The history of the sunflower

 

   

The history of the sunflower, scientifically known as Helianthus annuus, is rich and diverse. Here's a brief overview:

1. **Origin**: Sunflowers are native to North America and were domesticated around 3000 BCE by Indigenous peoples in what is now present-day Mexico and the southern United States. They were cultivated for their seeds, which were not only a food source but also used for medicinal and ceremonial purposes.

 2. **Spread to Europe**: Sunflowers were introduced to Europe by Spanish explorers in the 16th century. Initially, they were grown as ornamental plants before their value as an oilseed crop was recognized.

 3. **Cultivation for Oil**: By the 18th century, sunflowers were cultivated extensively in Russia for their oil content. Russian farmers selectively bred sunflower varieties with high oil content, leading to the development of modern oilseed sunflower varieties.

 4. **Commercialization**: In the 19th century, Russian sunflower oil gained popularity in Europe, and by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sunflower cultivation had spread to other parts of Europe and the world.

 5. **Modern Cultivation**: Today, sunflowers are grown commercially in many countries, including Russia, Ukraine, Argentina, the United States, and China. They are primarily cultivated for their seeds, which are used for oil extraction, as snacks, and in baking and cooking. Sunflower oil is one of the most popular vegetable oils globally due to its light flavor, high smoke point, and nutritional profile.

  

 6. **Symbolism and Cultural Significance**: Sunflowers have symbolic importance in various cultures. They are often associated with the sun, positivity, and longevity. In art, literature, and mythology, sunflowers have been depicted as symbols of hope, adoration, and loyalty.

 Overall, the sunflower's journey from its origins in North America to its global cultivation and symbolic significance reflects its importance in human history and culture.

The Latin name "Helianthus annuus"  translates to "annual sunflower," with each component having its own meaning:

 1. "Helianthus" comes from the Greek words "helios," meaning "sun," and "anthos," meaning "flower." So, "Helianthus" refers to a plant that follows the sun, as sunflowers are known to do, tracking its movement across the sky during the day.

 2. "Annuus" is derived from the Latin word "annuus," meaning "annual" or "yearly." It refers to the fact that sunflowers typically complete their life cycle within a year, growing, flowering, producing seeds, and then dying in a single growing season.

The most famous are "Sunflowers" by Vincent van Gogh.

Vincent van Gogh created a series of paintings featuring sunflowers, with variations in composition, color palette, and style. The exact number of paintings in the "Sunflowers" series is a matter of interpretation and classification, as some artworks are considered part of the series while others may be related but not officially included.

 Typically, there are considered to be five main paintings in van Gogh's "Sunflowers" series, which are recognized as iconic representations of his exploration of color, texture, and form:

 1. "Sunflowers" (F453), painted in 1888, currently housed at the National Gallery in London.

2. "Sunflowers" (F455), also painted in 1888, currently located at the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam.

3. "Sunflowers" (F456), created in 1888, now held by the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

4. "Sunflowers" (F458), painted in 1889, housed at the Neue Pinakothek in Munich.

5. "Sunflowers" (F459), completed in 1889, currently in the collection of the Seiji Togo Memorial Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Museum of Art in Tokyo.

 

 In addition to these main paintings, there are other related works, including still lifes and studies of sunflowers, which are sometimes considered part of the broader "Sunflowers" series. Overall, the "Sunflowers" series remains one of van Gogh's most celebrated and recognizable bodies of work.

Doctor Zhivago (English version)

My article Doctor Zhivago 

Baggo – the story of one envelope!

 

The history of the Baggehufwud – Baggovut – Baggo family

©Andrzej Philips

 

 

The envelope with the coat of arms of the Russian Empire had been lying around for about 40 years, I don't even remember where I bought it. In all these years, no one was interested. An ordinary whole, of which there are many. Sent from Popielnia [1]to Kegel [2]. This time I looked at it from a non-philatelic perspective. Inscription: Kegel Post Office, Estland Governorate [3], His Honor Eduard Valerianovich Baggovut, Vazelem Estate. The question arose - who was this Edward Boggutov...

  

                             

Seal and a stamp printed on the envelope

Eduard Walerianowicz Baggovut (Eduard Karl Ewald von Baggehufwudt) was born on October 30, 1870 in the capital of the Estonian Governorate in Reval (today's Tartu) into a wealthy family of Estonian nobility: Valerian von Baggovut (born May 13, 1843, Saint-Petersburg, died July 3. 1923 Tallinn, Estonia) [4]and Josefine Magdalena (Josy) von Baggehufwudt (Baggo) (von Ungern-Sternberg) (born 20/08/1839 in Nõva (Neva), Estonia, died 18/02/1917 Nõva (Neva), Estonia).

