GELEGENHEITSSTEMPEL
OPPORTUNITY STAMP - SPECIAL STAMP
(1933)

This page was last updated
10-Nov-2022 07:32

NOTE: This page contains details of special postmarks that are NOT directly related to official stamps issued in 1935. For special postmarks that are related directly to the issue of commemorative stamps look here

INTRODUCTION:
The study of the various postmarks and cancellations used in 1933 is a difficult one due to the limited information available. Fortunately, we have the BOCHMANN catalogue to assist in identifying most of them. Whilst the catalogue covers the vast majority of special cancellations and is a required source for this area of study, the information provided is limited and does not put the various postmarks and cancellations into context. The Bochmann catalogue forms the basis of this page, but I have provided additional information where possible. My apologies now for any errors and the inevitable omissions.

DRESDEN
BRIEFMARKENSHAU
(7th/18th Apr 1933)

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN: Heft Nr 5, Page 230, Nr 70.

The following special cancel was used in DRESDEN to commemorate the Annual Dresden Stamp show and Exhibition. It is inscribed "BRIEFMARKENSCHAU | DRESDEN (AUSSTELLUNG)" and was used from the 7th to 18th Apr 1933. Only one version was available but similar designs were used in other years.



ABOVE: Examples from my collection

MANNHEIM
TO THE BENZ CELEBRATION
(Apr 1933)

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN: Heft Nr 14, Page 522, Nr 30.

"ZUR BENZ-FEIER | HISTOR. | KORSO | OSTERN | 1933 | MANNHEIM". There were three special stamps used for the 1933 "Benz Celebration Motor Show" held in Mannheim. The stamp below from my collection shows an image of the first motor car, and it exists with either a Type 'A' handstamp, "MANNHEIM 2 * II *" variant, as below, or Type 'K' with "MANNHEIM 31, 2 u".

The third version has an image of a more modern motor car and slightly different inscription "ZUR BENZ-FEIER! | AUTO | SCHAU | OSTERN 1933 | MANNHEIM". BOCHMANN does not give a date range for the usage of any of the variants, just the year 1933.



ABOVE LEFT: First cancel Example from my collection
ABOVE CENTRE:
ABOVE RIGHT:

BEKÄMPFT die ARBEITSNOT
FIGHT the LABOUR SHORTAGE
(6th May 1933)

[BOCHMANN: Heft 25, Page 815, No. 136]

This special slogan cancellation is inscribed "Bekämpft | die | Arbeitsnot, | kauft | Deutsche Waren!" - 'Fight the labour shortage, buy German goods!' and it was used in96 towns and cities from 31st Mar 1933 and again in 1934, 1935 and 1936.



ABOVE: Special slogan (C)

BUND NATURESCHUTZ
(13th Jul 1933)

[BOCHMANN: Heft 14, Page 549, No. 67]

This special slogan cancellation exists in two formats: the first a Type 'a' with a '* 1 I', '* 23 *', '23 *' or '23 a' counter and the second a Type Bd roller with a '* 1 *' counter as seen below. This cancellation was used every year from 1932 until 1936.



Click here for an example from my collection.

STUTTGART
15. DEUTSCHES TURNFEST
(Aug 1933)

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN: Heft Nr 21, Page 708, No.34 and 35.

These two cancellations were used during the 1933 German Gymnastics Festival held in STUTTGART.

No 34: There are five versions of this handstamp all Type 'A' with either *9*, "b", "c", "d" or "Cannstadtt" counter
No 35: Two versions depending on the height of the text: Type I the DT measures 5.5mm high and Type II the height of the DT measures 6.25mm



ABOVE LEFT: No 34 Example from my collection
ABOVE RIGHT: No. 35 Example from my collection

ASCHERSLEBEN
39th PHILATELISTENTAG / 10 BUNDESTAG
(19th/21st Aug 1933)

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN: Heft Nr 1, Page 47, Nr S1.

There were two different types of stamps used to commemorate the 1933 39th Philatelists's Day in 1933. Below left is the handstamp that was used from 19th to 21st Aug 1933 inscribed "ASCHERSLEBEN | BRIEFMARKEN-AUSSTELLUNG | 39. PHILATELISTENTAG-10.BUNDESTAG".

