POSTAGE STAMPS
(1939)

This page was last updated
21-Jul-2024 06:07

TAG DER BRIEFMARKE
THE DAY OF THE STAMP
(SONDERMARKEN)

The nine Winterhilfswerk stamps of 1938, Michel 675-683, appeared on this attractive special Sondermarke to commemorate the Day of the Stamp in 1939.



Sondermarke - More Details

MICHEL 686 to 688
INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE
and MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITION

Three stamps were issued on 17th Feb 1939 to commemorate the International Automobile and Motorcycle Show held in Berlin. Designed by Meerwald and engraved on coated sheets (5x10) of swastika watermarked paper and Perf K 14. Although the exhibition was an annual event 1939 was the only year that saw the issue of special commemorative stamps.

There was also a special postmark used for the duration of the show, 17th Feb 1939 through to 5th Mar 1939. At least two private postcards were made available at the show.



Mi 686: 6Rpf+4Rpf - black blue green - More Details
Mi 687: 12Rpf+8Rpf - blackish pink red - More Details
Mi 688: 25Rpf+10Rpf - violet ultramarine - More Details

The stamps were originally limited to two sets per person at the exhibition in Berlin and then later distributed from 17th Feb to 5th Mar from the special post office and selected distributors at the exhibition, as well as at the exhibition booths. From 15th Feb they were also available from the Reich Automobile Industry Association Berlin-Charlottenburg 2.

INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE
and MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITION
(SONDERMARKEN)

These special sets of stamps were issued on 'cancelled to order' cards sold at the automobile show in Berlin. There were at least two, possibly more different cards issued, one for each of the following banks: Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank / Vienna Lӓnderbank and the Austrian Credit Agency Vienna Bank [REQUIRES VERIFICATION]. These items occur in a variety of shades. There was also an official poster used to advertise the show.



Sondermarke - More Details

INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE
and MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITION
(COIN WRAPPERS)

There were at least two, possibly more different coin wrappers available, one for each of the following banks: Deutsche Bank, Dresdner Bank / Vienna Lӓnderbank and the Austrian Credit Agency Vienna Bank [REQUIRES VERIFICATION]. These items occur in a variety of shades.



Mi 686: coins wrapper - More Details



Mi 687: coins wrapper - More Details



Mi 688: coins wrapper - More Details

MICHEL 689 & 690
REICHSBERUFSWETTKAMPF
APPRENTICE'S VOCATIONAL CONTEST

These two stamps, 6Rpf and 12Rpf were issued on the 4th of Apr 1939 and were valid for use until 31st Dec 1940. No special postmark was used to commemorate this event. The design, by Meerwald, features the Reich's Adler with outstretched wings holding a cog (symbolising industry) emblazoned with the swastika. Behind the Reich's Adler is a wreath symbolising victory and strength. Despite the name of the event this was not only for apprentices as it also attracted many older competitors. The stamps were perf K 14 on coated, swastika watermarked paper (10x10).



Mi 689: 6Rpf - black bluish green - More Details
Mi 690: 12Rpf - black pink - More Details

MICHEL 691
50th BIRTHDAY of ADOLF HITLER

A single commemorative stamp was issued on the 13th of Apr 1939, a week before Hitler's 50th Birthday to celebrate the event. Special postmarks and official postcards were also issued to commemorate the event. The stamps were valid for use until 31st Dec 1940. The stamp design is derived from a Heinrich Hoffman photograph taken in Braunau, Austria after the Anschluss (the only time Hitler is known to have returned there after becoming Reich's Chancellor).

Braunau am Inn was Hitler's birthplace and is recognised by one of the special postmarks. The spire in the background is St. Stephan Church where Hitler's parents were married in 1885. The stamp is inscribed "DER FÜHRER in SEINER GEBURTSSTADT BRAUNAU 12/3.38" translated as 'THE LEADER IN HIS BIRTH CITY BRAUNAU'. The stamp was engraved on unwatermarked sheets (10x5) and Perf K 14.



