POSTAGE STAMPS
(1933)
This page was last updated
20-Feb-2023 10:16
MICHEL 499
GERMAN WELFARE FUND (DEUTSCHE NOTHILFE)
RICHARD WAGNER
3Rpf
BACKGROUND: This series of 9 stamps depicts various scenes from operas by Richard Wagner (1813 to 1883) and were the first stamps to feature a swastika watermark. Changing the watermark from the previous waffle type to a swastika design was one of the first steps in the Nazification of the postal system and it was a subtle sign of the Nazi's beginning to move into all aspects of German life. Later stamps were to feature Nazi Swastikas and party symbols much more overtly.
This first stamp in the series was valued at 3Rpf with a donation of 2Rpf going to the welfare fund and features a scene from the opera TANNHÄUSER. Tannhauser full title "Tannhäuser und der Sängerkrieg auf Wartburg", or "Tannhäuser and the Minnesängers' Contest at Wartburg", is an 1845 opera in three acts, with music and text by Richard Wagner.
The stamps were available throughout Germany at post office counters until 1st Feb 1934. They were then made available again during the Richard Wagner Festival in 1934 at counters in Munich and Beyreuth.
VALIDITY: 1st Nov 1933 to 30th Sep 1934
VALUE: 3Rpf + 2Rpf
COLOUR: dark orange-brown
WATERMARK: Swastika
PERF: K14:13.
AVAILABILITY: Engraved sheets (5x10)
QUANTITY PRINTED: 1,818,070
NOTE: Beware of forged stamp with cancellation "STUTTGART 15.11.33"
VARIATIONS
There are no major variations.
PLATE FLAWS
There are no major plate flaws.
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
All stamps shown from here until the end of the page are from my personal collectionMINT / UNUSED
USED/ CANCELLED