Below right is a meter cancel with the slogan "ASCHERSLEBEN | 10. BUNDESTAG | UND | 39 PHILATELISTENTAG." separated by a postal rider in full gallop, and the value of the meter stamp, in this case 3Rpf.



ABOVE LEFT: Example from my collection
ABOVE RIGHT: Example from my collection

NÜRNBERG
REICHSPARTEITAG
(Sep 1933)

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN: Heft Nr 16, Page 591, No.31.

For details on all of the special stamps used at the Nazi Party rallies from 1933 to 1938 see here

The annual Reichsparteitag (Nazi Party Rally) in 1933 saw the use of the following cancellation. It is inscribed "REICHSPARTEITAG | NSDAP | NÜRNBERG | 30.AUG.-3.SEPT.1933" and was available in several formats with six possible variants to collect:

Type 'A' (Slogan on left, CDS on right) with '***', '*1*', '*2*' or '*5*'
Type 'B' (Slogan on right, CDS on left) with '*1*' or '*2*'
Type 'Bd' Continuous series of alternating CDS and Slogan - Only with '*2*'.



ABOVE: HANDSTAMP Type 'A' with "***" Examples from my collection

TAG DER DEUTSCHEN KUNST
NEUER GLASPALAST MUNCHEN
(14 Oct 1933)

[BOCHMANN: Heft 14, Page 549, No. 68]

This slogan cancellation exists as a type 'a' and as a Type 'Bd'. The Type 'a' has a counter '* 2 a' and the roller has a '* 2 *' as can be seen below. The slogan cancel was used in Munich to commemorate the laying of the cornerstone of the 'House of German Art'. When the National Socialists took power in 1933, the "House of German Art" was built on Prinzregentenstrasse as the "New Glass Palace" based on plans by Paul Ludwig Troost (1878-1934) and heavily influenced by the Crystal Palace in London. The building was eventually completed and opened to much fanfare on 18th Jul 1937.

The special roller cancel features the head of Athena and the inscription "GRUNDSTEINLEGUNG | TAG DER DEUTSCHEN | KUNST 15.X.1933 | NEUER GLASPALAST MÜNCHEN" - 'LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION | DAY OF THE GERMANS | ART 15.X.1933 | NEW GLASS PALACE MUNICH'



Click here for an example from my collection.

450th ANNIVERSARY OF BIRTH OF MARTIN LUTHER
(4th Nov 1933)

There were no commemorative stamps issued to commemorate the birth pf Martin Luther, however there was a P224 Official postcard and a single special slogan cancel inscribed "Eisleben | Dr.Martin Luthers | Geburtstadt | 1483 - 10.11.-1933". This cancel is hard to find and therefore expensive.

MÜNCHEN
LUFTSCHUTZ

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN: Heft Nr 25, Page 816, Nr 140.

There are lots of variations on this theme. This version has a regular font and was used in 78 towns and cities from 18.8.33 until 1941 and 1943. Inscribed "Luftschutz | ist nationale Pflicht | Werdet Mitglied im | Reichsluftschutzbund" - 'Air Raid Protection | is a national duty | Become a member of | the Reichsluftschutzbund'. A similar version with identical text but in script form was also used in 11 towns and cities from 1934 (BOCHMANN Heft 25, Page 817, Nr 155), until 1940.

Yet another version with the same text but now with an image of a police badge with a Nazi swastika (BOCHMANN Heft 25, Page 834, Nr 325) was used from 3.7.39 and again in 1940 in Aussig, Bodenbach, Graz, Klagenfurt, Komotau, Leitmeritz, Reichenberg, Salzbug and Wien).


ABOVE: HANDSTAMP

NOWAWES

REFERENCE: BOCHMANN: Heft Nr 16, Page 589, Nr 1.

This cancel was used every year from 1929 until 1936 and was one of only two special cancels used in NOWAWES. There are two versions of this handstamp, a type 'A' from 1929 until 1932, and a Type '0' from 1933 until 1936.


ABOVE: HANDSTAMP

REFERENCES:
1. JULIUS BOCHMANN - KATALOG DER DEUTSCHEN GELEGENHEITSSTEMPEL