 

                         

     

Valerian von Baggovut and Josefine Magdalena von Baggehufwudt (Baggo) (von Ungern-Sternberg)

 

A family of Norwegian-Swedish origin, many of whose representatives were generals and commanders in the army of the Russian Empire. Over the centuries, the family used various forms of the surname: Bagge - Baggehufwud - Baggovut - Baggo and others [5]. The family owned numerous landed estates . Eduard was one of the heirs to the brewery in Saku (Estonia) and the estates in Vazalemma and Nõva (Neva) [6].

Saku Brewery

In October 1820, the owner of the Saku manor, Count Karl Friedrich von Rehbinder (1764-1841), opened a brewery on the manor grounds. When in 1866 the manor came into the possession of Walerian Baggehufwudt (1843–1923), the brewery was renovated, and in 1871 beer from the Saku brewery took a prominent place on the Tallinn beer market. In June 1875, an agricultural exhibition was held in Kadriorg (Tallinn), where Saku beer received a bronze medal.

In 1876, instead of a small manor brewery, Walerian Baggovut built a steam-powered brewery, and in 1877 the first batch of beer was produced here. In 1880, Saku beer received the second prize and a bronze medal at the exhibition in Riga [7], [8].

The brewery produces beer: Saku / Сакуское / Sakuskie, Saku tume / Сакуское темное / Sakuskie dark, Saku hele / Сакуское светлое / Sakuskie light and Saku kuldne / Sakuskoe zolotoe/ Sakuskoe zloty [9].

Saku beer / Сакуское

Saku beer / Сакуское/Saku lager

Saku hele beer / Сакуское светлое / Saku light

Saku tume beer / Sakuskoe dark / Saku dark

Saku kuldne beer / Sakuskoe золотое / Saku golden

Vasalemma

Vasalemma [10]is a small commune in Harju County in northwestern Estonia. The settlement had 879 inhabitants, including 711 Estonians (80.9%). Vasalemma has a station on the western Elron route.                             

Palace in Vasalemma & coat of arms of the Baggehufwud family

 

Vasalemma Palace on  an Estonian stamp

First Day Cover with the stamp and the Coat of Srms of Baggovut family

In 1825, the owners of the Padise von Ramma manor separated Vasalemma as a separate estate, which in 1886 became the property of the noble von Baggovut family.

On military topographic maps of the Russian Empire (1846–1863), covering the Estonian province, the manor is marked as Vazalem manor.

The last owner of the manor was Eduard von Baggehufwudt. On his orders, the main building (manor house) was built in 1890-1893.

In 1919, the manor was expropriated, and in 1922, a school began to operate in its main building. During World War II, the building first housed a Soviet hospital, and with the arrival of the Nazis, a German training center.

Currently, the main building of the manor houses the Vasalemma Primary School. In the 2000s, the building was partially restored [11].

Nõva (Neva)

The first mention of the Nõva estate appeared in a document from 1559 as the estate of the Padise Monastery. In 1575 it passed into private hands. In 1663, the monastery property was expropriated and then returned to private ownership.

In the 17th century, the estate often changed hands. After the Great Northern War at the beginning of the 18th century, it initially belonged to the noble Baltic-German Mohrenschildt family. From 1833 it was owned by the Ungern-Sternberg family.

The oblong, single-story wooden manor house was probably built in the mid-19th century. It was kept in a classicist style, but it was rebuilt many times.

As part of the Estonian land reform, the estate and manor were expropriated by the young Estonian state. The last private owner was Josefine von Baggehufwudt (née Ungern-Sternberg, 1839–1917) and her son and heir Eduard (Ned) von Baggehufwudt.

Since 1920, the former manor house has housed a local school. Over the course of the 20th century, the building was rebuilt several times. In 2002, the destroyed building was completely replaced. The local authorities tried to preserve the shape and appearance of the historic building [12].

