Deutsche Post of the GDR Development Through the Ages

The Deutsche Post of the GDR has a rich and fascinating history that spans several decades. The first postal service in the GDR was established in 1949, just after the country's founding.

The early years of the Deutsche Post were marked by a focus on rebuilding and expanding the country's infrastructure. The postal service played a crucial role in reconnecting the country with the rest of the world.

In 1954, the Deutsche Post was reorganized and became a state-owned enterprise. This move allowed the postal service to expand its services and invest in new technology.

The 1960s saw a significant increase in mail volume, with the introduction of new postal routes and services.

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The Deutsche Post of the GDR was established in 1949, and its first stamp was released on October 9 of the same year. This marked the beginning of a postal service that would go on to issue about 3,000 different stamps during its existence.

The Deutsche Post of the GDR produced relatively few semipostals, which is notable given the large number of stamps issued overall. Stamps were sometimes used to gain currency abroad, and some were even produced with the intention of selling them directly to stamp dealers.

In an effort to artificially increase the value of certain stamps, the Deutsche Post of the GDR produced a limited number of "Sperrwert" stamps, which were only available to a select few. These stamps were then sold to stamp dealers at a higher price, taking advantage of their limited supply.

After the reunification of Germany in 1990, the Deutsche Post of the GDR became part of the Deutsche Bundespost. This marked the end of the Deutsche Post of the GDR as a standalone entity.

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The East German Postal Service was a governmental agency that provided mail services in the German Democratic Republic. Its first stamp was released on October 9, 1949.

About 3,000 different stamps were produced during the existence of the Deutsche Post of the GDR, which is a relatively low number.

The division of Germany in 1945 led to the formation of East Germany, also known as the German Democratic Republic (GDR).

The GDR was established by the Soviet Union and was closely aligned with the communist ideology.

In 1949, the Western zones of Germany were merged to form the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG), also known as West Germany.

The two German states, East and West, had distinct postal services, reflecting their different political systems.

East Germany's postal service was controlled by the government and was used as a tool for propaganda and surveillance.

The East German postal service was also responsible for delivering mail between East and West Germany, but this was a complex and often difficult process due to the strict border controls.

Mail sent from East to West Germany was subject to censorship and could be delayed or even confiscated.

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The Allied occupation of Germany after World War II was a complex and interesting period. It was divided into four areas: Russian, American, French, and British.

In 1945, the American and British occupation services issued AM Post stamps to restore mail service in their jurisdictions. This was the first step towards rebuilding the postal system.

The French authorities issued stamps for the "zone française" by December 1945, which was later supplemented by stamps for Baden, Rheinland-Pfalz, and Württemberg.

In the Soviet zone, different provinces issued their own stamps from 1945, including Berlin-Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Saxony, and Thuringia.

In 1946, German stamps were issued as Deutsche Post for the American, British, and Soviet zones, but not the French zone. This marked a significant development in the postal system.

The distinctive use of yellow to signify postal service was decreed by the Allied Control Council in 1946. This was an effort to unify the postal system.

The Saar territory, under French administration, issued its own stamps from 1947 to 1956.

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The East German Postal Service was a unique entity that played a significant role in the country's history. It was established as the governmental agency to provide mail services after the formation of the German Democratic Republic in 1949.

The first stamp of the Deutsche Post of the GDR was released on October 9, 1949. This marked the beginning of a long history of postal services in East Germany.

About 3,000 different stamps were produced during the existence of the Deutsche Post. This is a relatively low number compared to other postal services.

Stamps were often used to gain currency abroad, which meant some stamps were not produced for circulation but sold directly to stamp dealers. This practice artificially inflated the value of certain stamps.

A specific type of stamp, called a Sperrwert, was produced at an intentionally low number to increase its value. This allowed stamp dealers to sell it for more money.

For more insights, see: Deutsche Post Ag

Deutsche Bundespost was the governmental agency responsible for postal services in West Germany. It was formed after the Federal Republic of Germany was established.

The agency was previously known as Deutsche Post, but the name was changed to Deutsche Bundespost in 1950. This marked a significant shift in the postal service's operations.

Deutsche Bundespost issued its first stamps on September 7, 1949, with the Scott #665-666. This was a major milestone in the agency's history.

Over the years, the agency released about 1,400 different stamps, showcasing its commitment to innovation and service.

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After reunification in 1990, German stamps from both East and West Germany became postally valid until their expiration date, with the stamps of the GDR expiring on October 1, 1990, and those from West Berlin expiring on December 12, 1991.

The postal service underwent significant changes, including the introduction of a new five-digit postal code system by 1993.

The Bundespost was converted into a stock company, Deutsche Post AG, in 1995, and its shares became available in 2000, marking a major shift towards privatization.

After reunification, the German postal service underwent significant changes. The Bundespost, which had incorporated the Deutsche Post of the GDR, provided postal services for the whole territory of the Federal Republic.

German stamps from the GDR, regardless of origin, were postally valid until their expiration date. For stamps with Mi # 1004-3343, this date was October 1, 1990, and for GDR Mi 3344-3365, it was December 12, 1991.

The West Berlin stamps, Mi #326-879, also expired on December 12, 1991. This marked a significant change in the postal system.

By 1993, a new five-digit postal code had been introduced. This facilitated efficient mail sorting and delivery.

The Bundespost was converted into a stock company, Deutsche Post AG, in 1995. This privatization led to significant changes in the company's operations.

Deutsche Post AG operates globally in logistics and has subsidiaries across the world. The company's shares became available to the public in 2000.

Although the postal service was privatized, the German government still prints and provides stamps. This ensures that the country's postal history remains intact.

In 1990, Germany issued a commemorative stamp series to mark 500 years of postal service. The series was published by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications of the GDR.

The 50-pfennig stamp is part of this series and features a violet color. It was printed using the offset method and has a perforation of K 13:12 1/2.

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The stamp shows a representation of the Kleine Kurier or the postreiterlein, as depicted in a copperplate engraving by Albrecht Dürer. This illustration is a historical representation of a messenger from 1496.

The stamp has a face value of 50.00 and is a postage stamp. It is also a stamp item, with a chronological issue number of 3097 and a SID of 673027.

The Deutsche Post of the GDR issued a commemorative stamp series in 1990 to celebrate 500 years of postal service. This series consisted of four multicolored special postage stamps.

One of these stamps, the 50-pfennig value, features a historical illustration of a mailman and a messenger. The illustration was attached to a printed newspaper from the year 1590.

The German Post published a second edition of this stamp series, which included the 50-pfennig value with the same illustration. The illustration was created by Albrecht Dürer in 1496 and is considered a contemporary witness to the founding of the postal service 500 years ago.

The 50-pfennig value stamp is printed in violet and has a unique perforation of K 13:12 1/2. It was printed using the offset printing type.

Here are the details of the 50-pfennig value stamp:

This stamp was issued in 1990 as part of the commemorative stamp series.