POSTAGE STAMPS
(1933)
This page was last updated
20-Feb-2023 10:16
MICHEL 500
GERMAN WELFARE FUND (DEUTSCHE NOTHILFE)
RICHARD WAGNER
4Rpf
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 second stamp in the series was valued at 4Rpf with a donation of 2Rpf going to the welfare fund and features a scene from the opera "Fliegende Hollander" - "The Flying Dutchman', an 1843 opera, with libretto and music 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: 4Rpf + 2Rpf
COLOUR: dark blue
WATERMARK: Swastika
PERF: K14:13 (sheets) and K14 (booklets).
AVAILABILITY: Engraved sheets (5x10) and booklets.
QUANTITY PRINTED: 2,516,880
NOTE: Beware of forged stamp with cancellation "STUTTGART 15.11.33"
VARIATIONS
ABOVE LEFT: Sheet variant (perf K14:13)
ABOVE RIGHT: Booklet variant (perf K14)
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
