Penol advertisement from May 5, 1945

I’m always on the lookout for old magazines that contain advertisements for fountain pens. This week, I was lucky enough to stumble across an important newspaper in a flea market. This issue of Politiken is from Saturday, May 5, 1945, and announces “Danmark atter frit” – “Denmark is free again” on the front page.

The first half of this newspaper is filled with news, showing the celebrations around the country and the world at the end of the war. The second half is filled with full-page advertisements, like this one from Penol:

The text, in English is as follows:

THE TOOL OF THE SPIRIT MUST REPLACE THE WEAPONS OF THE HAND

The last echo of the thunder of the cannons has died away. A world stands ready to solve the mighty tasks of the future. Cities must stand again. railways, bridges and roads must be rebuilt and thousands of new machines must renew the nations with the vital goods they have been deprived of for so long.

Constructive, creative work will once again become the foundation of the prosperity and happiness of individual countries. The pen will replace the sword, and fertile thoughts will shape the time to come:

The great, proud days of peace and freedom – the beginning of a new, brilliant chapter in the history of mankind.

PENOL