Neva – Vasalemma – Saku

 

After graduating from high school in 1890, Eduard Baggobutov entered the University of Tartu at the economics (agricultural) faculty, graduating in 1891. Then, on the estate in Vasalemma (34 km from Tallinn), he created the first aviary. Thanks to its aristocratic origins, wealth and over time, it became the largest in the Russian Empire. He had extensive connections throughout Europe. Birds and other animals were sent by rail throughout Russia. He also became the editor and publisher of the magazine "Rational breeding of birds and animals", which was published in Rewal (Tallinn) in 1905-1906, and two years later he started publishing Animal breeding guide (1907-1914) [13].

E. Baggovut was the author and publisher of books and catalogs: "Good advice for the transportation of poultry and animals by rail" (1908), "Illustrated catalog of birds, pigs, goats, rabbits, dogs, accessories for breeding poultry, books and postcards of the largest farm in Russia" (1901, 1902, 1908, 1913, 1914), "Rukovodstvo (1911).

He was also the publisher of books by many zoologists and veterinarians, e.g. VV Sobiniecki "Rabbit" (1907, 1912), and the same "Proper feeding of domestic birds" (1907), Aleksander A. Bazarnianinov "Conversations on sheep breeding" (1905), "On upbringing and feeding young animals (1906), Jurgenson Ivan "Pigeon breeding" (1905, 1914), "St. Bernards" (1906), Pashchenko Sergei "Diseases of domestic birds" (1910), "Feeding domestic birds" (1909), "Ant eggs and ants, their collection and preparation" (1915), Hans Eberhardt "The dog, its breeds, care, education and maintenance" (1908).

in Rewal and were distributed in large copies throughout Russia [14].[15]

                                      

"Good advice when transporting poultry and animals by rail" and "Rational feeding of poultry", Author: Wł. On Sabinetsky, Publisher: Eduard Valeryanovich Baggovut

“Illustrated catalog of birds, pigs, goats, rabbits, dogs, poultry farming accessories, books and postcards from the publication of the largest farm in Russia by EV Baggovut, Wazalem Estate, Kegel Post Office, Estonian Governorate.|

 

All activities ended with the outbreak of the war. Being German, he was accused of spying for Germany and exiled deep into the country. The farm in Vazelemma was abandoned during the war and disappeared. Fearing new arrest, he emigrated to Germany. Moreover, after World War I, agrarian reform was carried out in Estonia [16].

Economic problems coincided with political ones, the owners of medium and small farms were mostly Estonians, and their neighbors with large estates were Germans. However, it seems that the implementation of the reform was determined more by economic than political factors. It is worth noting that the majority of those in favor of its implementation were peasant parties and the broadly understood left, and to a lesser extent the right. The final result of the debate was the act adopted by the Constituent Assembly on October 10, 1919, under which large landed estates and their equipment were expropriated.

The Baltic Germans also did not give up their weapons; just a year earlier they were actively fighting against the emerging Republic of Estonia. They organized Landwery units throughout the region, which were supposed to give them victory. However, after the Estonians won and established peace, their position was undermined. Agrarian reform has become a tool for neutralizing their economic and, therefore, political power. Baltic Germans have been Estonia's social elite for centuries, dominating the economic, cultural and political life of the small country. Most Estonians saw them as foreign invaders and opponents of an independent Estonian state.

The expropriation took place for compensation, but there were problems with the valuation of real estate and livestock. Most owners claimed that their value was underestimated [17].

Eduard von Baggo settled in Gdańsk around 1920. Here he was involved in stamp collecting and stamp trading.

Initially, he moved to a villa in Westerplatte. From there he started his first business.

For example, he liked to combine the new stamps of the "Free City of Danzig" (Berlin Edition) with the still existing stamps of the German Empire and the early Weimar Republic, thus making interesting mixed postage available.

Later he started playing a bit with Gdańsk's stamps:

He once deliberately under-franked a postcard and sent it to an address in Switzerland that could not be delivered.

Surcharge stamps were glued to the card in Switzerland, and after an unsuccessful delivery attempt, the card was returned to Gdańsk.

Then postage stamps of the surcharge of the City of Gdańsk were glued here ("To be collected by the recipient"), and he received back his old shipment with postage stamps of Switzerland and Gdańsk... Such "fabricated documents" are usually not particularly popular among collectors, but without the actions of Mr. von Baggo, some interesting francs are unlikely to be seen again...

 

On January 30, 1945, Edward von Baggo and his wife were on board the ship "Wilhelm Gustloff", which at night was hit by three torpedoes fired by a Soviet submarine [18]. Eduard Baggo died along with his wife Marta, son James and his wife Gerda.

