POSTAGE STAMPS
(1933)
This page was last updated
20-Feb-2023 10:17
MICHEL 505
GERMAN WELFARE FUND (DEUTSCHE NOTHILFE)
RICHARD WAGNER
20Rpf
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 seventh stamp in the series was valued at 20Rpf with a donation of 10Rpf going to the welfare fund and features a scene from the opera "Tristan und Isolde" - 'Tristan und Isolde', an opera performed in three acts and first performed at the Königliches Hoftheater und Nationaltheater in Munich on 10th Jun 1865 with Hans von Bülow conducting.
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: 20Rpf + 10Rpf
COLOUR: dark turquoise-blue
WATERMARK: Swastika
PERF: K14:13 (sheets) and K14 (booklets).
AVAILABILITY: Engraved sheets (5x10) and booklets.
QUANTITY PRINTED: 373,121
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 collectionCANCELLED / USED
