Page Title

POSTAGE STAMPS
(1937)

This page was last updated
06-Nov-2023 05:22

MICHEL BLOCK 7
ADOLF HITLER'S 48th BIRTHDAY
(MINISHEET)

BACKGROUND: Issued on the 5th of Apr 1937 this Minisheet (Michel Block 7) was used to commemorate the 48th Birthday of Adolf Hitler. The inscription is taken from one of Hitler's speeches and translates as "Whoever wants to save a people must think heroically". This is the first time Hitler appears alone on an official stamp and the first time a stamp was issued to commemorate his birthday, a tradition that was observed every year up to and including 1944.

The design is by Prof. Richard Klein, from a photograph by Hitler's personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann. The sheet has a swastika watermark that covers the entire reverse side of the Minisheet. The sheet was printed 147mm x 105mm but there are many examples available on the market now that have been trimmed. The stamps, Michel 646 are Perf K14.

See also Block 8, Block 9 and Block 11

VALIDITY: 5th Apr 1937 until 31st Dec 1938
VALUE: 1RM
COLOUR: blackish bluish green
WATERMARK: Swastika
PERF: K14
AVAILABILITY: MINISHEET
QUANTITY PRINTED: Unknown

SPECIAL CANCEL: Special handstamps were used in four cities, but only on Hitler's actual birthday, 20th Apr 1937. Note that this minisheet is also often found with the commemorative cancellations used at the 1st National Exhibition of German Stamps held in Berlin just prior to Hitler's birthday.

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ABOVE LEFT: Front side of Minisheet
ABOVE RIGHT: Reverse side of Minisheet

Two different types of paper were used to produce the minisheet, one white and the other with a yellowish tinge. The sheets were made available at Post Offices throughout Germany at a cost of 1 RM each (24Rpf for the stamps and 76Rpf as a donation to Hitler's culture fund).

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VARIATIONS

There are no major variations

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PLATE FLAWS

There are no major plate flaws.

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STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION

All stamps shown from here until the end of the page are from my personal collection

RELATED SPECIAL CANCELS

There were four special handstamps used to coincide with the Block 7 minisheets and Hitler's birthday. They are shown below and are from BERLIN, BERCHTESGADEN, MÜNCHEN and NÜRNBERG.

ABOVE: Special cancellation used in BERLIN

ABOVE: Special cancellation used in BERCHTESGADEN

ABOVE: Special cancellation used in MÜNCHEN

The NÜRNBERG special postmark exists in two types. There are many small differences in the design of Nürnberg castle but the easiest way to determine which type you have is in the design of the castle roof. Type I has the edge of the roof overhanging the building, whereas the Type II roof is flush with the side of the building as follows:

ABOVE LEFT: Type I
ABOVE RIGHT: Type II

ABOVE: Type I Special cancellation used in NÜRNBRG

ABOVE: Type II Special cancellation used in NÜRNBERG

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UNRELATED SPECIAL CANCELLATIONS

Although issued to commemorate Hitler's 48th Birthday on 20th Apr 1937 this minisheet was valid for use until 31st Dec 1938. Therefore it can be found with many different special cancellations as well as regular CDS stamps.

1. Special handstamps related to the Anschluss with Austria on 10th Apr 1938.