2023 German stamps prove one thing – if I don’t learn to control myself, I’ll have to break the year down into 3 articles instead of two. There is so much information to share, I have a hard time containing my excitement.  Not only does Deutsche Post supply collectors with some eye poppingly creative stamps, they also offer up an array of post marks that shouldn’t be missed.  

The cancels are both first day and self-promotion  issues. It’s a curious mix of Deutsche Post creations and cancels designed for 3rd party interests to celebrate specific events. Here’s a self promotion cancel for the 1847 Apolda Locomotive from 2021:

 

So far this year, I haven’t included the sponsor for the self promotions, but if there is a demand, I’d be happy to crack open the translator and add them to the listings. I just got a bit lazy today. 

One thing you can be sure of, Deutsche Post will offer bold colours and sharp designs. You only need to look at the ongoing Grimm’s Fairy Tales  from the past 2 years to see what I mean. 

 

     

This year’s set, by Professor Henning Wagenbreth of the Universität der Künste Berlin,  surpasses both previous designs. 

  

I’m not sure how to describe his style, other than cheeky and mildly annoyed with life’s travails.

   

Of the three sets, his is the strongest. I’m going to bookmark Wagebreth’s name for future reference and hope Germany invites him to design more stamps and cancels.

Did you know you can get updates sent directly to your mailbox? My newsletter goes out Sunday nights (or Monday morning, depending on where you are) and includes a list of all updated stamp programs, new article links and subscriber only content. It’s free! 

Newsletter 

 

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January

Methods of Sending Letters
series: World of Letters
Topics: writing 

 

 

 

  

5 stamps, 7 cancels, 5 maxi rolls
offset

This series began in 2021.

The first two cancels (above) were the designed to be used on the maxi rolls (rolls of 500 stamps), one for each stamp was designed. 

Designer: Bettina Walter

Release date: January 5, 2023

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Intangible Cultural Heritage – Organ Building & Organ Music
Topics: culture |history | music

   

   

1 stamp,  FDC, cancel (2 locations)
offset

Organ making was inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2017.

Organ craftsmanship and music has shaped Germany’s musical landscape and instrument-making for centuries, and there are a diverse number of related traditions in the country. Organ craftsmanship and music are closely related since each instrument is created specifically for the architectural space in which it will be played. Organ craftsmanship and music – intangible heritage – Culture Sector – UNESCO

This UNESCO video (In German/English subtitles) shows the painstaking skills needed to build organs

Designer: Julia Warbanow
Warbanow has designed 23 stamps, starting with the 2010 Christmas set for Deustche Post

Release date: January 5, 2023

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Maina Island & Zollverein Colliery
series: Sights in Germany
Topics: tourism|history 

\

   

2 stamps, 2 sheets of 10, 2 cancels
offset

Maina Island is called the “flowering island” because of the number of parks and gardens covering the small island. 

The Zollverein Colliery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

During its active industrial period, the Zollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex was the largest coal mine in the world, with the largest coking plant in Europe. Along with its sheer size, the architecture of the Zollverein complex is simply magnificent – it’s not for nothing that the Zollverein is also called the most beautiful coal mine in the world. The celebrated twin-trestle winding tower is the most famous emblem of the Ruhr district, and a symbol for the industrial heritage of an entire region. UNESCO World Heritage Site in NRW: Zollverein in Essen (nrw-tourism.com)

The former colliery  now hosts concerts, cultural events, art shows and sporting events year round. 

Designer: Jennifer Dengler

Release date: January 5, 2023

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In Memoriam: Death of Pope Benedict XVI
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Bonn

Designer: Wittmann Medien
Wittmann Medien is an expert in creating advertising cancels and special postmarks. You’ll see this name associated with many of the self-promotion commemorative cancels. 

Release date: January 5, 2023

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Sights in Germany – Zollverein Colliery
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

UNESCO World Heritage Site Zollverein, Essen

Postmark place: Essen

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 5, 2023

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Donation Pot Payout
special cancel

Postmark location: Essen

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 12, 2023

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Association for Philately and Numismatics “Lower Saxony”
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Osnabrück

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 15, 2023

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Exhibition Pop Art – Classic and Modern
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Nürtingen

Association for Stamp Friends Nürtingen e. V and city of Nuertingen

Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg

Release date: January 21, 2023

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Year of the Rabbit 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

1 commemorative cancel

Postmark location:  Bonn

Germany issued a special cancel for the Lunar New Year. No stamp was issued.

