CZ stamp collectors document World War I internment on Taboga

Philately and isthmian history
by Eric Jackson

Stamp collecting is one of those insidious gateway behaviors. It leads to an interest in postmarks, postcards and envelopes. One who has become hooked on the hardcore stuff then tends to get into history, geography and cultural anthropology.

And so it is that a group that's interested in Canal Zone stamps, the last of which appeared in 1979, has stumbled upon an obscure point of isthmian history, the World War I internment of German nationals on Taboga Island.

And so it was that The Panama News recently received an email from one David Zemer, of the Canal Zone Stamp Group, in part as follows:

I was in Panama a few weeks ago meeting with a couple of the leading Panama stamp collectors there, plus having a few days at Taboga fishing.

As always Panama was a great place to visit (and live).

I am working on an article for our Oct. CZP on the Germans interned at Taboga and would like to appeal for help from any of your readers. Anything that they know would be of interest.

We know that about 50 persons were at Aspinwall Hotel but so far we do not know their names nor if they returned to Panama after WW I. I have seen some mail addressed to Germans that I believe were still there in the 1950s but cannot be sure.

Any response should be directed to sosahill@hotmail.com

I can also send a digital copy of COPACARTA, the publication of the Colombia-Panama study group to any of your readers interested in Colombia or Panama stamp collecting - they only need to email me at sosahill@hotmail.com and put "free COPACARTA" in the subject line.

This reporter has heard tales of World War II internment of German nationals and anyone of Japanese ancestry found in Panama, but before receving this email knew naught about what happened to Panama's German community in World War I.

So how about it, folks? Do any of you know more details about the internment of Germans on Taboga in World War I? If so, please help Mr. Zemer and his fellow stamp collectors in their quest to learn and publish more about a chapter in Panama's history.