German Democratic Republic (DDR)
(East Germany)
My Stamps of 1953
East Germany, officially the German Democratic Republic (Deutsche Demokratische, 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 342 and 343
"President Wilhelm Pieck (III), New Design "
Issued: 3rd Jan 1953, Perf: 13x13½, Watermark: 2. Designed by Eigler and featuring President Wilhelm Pieck.
Michel 344 to 353
"70th Anniversary of Death of Karl Marx"
Issued: 14th Mar to 5th May 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Thomas and Eigler and issued to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the death of Karl Marx.
Michel 354
"85th Birthday of Maxim Gorki"
Issued: 28th Mar 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the 75th Birthday of Maxim Gorki.
Michel 355 to 357
"International long distance Cycling event - Prague - Berlin - Warsaw"
Issued: 2nd May 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed bt Eigler and issued to commemorate the International long distance Cycling event - Prague - Berlin - Warsaw.
Michel 358 to 361
"700 Years of Frankfurt on the Oder"
Issued: 6th Jul 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Gruner and issued to celebrate the 700th Anniversary of the founding of Frankfurt on the Oder..
Michel 362 to 379
"Five Year Plan (I)"
Issued: 10th Aug to 21st Nov 1953. Perf: 13x12½. Designer by Grunner issued to coincide with the 5 year plan. Designs in minute dots.
Michel 380 and 381
"Leipzig Autumn Fair"
Issued: 29th Aug 1953. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Gruner and issued to commemorate the Leipzig Autumn Fair.
Michel 382 and 383
"200th anniversary of death of famous German architect"
Issued: 16th Sep 1953. Perf: 13x12½. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Death of famous German architects.
Michel 384
"400th Anniversary of the death of Lucas von Cranach"
Issued: 16th Oct 1953. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the death of Lucas von Cranach.
Michel 385
"First Year of the Red Cross in the DDR"
Issued: 23rd Oct 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler and issued to commemorate the First Year of the Red Cross in the DDR.
Michel Block 8
"Karl Marx Year Minisheet"
Issued: 24th Oct 1953. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and issued to celebrate the life of Karl Marx.
Michel 386 to 391
"Karl Marx Year"
Issued: 24th Oct 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler and issued to celebrate Karl Marx Year.
Michel Block 9
"Karl Marx Year Minisheet"
Issued: 10th Dec 1953. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and issued to celebrate the life of Karl Marx.
Michel 392 to 395
"Karl Marx Year Minisheet"
Issued: 10th Dec 1953. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Eigler and issued to celebrate the life of Karl Marx.
Michel 396
"Stamp Day"
Issued: 25th Oct 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Gruner and celebrating Stamp Day.
Michel 397
"75th Anniversary of Leipzig Zoo"
Issued: 2nd Nov 1953. Perf: 13x13½. Designed by Gruner and the 75th anniversary of Leipzig Zoo.
Michel 398 to 403
"German Patriotism"
Issued: 9th to 30th Nov 1953. Perf: 13x12½. Designed by Bade and Eigler and issued to celebrate German patriotism.
Michel 404
"125th Anniversary of the death of Franz von Schubert"
Issued: 13th Nov 1953. Perf: 13½x13. Designed by Eigler in celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the death of Franz von Schubert.
Michel 405 to 422
"Five Year Plan (II) - Reprint"
Issued: 21st Nov 1953. Perf: 13x12½. Watermark 2. Designed by Grunner, reprint issued to coincide with the 5 year plan. Designs in lines.
Distinguishing features of this issue of the "five-year plan": Black print, dots replaced by lines or hatching, "DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK" in strong, thicker font. 'A' in 'DEMOCRATISCHE' is under 'E' of 'DEUTSCHE'. The tip of the left compass in the five-year emblem touches the tip of the end of the '5'. Many of these stamps have the name of the designers 'Gruner' and 'Wolf' on the lower edge of the stamp.