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 22, 2023

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Kaiser Ludwig der Fromme (778 – 840)
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Hiddenhausen

Created for: 11th Wittekind Exchange Day 823 Herford Abbey becomes an imperial abbey / Emperor Ludwig the Pious (778 – 840)
Stamp Guild Wittekind Herford e. V

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: January 22, 2023

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February

 

 

 

3 stamps, 3 sheets of 10, FDC, 4 cancels (4th cancel issued for use with maxi roll) 
offset

You can read the story here Hans in luck – Grimm (grimmstories.com)

• Hans says goodbye to his master 
• Hans trades all sorts of items on his journey
• Hans returns home to his mother

Designer: Professor Henning Wagenbreth, Berlin
Wagenbreth has been a professor at the Universität der Künste Berlin since 1994.  The  Université du Québec à Montréal held an exhibition of his works in 2022, offering Canadians a rare chance to see his works up close. The university’s write up of Wagenbreth’s artistic style offers a great insight into his approach to his Grimm’s stamp and cancel set:

Raised in East Germany, Wagenbreth was involved in some anti-regime activities until the fall of the Berlin Wall. Since then, his critical gaze at society has been embodied in images that are intended to make us think. His social and political commentary is usually leavened with a bit of sarcastic humour and perceptive satire. His playful approach to graphic design first draws his clients in and then, at second glance, leads them to reflect on questions that are serious, even dark. Ultimately, the idea is not to please but to send a message. “The legibility of my idea is important,” he says with a bit of a smile. “I grab people with an interesting image, and then they look at the rest.” Obviously, in Wagenbreth’s view, everything is worth a laugh and he certainly knows how to get us going. The UQAM Design Centre presents the exhibition Henning Wagenbreth – Graphic Design for All Ages – Press room – UQAM

3rd cancel: Jennifer Dengler issued for maxi roll
** I may have mistranslated this. I’m a little unsure of Dengler’s design role. 

Release date: February 2, 2023

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Cats
series: popular pets
Topics: pets | animals | cats

   

1 stamp, 2 cancels, commemorative pack 
offset

There are about 16.7 million cats in Germany. That’s a lot of MEOW!

Designers:
Stamp – Thomas Steinacker 
Cancel – Bettina Walter 

Release date: February 2, 2023

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Birth of Bertolt Brecht (1898 – 1956)
Topics: film | history | people

   

  

1 stamp, 2 cancels, sheets of 10, commemorative pack 
offset

It’s  difficult to break down Bertolt Brecht into a brief digestible write-up and still do his legacy any justice. After searching about, I settled on this video short by The Actor’s Edge Online Series. They manage to create an approachable 3 part series (5 min each) that goes through the basics. This is the first episode, the Intro. You can find the other 2 here Collective Techniques and third Career. 

Designer: Matthias Wittig
Photo: © akg-images / Ruth Berlau Quote: © Bertolt-Brecht-Erben / Suhrkamp Verlag

Release date: February 2, 2023

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550 Birthday of Nicholas Copernicus
special cover
Topics: science | history | people 

 

cover, cancel
offset

Stamps  – 2009 EUROPA – Astronomy and and automated stamp Write Letters 
 

Design: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: February 2, 2023

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Presentation of the 2-euro commemorative coin “Hamburg (Elbphilharmonie)” 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Special cancel issued for the World Money Fair in Berlin.  

Postmark location: Berlin

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: February 3, 2023

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March

Day of the stamp 
series: Treasures of Philately
Topics: stamps | history 

   

   

 

 

 

1 stamp, souvenir sheet, 3 cancels (3rd cancel for the souvenir sheet), 2FDCs, special cover issued for the Munich Stamp Show + special cancel
offset

Stamps of the German States 1849-1871. 

The image on the stamp includes a partial view of a Stralsund letter.

Designers:
Stamp – Ruven Wiegert 
Souvenir sheet & special cancel –  Jennifer Dengler  
FDC and Munchen stamp fair cancel – Wittmann Medien 

Release date: March 1, 2023

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150th Anniversary of Max Reger’s Birth (1873 – 1916)
Topics: people | history | music

 

 

1 stamp, 2 cancels, FDC
offset

Fugue State Films documentary on Max Reger and his legacy is an interesting watch. It’s in English and is a decent introduction to Reger. It’s about 17 min long, so you might want to click the “WATCH ON YOUTUBE” tag on the lower left of the video to listen to it on Fugue’s YouTube page. The comments are are interesting.

Designer: Professor Wilfried Korfmacher 

Release date: March 1, 2023

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Disney at 100
Topics: cartoons

   

 

1 stamp, sheets of 10, 3 cancels (3rd issued for the maxi rolls)
offset

Designer: Jennifer Dengler using Disney characters

Release date: March 1, 2023

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Floral Greeting
Topics: events

   

 

 
1 stamp, sheets of 10, 3 cancels (3rd issued for the maxi rolls)
offset

Designer: Bettina Walter

Release date: March 1, 2023

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Communications Museum Berlin
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

  

Postmark location: Berlin

Museum of Communication Berlin – Discover the past, present and future of communication! (mfk-berlin.de)

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 3, 2023

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Munich Stamp Fair
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Munich

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 4, 2023

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Philatelia München 2023
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Munich

Formerly called Munich International Stamp Exchange, the spring stamp fair took place March 4 and 5th. 

