OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1944)

This page was last updated
18-Feb-2025 07:44

P297
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
GERMAN GOLDSMITHS' ART

Background: Issued 11th Sep 1944 to promote the German Goldsmiths' Trade. In addition to this official card, there is also an unofficial version, with the same design but with an extra inscription 'Mitgliedskarte fur' on the reverse side.

The card bears the inscription "EIGANG ZUM SCHLOSSMUSEUM IN BERLIN" - 'Entrance to the Castle Museum in Berlin', and the image is that of the entrance to the "Stadtschloss Berlin" or Berlin City Palace. The connection between Hanau, the Goldsmiths and Berlin requires more research. Why does a postcard commemorating the Hanau Goldsmiths feature a Palace in Berlin?

Hanau is a small town located in the Hesse region on the Main River, and is part of the Frankfurt metropolitan area. From 1597 onwards with the arrival of the Huguenots (French Protestants), the town attracted large number of skilled craftsmen including goldsmiths and silversmiths. These tradesmen had a major impact on the culture of the city and it is this connection that this postcard commemorates.

SONDERSTEMPEL: A special cancel was available that was inscribed "HANAU | Das Deutsche Goldschmeidehaus". The simple, clean design features the 'Goldsmith's House', formerly the old Town Hall, located in Hanau.

OFFICIAL STAMPS: As well as the postcard and the special cancel there were two postage stamps issued to commemorate the Goldsmiths. These stamps are identical, except for the colour, and are catalogued as Michel 902 (6+4Rpf) and 903 (12+88Rpf), and the design features a Nautilus Beaker/shell/cup. The origins of the Nautilus Cup date back to a painting, "Still life with nautilus beaker and porcelain lidded bowl", from 1662, and became an iconic piece of western art, painted by Willem Kalf a prominent Dutch still-life artist (1619-1693).

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POSTALLY UNUSED

ABOVE LEFT: UNUSED P297 POSTCARD
ABOVE RIGHT: FAVOUR CANCELLED P297 WITH RELATED SONDERSTEMPEL

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DOMESTIC USAGE

1. The first P297 postcard below was used domestically and is correctly franked at the intercity rate of 6Rpf. It was posted in POTSDAM, near BERLIN on 3.10.44, and was destined for postal district 20, and the town of GÖTTINGEN, about 135Km from HANNOVER. The cancellation is a regular CDS stamp and is not related to the event for which the card was issued.

2. The following P297 postcard was also used domestically and is correctly franked at the intercity rate of 6Rpf. It was posted in GERA, near ERFURT on 4.10.44, and was destined for postal district '15', near the city of WEIMAR. The cancellation is a regular CDS stamp and not related to the event which the card was issued for.