21st December 1940
JB: Iglau (B&M)

Decorative cover and cancel for the Christmas period in 1940. Franked but not postally used (collectors cover) from Iglau - Jihlava in Bohemia and Moravia. The cover depicts the nativity scene below which is the verse , 'Hell leuchten Die kerzen am Igelstrand,/ heisz glühen die herzen in Igelland,/ Die Flammen lodern zum himmel hinauf,/ Dir deutsche heimat: Glück auf! Glück auf!' (The candles glow brightly on the hedgehog shore, the hearts in hedgehog country glow hot, the flames blaze up to the sky, to my German homeland: Good luck! Good luck!). Ref: 21.12.1940 - 17/9

The origin of the city's name (Iglau in German) is unclear. Most common theory has it derived from the German word Igel, meaning 'hedgehog', usually in reference to the city's coat of arms. However, the name was in use since before the symbol of a hedgehog was. It is more likely the city is named for the river that flows through it, the name of which is also unclear in its origin, either being derived from the German word Igel as the first theory suggests, or from Slavic word jehla (i.e. 'needle'), referring to sharp stones in the Jihlava river bed. (Source: Wikipedia)