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 4, 2023

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Children write to Hanni Hase in Ostereistedt
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Ostereistedt

Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg

Release date: March 8, 2023

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Wonderful World of Insects 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

  

Postmark location: Berlin

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: March 9, 2023

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Middle Rhine Philatelic Association
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Duren 

Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg 

Release date: March 11, 2023

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1275th Birthday of Charlemagne
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Berlin

BBC – History – Charlemagne

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: March 30, 2023

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April

South Westphalia Stock Exchange / 150th Birthday of Carl Kraemer
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Siegen

Designer: Wittmann Medien, Schwabach

Release date: April 1, 2023

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60 years of Lufthansa jet traffic in Germany
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

Postmark location: Dusseldorf and Frankfurt am Main

Graphics: Katharina Kracker, Lübeck
Designer: Geo Müller – Stempel Müller e.K., Nürnberg

Release date: April 1, 2023

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LOW BROS – New Wave
Series: Street art
3rd in series

 

 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Title: Mural by brothers Christoph and Florin Schmidt, the Low Bros. Location Mannheim

They illustrate the ambivalence between urbanity and nature and are reminiscent of the aesthetics of early computer games. The LOW BROS have created a consistent style. They combine figurative motifs with strictly geometric and flowing-organic forms and create surreal-looking, complex and detailed worlds of images. pg. 3 Stempel & Informationen AUSGABE 06–2023

LOW BROS website offers a bit of insight into their design philosophy. They “examine the contradictions associated with identity in a digital age”, expressing an “ambivalence” towards modern life. The website is excellent and is a must visit page. 

Artist: Low Bros
Designer: Bettina Walter, Bonn
Photographer: Stadt.Wand.Kunst / Manuel Wagner

Release date: April 6, 2023

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Wilhelm Leuschner Square in Leipzig and Reinoldikirche Dortmund
Series: U-Bahn Stations

2 stamps, 2 cancels
offset

 
Designer: Jennifer Dengler

Release date: April 6, 2023

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175th birthday of Helene Lange

1 stamp, 2 cancels, FDC
offset

Helene Henriette Elisabeth Lange (1849-1930) – pioneer in the feminist movement, civil rights champion. Worked towards equal opportunities for women in education and employment:

1. that the female element be given greater participation in scientific education at the middle and upper levels of the public secondary schools for girls, and that religion and German be placed in women’s hands.

2. that institutions for the training of scientific teachers for the upper classes of girls’ secondary schools may be established by the state. Yellow Brochure, published January 9, 1888

The Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb)’s page Helene Lange | Women’s Movement | bpb.de has a substantial biography on Lange and her influences. It’s in English and very accessible. A good read, one of the better ones available.

Designer: Professor Matthias Beyrow und Constanze Vogt, Berlin
Photograph:  Portrait of Helene Lange with a proclamation © akg-images/bilwissedition

Release date: April 6, 2023

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225th Birthday of Hoffmann von Fallersleben (1798 – 1874)
Commemorative cover

1 commemorative  cover, cancel

Patriotic poet, literary historian  LeMO August Heinrich Hoffmann von Fallersleben (dhm.de)

Design/layout: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: April 6, 2023

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60 years Fehmarnsundbrücke  – Fehmarn Sound Bridge
Commemorative cover

 

1 commemorative cover, cancel
Offset

Construction on this bridge began January 4, 1960 and was completed April 30, 1963. This 1 km long bridge connects Schleswig-Holstein with the mainland. It accommodates 2 lanes of car traffic, 1 footpath and a rail track.

Design/layout: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: April 6, 2023

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May

Paralympic Sports 
Series: For Sports

3 stamps, 3 sheets of 10, FDC, cancel
offset

Proceeds from this set go to help the German Sports Aid Foundation. 

• Para Alpine Skiing
• Para Athletics
• Wheelchair basketball 

Designer: Thomas Serres 

Release date: May 4, 2023

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“Preserving and reviving churches” fortified church Walldorf/Werra

 

  

1 stamp,  sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Prof. Sandra Hoffmann Robbiani, Bern

Release date: May 4, 2023

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International Stamp Exhibition IBRA 2023

 

 

1 stamp,  sheets of 10, FDC, 3 cancels
offset

Designer: Jan-Niklas Kröger 

Release date: May 4, 2023

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EUROPA 2023 – PEACE – humanity’s greatest asset

 

 

1 stamp,  sheets of 10
offset

Designer:  Goldstein, Rheinstetten

Release date: May 4, 2023

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300 years since Johann Sebastian Bach took office as Thomaskantor
Commemorative Cover

 

1 prestamped cover

The stamps on this cover are:
SPWZ “600 Years University of Leipzig” (55 cents, 2009)
Automated postage stamps “Write letters” (30 cents)

Release date: May 30, 2023

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June

Protect nature! Ensuring survival!

