has a bandage on the leg. Belgium 1979
A Scout helping another, to bandage the leg. Kiribati 1982
From a set of postage stamps issued to mark 100 years of St John Ambulance. An injured person has a bandage on his head, and right leg. Britain 1987

2 comments

  1. Sir very nice super information about bandages representation of the same by stamps excellent information Sir Thanks for sharing the same

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