German Democratic Republic (DDR)
(East Germany)
My Stamps of 1949
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische Republik, DDR), was a country that existed from October 1949 until 1990, when the eastern portion of Germany was part of the Eastern Bloc during the Cold War. It described itself as a socialist "workers' and peasants' state" and the territory was administered and occupied by Soviet forces at the end of World War II — the Soviet Occupation Zone of the Potsdam Agreement, bounded on the east by the Oder–Neisse line. The Soviet zone surrounded West Berlin but did not include it; as a result, West Berlin remained outside the jurisdiction of the DDR.
Michel 242
"75th Anniverary of the U/P.U"
Issued: 9th Oct 1949, Perf: 13½, Watermark: Wz 1. Designed by Jacob and Weise and available on sheets (5x5). Issued to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Universal Postal Union and featuring a dove flying around the world carrying a letter. Like all 4 stamps issued in 1949 the stamp is printed "DEUTSCHE POST", after 1949 all stamps carried the country designation "DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK".
Michel 243 and 244
"Day of the International Postal Workers' Trade Union"
Issued: October 27th 1949. Perf: 13x12½. Watermark Wz 1. Designed by Gravenhorst and available on sheets (10x10). Issued to commemorate the Day of the International Postal Workers' Trade Union from the 27th to the 29th October 1949. These stamps depicts a male and a female letter carrier standing astride a globe. Above the globe is the Brandenburg Gate, the columns of which spell out the word 'BERLIN'. The stamps are inscribed 'GEWERKSCHAFTSINTERNATIONALE DER POSTLER IM WGB 27-29.10.49, DEUTSCHE POST'.
Michel 245
"Stamp Day"
Issued: October 30th 1949. Perf: 13x13½. Watermark Wz 1. Designed by Gravenhorst and available on sheets (5x10).Issued to commemorate Stamp Day 1949. Stamp Day was a tradition in Germany and even during the second world war 'Stamp Day' was commemorated by a special stamp issue. This stamp depicts a magnifying glass being used to study a stamp and has the inscription "1849 TAG DER BRIEFMARKE 1949, DEUTSCHE POST"