 

1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset

Humanity is running out of time if it does not act immediately

Designer: Thomas Steinacker using welikerock ©/shutterstock.com

Release date: June 1, 2023

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Special Olympics World Games Berlin 2023
Topic: sports

 

1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Susann Stefanizen

Release date: June 1, 2023

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Set an Example for Democracy

 

 

1 stamp, sheets of 10
offset

Designer: Jan-Niklas Kröger

Release date: June 1, 2023

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100 Years of the Schleizer Triangle

   

1 stamp, sheets of 10, FDC
offset

The Schleizer Triangle is the oldest street race circuit in Germany. Schleizer Dreieck – Germany’s oldest street circuit – Circuits of the past

Designer: Hanno Schabacker

Release date: July 1, 2023

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Helgoland 
Topic: lighthouses

 

 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Designer: Carsten Wolf
Photographer: Alexander Savin

Release date: July 6, 2023

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Ivenacker Oaks – First National Natural Monument

 

 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

The oak tress in the Ivenacker Oaks are among the oldest in North Germany. Some of them date back 1000 years.

Designer: Kym Erdmann
Photographer: Günther Bayerl Fotografie

Release date: July 6, 2023

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FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023
special cover

 

 

1 graphic cover, cancel

Designer: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: July 6, 2023

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NASPOSTA 2023 TRIER

 

 

1 graphic cover, cancel

Designer: DPS Wermsdorf and Wittmann Medien 

Release date: July 6, 2023

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Delivered with pride – Cologne Pride 2023 
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Cologne

Designer: Wittmann Medien

Release date: July 7, 2023

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EUROPEADE GOTHA
self-promotion cancel with third-party advertising

 

Postmark location: Gotha

Europeade is the largest European Folk Culture festival that began in 1964. It’s advertised as “… a five day party for 5,000 dancers, musicians and singers”.

Europeade > Home (available in German, English, French, Dutch, Spanish and Italian)

Europeade 2023 | Gotha | 12.-16. July 2023 – Europeade 2023 | Gotha | 12.-16. July 2023 (europeade-gotha.de)  (available in English and German)

Designer: Geo Müller

Release date: July 15, 2023

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August

World of Letters – Watering Can Waters Letter Flowers

 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Designer: Bettina Walter

Release date: August 1, 2023

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For the Youth

 

3 stamps, 2 cancels
offset

Portion of funds from this stamp goes to the German Youth Foundation. To date, over 200 million Euros has been raised through this series.

German Youth Brand Foundation (jugendmarke.de)

Designer: Werner Hans Schmidt

Release date: August 3, 2023

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Jimi Hendrix
Legends of Pop and Rock Music

 

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Designer: Jan-Niklas Kröger

Release date: August 3, 2023

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International Holocaust Memorial Yad Vashem 70 Years

1 stamp, 2 cancels
offset

Photograph of the Hall of Names at Yad Vashem

Yad Vashem. The World Holocaust Remembrance Center |

Designer: Stefan Guzy
Photographer: © Lior Mizrahi/Getty Images

Release date: August 3, 2023

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100 Years Weimar Bauhaus Exhibition  

Cover, 2 stamps

If you are unfamiliar with the Bauhaus movement, this page from Artnet has page that will help you understand the many facets of Bauhaus. The Bauhaus Museum is another good source Bauhaus Museum Weimar – Klassik Stiftung Weimar (klassik-stiftung.de).

100 years of Bauhaus: Berlin and beyond | Germany holidays | The Guardian is another good look at the movement. 

The first comprehensive exhibition of the State Bauhaus took place on 15 August until 30 September 1923 in Weimar. The Bauhaus, one of the most innovative and one of the most influential architecture and design schools of the 20th century, [with] three locations. …Workshops and
lessons as well as free art [were available from] the masters themselves. An exhibition of international architecture showed photographs, models and design drawings, e.g. by Le Corbusier, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and Walter Gropius. Performances took place at high-profile events such as the “Bauhaus Week” in August contemporary modern music…
ISSUE 15 – 2023 Stamp & Information, 5 July, 2023

This year’s celebration will happen August 15 – 31, 2023

 Designer: DPS Wermsdorf

Release date: August 3, 2023

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