Of the 10,582 passengers, 9,343 drowned in the icy waters of the Baltic Sea before the ship's captain reached safety. We owe information about von Baggo's death to the stamp dealer's great-grandson, Mr. James von Baggo, living in Australia. James from Baggo kindly shared some additional details about the family. Accordingly, Eduard von Baggo, who came from the Baltic countries, had five children named Paul, Ned, Nils, James and Elizabeth. Ned von Baggo also became a stamp dealer and lived in Luxembourg during World War II. The fourth son, James - the grandfather of the above-mentioned correspondent from Australia - died as a soldier on January 30, 1945 on the Eastern Front - on the same day that Eduard von Baggo sailed with his collections on the "Wilhelm Gustloff" [19].

Edward was married to Marta Ritter (1884 - 1945), they had 5 children: Nils (28/10/1898, Tallinn -1985), Paul (7/10/1900-?), Ned (Eduard) (17/10/1904, Tallinn -?), James (27/02/1910 Tallinn - 31/01/1945, Königsdank [20]) and Konstance (6/04/1913 Vasalemma, Estonia - 8/08/1991, Upwey , Melbourne, Canada) [21].

 

 

Illustrious representatives of the Baggohufwudt family

Karl Gustav von Baggohufwudt  (Russian: Karl Fedorovich Baggovut); born 16/09. 1761 in Perila (Estonia).

On October 18, 1812, [22]Lieutenant General Karl Fedorovich Baggovut was killed during the Battle of Tarutino. He was born on September 16, 1761 in the Estonian province in the family of the customs director Libau [23], from a Norwegian noble family. From 1779, he served in the Russian military service as a second lieutenant of the Tobolsk infantry regiment. In 1782, he took part in the suppression of the Crimean Tatar uprisings, and during the Russian-Turkish war of 1789, he distinguished himself in the Battle of the Selcia River in Moldova during the capture of Bendera. The officer proved himself again during the suppression of the Polish uprising and became famous for his brilliant actions against the Confederates. He took part in the battle of Maciejowice [24](where T. Kościuszko was captured), and then in the assault on the outskirts of Warsaw - Prague. In 1799 Baggovut was promoted to major general. During the Battle of Preussisch Eylau [25](1807), the general was seriously wounded in the chest. Baggovut fought at Guttstadt [26]and Heilsberg [27]and was Prince Peter Bagration's closest collaborator. During the Russo-Swedish War of 1808, Baggovut won several victories over Swedish troops and distinguished himself during the defense of Abo [28]. During the Patriotic War of 1812, he commanded the 2nd Infantry Corps of the 1st Western Army. Participant in the battles of Smolensk, Borodino and Tarutino. In the last battle he was killed by an enemy cannonball. In a rescript addressed to Baggovut's widow, Emperor Alexander I wrote: "I have lost in him a brave military commander, useful to the homeland."».

His family was originally Norwegian, but moved to Sweden in the 16th century and then to Estonia in the 17th century [29].

Alexander Fedorowicz Baggovut , cavalry general (born 1806, died May 2, 1883)[30]

 

Ivan Karlowicz von Baggovut (born April 12, 1862 - February 9, 1933, died Cannes, France) - Russian general of artillery, commander of the 42nd Army Corps. Son of the commandant of Gatchina, general of infantry Karl Fedorovich Baggovut, and Maria Ivanovna Pavlova. The older brothers are Vladimir, a retired guard officer, and Alexander, a statesman and governor of Poltava [31].

On July 19, 1914, he was appointed head of the 74th Infantry Division, with which he entered World War I. From December 19, he served as general of assignments under the command of the 3rd Army. On June 27, 1915, he was appointed inspector of artillery of the 42nd Army Corps, and in 1917 he served as corps commander. In May 1917 he retired and was promoted to general of artillery.

He participated in the White Army as part of the Southern Russian Armed Forces [32], and also served in the Don Army, where he was renamed a cavalry general.

 

After the defeat of the white troops, he emigrated to Latvia and then to France. He wrote memoirs and collaborated with the Artillery Journal. He died in 1933 in Cannes.