Mi 691: 12+38Rpf - dark lilac red - More Details

MICHEL 692 & 693
REICHS-GARTENSCHAU
(Stuttgart)

These two stamps were issued on 22nd Apr and were valid for use until 31st Dec 1940. Both stamps depict a pavilion at the Stuttgart horticultural exhibition as well as the Stuttgart Coat of Arms. A special handstamp and a slogan postmark were also used for the duration of the exhibition from 22nd Apr to the 8th of Oct 1939 as well as private postcards. The stamps were printed Perf K 12¾ on sheets (10x10) on non-watermarked paper at the state printing office in Vienna.



Mi 692: 6+4Rpf - black green - More Details
Mi 693: 15+5Rpf - dark brown lilac - More Details

MICHEL 694
LABOUR DAY

On 28th Apr 1939 the stamp shown below was issued to commemorate National Labour Day. The design once again is from a photograph by Hitler's personal photographer Heinrich Hoffman and depicts Hitler during his "German Day" speech earlier in the year on January 30th. A special handstamp and an official postcard were also issued to celebrate this National holiday. The stamp is Perf K 14¼ x 13½ on coated, swastika watermarked paper (10x5).



Mi 694: 6+19Rpf - More Details

MICHEL 695 to 697
NÜRNBURG RACES
and HITLER'S CULTURE FUND

These stamps are identical to the earlier issue Michel 686 through 688, but now with additional "NÜRBURGRING RENNEN" overprint. This set of 3 stamps was issued on 18th May 1939 and was valid for use until 31st Dec 1940. In addition, two special handstamps were available.



Mi 695: 6+4Rpf - black bluish green - More Details
Mi 696: 12+8Rpf - blackish pink red - More Details
Mi 697: 25+10Rpf - violet ultramarine - More Details

AUTORENNEN NURBURGRING - EIFEL
(COMMEMORATIVE POSTCARD)

A commemorative postcard was issued to coincide with the races at Nürnburg. The stamps are the same overprinted stamps as above (Michel 695 through Michel 697).



Postcard - stamps with overprinted - "Autorennen Nürburgring - Eifel" - More Details

MICHEL 698
70th ANNIVERARY of the GERMAN DERBY

The 70th Anniversary of the German Derby was commemorated by the issue of a single Prof. Hadank designed stamp on 18th Jun 1939. The stamp was Perf K 14 and was produced on unwatermarked paper on sheets (5x10) and was valid for use until 31st Dec 1940. The horse featured on the stamp was the first winner of the race back in 1869 named 'Investment'. A special handstamp depicting the Hamburg City Coat of Arms was also used on the 18th, 21st, 23rd and 25th June (Raceday). The stamp itself was only sold in Hamburg.



Mi 698: 25+50Rpf - lilac ultramarine - More Details

MICHEL 699
BROWN RIBBON RACE
& HITLER'S CULTURE FUND

This stamp was issued on 12th Jul 1939 to commemorate the 6th running of the Brown Ribbon of Germany horse race. The stamp was valid for just under a year until 30th Jun 1940. There was a special handstamp used on 30th Jul 1939, the day of the race. A slogan postmark advertised the race meeting itself (12th to 30th Jul).

Two additional postmarks can be found that commemorate International Amateur Riders Day, 23rd Jul and the Brown Ribbon of Jumping held on the penultimate day of the meeting, 29th Jul. This stamp was designed by Prof. Klein and features a horse trainer. It was engraved on unwatermarked sheets (5x10) and Perf K 14.



Mi 699: 42+108Rpf - dark sienna - More Details

MICHEL 700
TAG DER DEUTSCHEN KUNST
DAY of GERMAN ART

This stamp was Perf K 14, produced on coated paper and issued on 12th Jul 1939. The paper was swastika watermarked and the stamps were valid for use until 31st Dec 1940. The design depicts a young Venetian woman from a painting by Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528). There was a special handstamp as well as a slogan postmark used to accompany the issue of this stamp.



