POSTAGE STAMPS
(1939)

This page was last updated
20-May-2023 01:39

MICHEL 691
50th BIRTHDAY of ADOLF HITLER
12Rpf + 38Rpf

BACKGROUND: A single commemorative stamp was issued on the 13th of Apr 1939, a week before Hitler's 50th Birthday to celebrate this event. Special postmarks and official postcards were also issued to commemorate the event. 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 since he became 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'.

VALIDITY: 13th Apr 1939 until 31st Dec 1940
VALUE: 12Rpf + 38Rpf
COLOUR: dark lilac red
WATERMARK: None
PERF: K14
AVAILABILITY: Sheets (10x5)
QUANTITY PRINTED: Unknown

SPECIAL CANCELLATION: A special handstamp was used to commemorate Hitler's 50th birthday and it was used in 8 towns and cities.

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 collection

MINT / UNUSED

RELATED SPECIAL CANCELS

ABOVE LEFT: special cancel used in EGER
ABOVE RIGHT: special cancel used in MEMEL



ABOVE LEFT: special cancel used in MÜNCHEN counter 'd'
ABOVE RIGHT: special cancel used in WIEN counter 'a'