Republic of Germany Stamps
Commemoratives of 1952-1953
Republic of Germany stamps issued during 1952 and 1953 were primarily commemorative postage stamps and surtaxed pictorial stamps for charity. The stamps of this era feature anniversaries of famous people and events, but they also showcase the emerging infrastructure of the new, democratic Germany, in the wake of the complete devastation that existed just a little over six years earlier.
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The 5 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the left (Mi. #148, Sc. #687), was issued on April 15, 1952 to commemorate the 500th Anniversary of the Birth of Leonardo da Vinci, the Italian renaissance painter, engineer, and inventor.
The design shows the World famous painting, Mona Lisa, by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). The painting is a portrait of Lisa del Giocondo (1479-1551), a member of the Gherardini Family of Florence Italy, and it was commissioned by her husband, Francesco del Giocondo (1465-1538), a successful Florentine cloth and silk merchant of the time.
The 10 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the right (Mi. 149, Sc. #689), was issued on July 25, 1952 to publicize the Lutheran World Federation Assembly, held in Hanover during 1952.
The design of this stamp is based on the portrait of Martin Luther (1483-1546) by Lucas Cranach the Elder (1472-1553).
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The 10 Pf. + 5 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the left (Mi. #151, Sc. #B324), was issued on August 9, 1952 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the German National Museum in Nuremberg. The surtax was used to benefit the museum.
The design features the Nuremberg Madonna, a 16th Century statue by an unknown sculptor, which is in the museum.
The 20 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the right (Mi. #155, Sc. #691), was issued on September 17, 1952 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the Arrival of Carl Schurz in America.
Carl Schurz (1829-1906) was a renowned German journalist and revolutionary. In 1852, he immigrated to the United States, where he became a highly regarded journalist, orator, and statesman.
The two surtaxed Republic of Germany stamps shown above (Mi. #153-54, Sc. #B325-26) were issued on September 17, 1952 for the Federal Republic Youth Program.
The stamps are inscribed "JUGENDMARKE 1952" or "YOUTH STAMPS 1952", and the surtax benefited the youth programs.
The four surtaxed Republic of Germany stamps shown above (Mi. #156-59, Sc. #B327-30) were issued on October 1, 1952, with the surtax benefiting public charities.
Their descriptions are as follows:
- 04 Pf. + 02 Pf. - Elizabeth Fry (1780-1845). She was an English prison reformer, social reformer, and a Christian philanthropist.
- 10 Pf. + 05 Pf. - Dr. Carl Sonnenschein (1876-1929). He was a German writer and the founder of the Catholic Student Movement.
- 20 Pf. + 10 Pf. - Theodor Fliedner (1800-1864). He was a German Lutheran minister and the founder of Lutheran Deaconess Training.
- 30 Pf. + 10 Pf.
- Henri Dunant (1828-1910). He was a Swiss businessman, social activist, and the founder of the International Red Cross. He was awarded the first Nobel Prize for Peace in 1901.
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The 30 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the left (Mi. #161, Sc. #693), was issued on October 27, 1952 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Telephone Service in Germany.
The design features the portrait of Johann Philipp Reis (1834-1874), a German scientist and inventor, who constructed the first working telephone in Germany.
The 20 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the right (Mi. #162, Sc. #694), was issued on March 30, 1953 to publicize Traffic Accident Prevention.
This somewhat morbid design, a mother with her injured child in front of a traffic sign, does get the message across rather well.
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The 10 Pf. + 5 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the left (Mi. #153, Sc. #B331), was issued on May 7, 1953 to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the German Museum in Munich. The surtax was used to benefit the museum.
The 10 Pf. denomination stamp shown above, at the right (Mi. #164, Sc. #696), was issued on May 8, 1953 to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of the Birth of Henri Dunant (1828-1910), the founder of the International Red Cross.
The 10 Pf. denomination stamp shown above (Mi. #165, Sc. #697) was issued on May 9, 1953 in Memory of Prisoners of War.
The four smaller-format commemorative Germany stamps shown above (Mi. #167-70, Sc. #698-01) were issued on June 20, 1953 to publicize the Transport and Communications Exhibition held in Munich.
The four designs symbolize railroad, airplane, automobile, and sea travel.
The two surtaxed Republic of Germany stamps shown above (Mi. #171-72, Sc. #B332-33) were issued on July 29, 1953 for the International Philatelic Exhibition in Frankfurt or "IFRABA 1953". The surtax benefited the exhibition.
The four surtaxed Republic of Germany stamps shown above (Mi. #173-76, Sc. #B334-37) were issued on November 2, 1953, with the surtax benefiting public charities.
Their descriptions are as follows:
- 04 Pf. + 02 Pf. - August Hermann Francke (1663-1727). He was a German Lutheran clergyman, philanthropist, and biblical scholar.
- 10 Pf. + 05 Pf. - Sebastian Kneipp (1821-1897). He was a Bavarian priest.
- 20 Pf. + 10 Pf.
- Dr. Johann Christian Senckenberg (1707-1772). He was a German physician and naturalist. He established the Senckenberg Foundation in 1763, to support the study of natural sciences.
- 30 Pf. + 10 Pf.
- Fridtjof Nansen (1861-1930). He was a Norwegian polar explorer, scientist, and humanitarian. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace in 1922.
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Return to Federal Republic of Germany from Republic of
Germany Stamps - Commemoratives of 1952-1953
The 30 Pf. denomination stamp shown above (Mi. #150, Sc. #688) was issued on July 25, 1952 to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the Four-Cycle Gasoline Engine.
The design features the portrait of Nikolaus Otto (1832-1891), the German engineer responsible for the first internal-combustion engine to burn fuel directly in a piston chamber.
The 20 Pf. denomination stamp shown above (Mi.#152, Sc. #690) was issued on September 6, 1952 to celebrate the Return of Helgoland to Germany in May 1952.
The design features a fishing ship near Helgoland.
The 10 Pf. denomination stamp shown above (Mi. #160, Sc. #692) was issued on October 25, 1952 to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the First Thurn & Taxis Postage Stamps.
The design features a painting of a Thurn & Taxis Postilion circa 1846.
The 30 Pf. denomination stamp shown above (Mi. #166, Sc. #695) was issued on May 12, 1953 to commemorate the 150th Anniversary of the Birth of Justus von Liebig.
Justus von Liebig (1803-1873) was a German chemist who made major contributions to agricultural and biological chemistry. He is considered the founder of organic chemistry.