NAZI GERMANY STAMPS
1933

Michel 505
GERMAN WELFARE FUND
(Deutsche Nothilfe)
Richard Wagner

Issued 1st Nov 1933: This series of 9 stamps depict various opera's by Richard Wagner (1813 to 1883) and were the first stamps to feature a swastika watermark. This was one of the first steps in the Nazification of the postal system and it was a subtle sign of the Nazi's beginning to move into all aspects of German life, later on this progressed to Nazi Swastika and party symbols being more overtly displayed on postal materials. These stamps were designed by Prof. Kolb and were engraved on sheets (5x10) and/or booklets. Michel 505 exists as Type 'A', perf K 14:13 and also as Type 'B', perf K 14.

There was also a postcard Michel P249 released to coincide with the issue of this stamp.