Mi 700: 6+19Rpf - blackish bluish green - More Details

MICHEL 701
11th NÜRNBERG REICHSPARTEITAG
(NAZI PARTY RALLY)

This stamp was issued on the 25th of Aug along with an official postcard, both of which were to commemorate the 11th Nürnberg Rally. The stamp design is derived from a photograph of Adolf Hitler taken by his official photographer Heinrich Hoffmann. The stamp is identical to the Labour Day stamp issued earlier in the year except that now it has an additional inscription "Reichsparteitag 1939" which is not found on the earlier stamp.

The rally was planned to take place from 2nd to 11th Sep 1939, however the German invasion of Poland on the 1st of Sep caused the rally to be cancelled. Due to the cancellation no special handstamp was used for this event. Ironically this rally was going to be named the "Peace Rally".

The stamp was engraved on sheets (10x5) on coated, swastika watermarked paper and is Perf 14¼ x 13½.



Mi 701: 6+19Rpf - black brown - More Details

MICHEL 702 to 713
KAMERADSCHAFTSBLOCK der DEUTSCHEN REICHSPOST

Issued on 15th Sep and valid for use until 31st Dec 1940, this series of 12 stamps was issued to acknowledge the important role played by the German Postal Service employees and the surcharge on these stamps was intended for the postal worker’s fund. As can be seen from several of these stamps the colours and shades can vary quite significantly. There was no special handstamp or official postcard to accompany this issue. These stamps were designed by Axster-Heudtlass and were produced on unwatermarked, coated paper (5x10) and were Perf K 13½ x 14¼.

Six of these stamps were re-issued in 1942 with different colours and surcharges and again in a similar issue that was produced in 1944



Mi 702: 3+2Rpf - dark orange brown - More Details
Mi 703: 4+3Rpf - dark grey blue - More Details
Mi 704: 5+3Rpf - darkish yellow emerald green - More Details
Mi 705: 6+9Rpf - dark blue green - More Details



Mi 706: 8+4Rpf - dark red orange - More Details
Mi 707: 10+5Rpf - blackish sienna - More Details
Mi 708: 12+6Rpf - dark carmine red - More Details
Mi 709: 15+10Rpf - dark carmine lilac - More Details



Mi 710: 16+10Rpf - black grey green - More Details
Mi 711: 20+10Rpf - bright ultramarine - More Details
Mi 712: 24+10Rpf - black olive - More Details
Mi 713: 25+15Rpf - blackish lilac ultramarine - More Details

MICHEL 714 & 715
REINTEGRATION of DANZIG

Having invaded Polish territory on the 1st of Sep 1939 the German Army quickly occupied the free city of Danzig (modern day Gdansk). These two stamps issued on 18th Sep were in celebration of Danzig returning to the Reich. There is quite a large variation in shades for these two stamps.

There was a special 'Liberation Postmark' that exists in black, violet and blue violet, some of them did actually go through the postal system but the majority exist as C.T.O (cancelled to order) specimens aimed at stamp collectors. There is another less common postmark that is usually found with a normal city-date cancel. These stamps were produced on coated, swastika watermarked paper (10x5) and were Perf K14.



Mi 714: 6Rpf - black opal green - St Mary's Church, Danzig - More Details
Mi 715: 12Rpf - blackish orange red - Crane Gate, Danzig - More Details

In addition to the stamps there was an official postcard issued to commemorate the return of Danzig, P287.

MICHEL 716 to 729
DANZIG STAMP with
'DEUTSCHES REICH' OVERPRINT

On the 28th of Sep, following the occupation of Danzig by German forces the 14 existing 'Free City of Danzig' stamps were overprinted with the words 'Deutsches Reich' and a new value in Pfennig or Reichsmarks was added. These stamps were produced in sheets of 100 for the Rpf values and sheets of 50 for the RM values and all were valid until 31st Dec 1940. Two existing Danzig issue postcards were also overprinted, P283 and P284, with "Deutsches Reich" and denominations in "Rpf".