Karl Fedorovich Baggovut (German: Karl Theodor von Baggehufwudt; 1810-1895) – general of infantry, administrator of the palaces of Gatchina [33]and commandant of Gatchina. The younger brother of Alexander Baggovut [34], he was the son of the head of customs in Libau (Liepāja), Fyodor Fedorovich Baggovut, and the nephew of the hero of the Patriotic War of 1812, General Karl Fedorovich Baggovut.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I learned about the fascinating history of the Baggehufwud family thanks to an inconspicuous envelope. I love such envelopes, postcards and postcards. These are not dead things, but objects with a soul that tell us their story.

---

[1] Popilnya or Popilnya (Ukrainian: Попільня ) is an urban-type settlement in the Zhytomyr District, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine [en.wkipedia]. The origin of the village is associated with the construction of the Fastov-Kozyatin section of the Kiev-Odessa railway, which was carried out in the 1860s. The route ran near the village of Popielnia. The station built here was named Priazovskoe. [our-travels.info]

[2] Keila (German: Kegel ) is a town and municipality in Harju County in northwestern Estonia, 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Tallinn [en.wkipedia]

[3] Estonian Governorate (Russian: Эстлянсая губерния), Estonian Governorate - an administrative unit of the Russian Empire, located in the northern part of present-day Estonia.

[4]Geni.com – von Baggehufwudt family tree

[5]Family tree of the family, [geni.com]

[6]  Shergalin JE by 150th anniversary since birthday and 75th anniversary since death of breeder, aviculturist, educator and publisher Eduard Karl Ewald von Baggehufwudt (1870-1945) [elibrary.ru]

[7] Sakuski beer brewing завод (Brewery in Saku) [ru.wikipedia]

[8]200- years leader Estonian cultures beer brewing (200th anniversary of the leader of Estonian brewing culture) [dv.ee]

[9]Pavel Egorov, Facebook " ПИВО (BEER)"

[10]Vasalemma [en.wikipedia]

[11]Vazalem [ru.wikipedia]

[12] Nõva (Dorf) [de.wikipedia

[13] Shergalin HE as above

[14] Shergalin JE by 150th anniversary since birthday and 75th anniversary since death of breeder, aviculturist, educator and publisher Eduard Karl Ewald von Baggehufwudt (1870-1945) [elibrary.ru]

[15]Digar Digital Archive [digar.ee]

[16]JEShergalin as above

[17] Paweł Stefanek , Estonian land reform of 1919 [eesti.pl]

 

[18]MS Wilhelm Gustloff [pl.wikipedia]

[19] Gerald Braunberger, " Von Baggo und die "Wilhelm Gustloff" [danzig.org]

[20] Bagniewko – (German: Königsdank ) a village in Poland, located in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in Świecie County, in the Pruszcz Commune [pl.wikipedia]

[21]Family tree of the von Baggehufwudt family [geni.com]

[22] Tarutino is a rural town in Zhukovsky District, Kaluga Oblast, Russia [ru.wikipedia]

[23] Liepaja ( Latin: Liepāja, German: Libau ) - a city in the western part of Latvia [pl.wikipedia]

[24] Battle of Maciejowice - a battle fought on October 10, 1794 near Maciejowice [pl.wikipedia]

[25] Battle of Pruska Iława ( German Preußisch Eylau , present-day Bagrationovsk in the Königsberg Oblast in Russia ) [pl.wikipedia]

[26] Good City ( German Guttstadt ) – a city in the province of Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship , in Olsztyn County [pl.wikipedia][e.wikipedia]

[27] Lidzbark Warmiński ( German Heilsberg ) – a city in the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship [pl.wikipedia]

[28] Turku ( Swedish: Åbo) - a city in southwestern Finland , the capital of the country until 1812 [pl.wikipedia]

[29] Karl Gustav von Baggohufwudt [en.wikipedia]

[30] Записки и ocherk его жизни . [drevlit.ru]

[31] Beloe dvizhenie Beloe Движение [m.ok.ru]

[32]Armed Forces of the Russian South ( Russian: Вооружённые силы Юга России, ВСЮР) - the official name of the anti-Bolshevik ( White ) Russian troops, operating as a formation since January 8, 1919, when the Army of Occupation was formally merged hotnicza with the Don Army (which were joined by other operational unions white Russians) until May 10, 1920, when they were formally renamed the Russian Army [pl.wikipedia]

[33] Gatchina - a city in Russia , in the central part of the Leningrad Oblast , 45 km southwest of St. Petersburg [ru.wikipedia]

[34]Beloe dvizhenie Белое Движение [m.ok.ru]