East German (GDR) stamps

From the first post-war issues to the last stamps of 1990, East Germany can be collected year by year.

One state, forty years of issues

The German Democratic Republic was founded in October 1949 in the former Soviet occupation zone. It issued its own stamps until reunification on 3 October 1990. The listings cover the whole period, from 1949 to the year 1990.

The 1950s

The earliest issues are also the most valuable. The 1950 science set (no. 15/24), the 1953 souvenir sheets (BF2 and BF3, with their BF2a and BF3a variants) or the 1951 set no. 38/40 often exceed fifty euros, sometimes by a wide margin. The country's first souvenir sheet, the 1950 BF1, is also in the catalogue.

Music, sport and famous people

Some themes recur from start to finish. Music first, from the 1950 set (no. 10/13) to the souvenir sheets of 1970 (BF28) and 1985 (BF80). Then sport, with the 1988 Olympic Games (no. 2796/2801). Wildlife has its place too, such as the 1987 mammals issued with the WWF (no. 2732/2735).

Complete years

A sub-section gathers whole years, stamps and souvenir sheets included. The 1962 year brings together nos. 582/645 and BF11/BF12; 1984 adds airmail (PA13). The last one, 1990, covers nos. 2899/2968 and BF100.

Condition and prices

Most listings are mint never hinged. A few are mint hinged, such as the 1958 no. 346, or used: the 1983 souvenir sheet BF67 is available in both conditions. Sets from the 1960s to the 1980s mostly cost between one and five euros, complete years between thirty-five and sixty-five euros. Only the price shown on the listing applies.