Saarland - Saar Protectorate
Issues of 1955-1956
The Saarland postage stamp shown above, at the top left (Mi. #357, Sc. #253), was issued on February 28, 1955 to publicize the Cross Country Bicycle Racing World Championship. The stamp design features a cyclist and the flag of the Saar Protectorate.
The postage stamp shown above, at the top right (Mi. #358, Sc. #254), was also issued on February 28 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Rotary International. The design features the Rotary Club symbol and industrial works at Neunkirchen.
The postage stamp shown above, at the bottom left (Mi. #359, Sc. #255), was issued on April 18, 1955 to publicize the 1955 International Saar Fair held in Saarbrücken. The stamp depicts the flag of the Saar Fair, along with the national flags of the participating nations.
The 1955 Stamp Day
commemorative shown above, at bottom center (Mi. #361, Sc. #256), was issued on May 8, 1955.
The design depicts a postman at Illingen. These stamps were also issued
in miniature sheets of 10.
The charity stamp shown above, at bottom right (Mi. #360, Sc. #B104), was issued on May 5, 1955 to publicize Red Cross Week. The stamp depicts a nurse holding a child and the Red Cross emblem.
On October 22, 1955, the three definitive postage stamps shown above (Mi. #362-64, Sc. #257-59) were overprinted "VOLKSBEFRAGUNG / 1955" to publicize the Saar Protectorate Independence Referendum to be held on October 23.
France
offered to establish an independent Saarland, under the auspices of
the Western European Union, but the referendum held on October 23
rejected the plan by a vote of 68% to 32%, with a 97% voter turnout. The
rejection of the plan by the electorate was interpreted as support for
Saarland to join the Federal Republic of Germany.
The annual Volkshilfe charity stamps for public welfare shown above (Mi. #365-67, Sc. #B105-07) were issued on December 10, 1955.
The
three stamps feature details from classical etchings by Albrecht Dürer
(1471-1528). The designs are as follows: "Dürer's Mother, Age 63",
"Praying Hands", and "Old Man of Antwerp".
The postage stamp shown above, at the top left (Mi. #368, Sc. #260), was issued on April 14, 1956 to publicize the 1956 International Saar Fair held in Saarbrücken. The stamp depicts symbols of industry and the fair symbol.
The charity stamp shown above, at top center (Mi. #370, Sc. #B108), was issued on May 7, 1956 to publicize Red Cross Week. The stamp depicts a first aid station in Saarbrücken circa 1870.
The 1956 Stamp Day commemorative shown above, at top right (Mi. #369, Sc. #261), was issued on May 6, 1956. The design depicts a radio tower near Saarbrücken.
The two charity stamps shown above, at the bottom (Mi. #371-72, Sc. #B109-10), were issued July 25, 1956 to celebrate the Olympic Games in Melbourne,
Australia. The stamps depict an athlete's head from the sculpture
"Victor of Benevent". The surtax went to support Olympic athletes.
Though
athletes from Saar participated in the 1956 Olympic Games, they did so
as members of the Federal Republic of Germany Olympic team.
The three charity stamps shown above, at the top (Mi. #373-75, Sc. #B111-13), were issued October 29, 1956, to raise money for the reconstruction of historical monuments.
The stamps depict the "Winterberg Monument". The monument was built
in remembrance of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. It was
destroyed by the Wehrmacht in the early days of World War II.
The annual Volkshilfe charity stamps for public welfare shown above, at the bottom (Mi. #376-78, Sc. #B114-16), were issued on December 10, 1956.
The
three stamps feature classical paintings of women. The designs are as
follows: "La Belle Ferronnière" by Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519),
"Saskia von Rembrandt" by Rembrandt (1606-1669), and "Woman Playing
Spinet" from "Family von Berchem" by Frans Floris (1516-1570).
Under
the provision of the Saar Treaty of October 1956, France returned
the Saarland Protectorate to West Germany. On January 1, 1957, the former French
Protectorate became a Federal State or "Bundesland" of the Federal Republic of Germany.
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Saarland - Issues of 1955-1956