Mi 716: 3Rpf on 3Rpf - reddish brown - More Details
Mi 717: 4Rpf on 35Rpf - ultramarine (shades) - More Details
Mi 718: 5f on 5Rpf - mid yellowish red - More Details
Mi 719: 8Rpf on 8Rpf - greenish olive - More Details



Mi 720: 10Rpf on 10Rpf - dark bluish green - More Details
Mi 721: 12Rpf on 7Rpf - yellow green (shades) - More Details
Mi 722: 15Rpf on 15Rpf - bright red (shades) - More Details
Mi 723: 20Rpf on 20Rpf - black turquoise grey - More Details



Mi 724: 25Rpf on 25Rpf - dark pink red to lilac red - More Details
Mi 725: 30Rpf on 30Rpf - dark bluish violet - More Details
Mi 726: 40Rpf on 40Rpf - blackish lilac ultramarine - More Details
Mi 727: 50Rpf on 50Rpf - bright blue / cinnabar red - More Details



Mi 728: 1 RM on 1G - yellowish red black - More Details
Mi 729: 2 RM on 2G - magenta grey black - More Details

MICHEL 730 to 738
WINTERHILFSWERK
(WINTER RELIEF FUND)

As in previous years a set of 9 stamps and six associated official postcards was issued from 27th Oct until the 9th of Nov 1939 and was valid for use until 30th Jun 1940. The stamps are Perf K 14 and were produced on sheets (5x10) on unwatermarked paper and in booklet form. There were also 5 related special handstamps.



Mi 730: 3+2Rpf - blackish brown - Elbogen Castle - More Details
Mi 731: 4+3Rpf - black blue - Drachenfels - More Details
Mi 732: 5+3Rpf - blackish yellowish green - Goslar Castle - More Details



Mi 733: 6+4Rpf - black grey green - Clocktower Graz - More Details
Mi 734: 8+4Rpf - dark orange red - The Romer, Frankfurt - More Details
Mi 735: 12+6Rpf - dark carmine red - City Hall, Klagenfurt - More Details



Mi 736: 15+10Rpf - black lilac brown - Ruins of Schreckenstein Castle - More Details
Mi 737: 25+15Rpf - dark lilac ultramarine - Salzburg Fortress - More Details
Mi 738: 40+35Rpf - black lilac purple - Hobentweil Castle - More Details

WINTERHILFSWERK
WINTER RELIEF
(SONDERMARKEN)

The nine Winterhilfswerk stamps issued in 1939, appeared on this special Sondermarke to raise additional funds for the Winterhilfswerk.



Sondermarke - More Details

WINTERHILFWERK

I'm not entirely sure what these items were for except that they were sold to raise funds for the WHW. They bear different designs to the official postcards and are printed on thin paper rather than card. There were six different designs, one for each month from Oct to Mar.



(1) - OCTOBER
(2) - NOVEMBER
(3) - DECEMBER



(4) JANUARY
(5) FEBRUARY
(6) MARCH

MICHEL Z738 & Z739
NEWSPAPER STAMPS
ZEITUNGSMARKE
(Paperboy runs across the Globe)

These two 'newspaper stamps' were issued on 1st Nov 1939 and were valid through to the end of the war. They were for the sole purpose of sending newspapers through the post from Germany to locations outside of Germany.

It was not obligatory to use these stamps when sending newspapers, however it was prohibited to use these stamps on regular postal items. These stamps were only available to publishers and newsagents to ensure their proper use. It is rare to find genuine used examples of these stamps on the original newspaper wrappings. The stamps were produced on swastika watermarked paper in sheets (5x10) and were Perf K 14.



Mi Z738: 5Rpf - black emerald green - More Details
Mi Z739: 10Rpf - dark red brown - More Details