Varieties and types of postage stamps of the German Democratic Republic: the Five Year Plan (1953/59)

A. Introduction

Five-Year Plan is the name of a definitive stamp issues of the German Democratic Republic in the years 1953-1959. The stamps were designed in view of propagating the first economic five-year plan of the GDR. In total, there were 7 issues. Stamps were designed by Erich Gruner and engraved by Karl Wolf. The stamps were valid until 31 December 1962.

In 1957, all previously issued motifs were reprinted in circulation of 20 million copies per stamp for philatelic market. The original printing plates for issues printed in letterpress were still available but for the stamps in offset printing, the plates had to be re-made. Thus, the reissued stamps in offset are slightly different from the originals, while reprints of stamps printed in letterpress are in design identical to originals.

Reprinted and reissued stamps for philatelic market were released cancelled with postmarks in black color printed directly on them. Dates on cancels were set to 1956, locations were: COTTBUS 1, DRESDEN N25, ERFURT 1, GERA 4, GERA 4, HALLE (SAALE) 2, KARL-MARX-STADT C 1, KARL-MARX-STADT 4, LEIPZIG C1, LEIPZIG O5, MAGDEBURG BPA 7, POTSDAM 1, ROSTOCK 2 and SCHWERIN (MECKL) 1.

OFFSET AND LETTERPRESS PRINTINGS

Regular issue in offset: raster shadings, country name in thin letters, lower part of numeral 5 in emblem not touching the compass, the second letter E of DEUTSCHE above letter letter T in DEMOKRATISCHE.	Reissued stamps in offset: raster shadings, country name in thin letters, lower part of numeral 5 in emblem not touching the compass, the second letter E of DEUTSCHE above letter letter A in DEMOKRATISCHE.	Regular issue in letterpress: line shadings, the second letter E of DEUTSCHE above letter letter A in DEMOKRATISCHE, lower part of numeral 5 in emblem longer, stretches below the compass, designer’s and engraver’s signatures below frame (except from 6, 12, 16 and 35 pf.) country name in thick letters.

OFFSET AND LETTERPRESS PRINTINGS

GDR 5 year plan postage stamps offset typography printing differentiation

Regular issue in offset:

raster shadings,
country name in thin letters,
lower part of numeral 5 in emblem not touching the compass,
the second letter E of DEUTSCHE above letter letter T in DEMOKRATISCHE.

Reissued stamps in offset:

raster shadings,
country name in thin letters,
lower part of numeral 5 in emblem not touching the compass,
the second letter E of DEUTSCHE above letter letter A in DEMOKRATISCHE.

Regular issue in letterpress:

line shadings,
the second letter E of DEUTSCHE above letter letter A in DEMOKRATISCHE,
lower part of numeral 5 in emblem longer, stretches below the compass,
designer’s and engraver’s signatures below frame (except from 6, 12, 16 and 35 pf.)
country name in thick letters.

ADDITIONAL MARKS DIFFERENTIATING BETWEEN REGULAR AND REISSUED STAMPS OF THE OFFSET PRINTING
Apart from the differences mentioned above, the reissued stamps differ also in other parts of the design.
	Reissue: Laurel leaves outlined white.
	Reissue: shorter distance between country’s name and vertical frames.
	Reissue: shorter distance between country’s name and vertical frames, laurel leaves much darker.
	Reissue: shorter distance between country’s name and vertical frames, laurel leaves much darker.
	Reissue: shorter distance between country’s name and vertical frames, laurel leaves outlined white.
	Reissue: Country name typography much thicker.
	Reissue: shorter distance between country’s name and vertical frames.
	Reissue: shorter distance between country’s name and vertical frames, greater distance between denomination and the right frame.
	Reissue: Letter N of WERKTÄTIGEN closer to right frame.
	Reissue: shorter distance between country’s name and vertical frames, horizontal laurel leaf much closer to country name.
	Reissue: horizontal laurel leaf much closer to country name.
	Reissue: The second upright laurel leaf not interrupted by the right frame.
	Reissue: flag in the top left corner not touching left frame, left side facade of the building lightly shaded.
	Reissue: laurel leaves much darker, wrinkle on chemist’s coat touching right frame.
	Reissue: Inscription DRESDEN ZWINGER-AUFBAU much thinner.
	Reissue: wider distance between ship’s bow and top frame.
	Reissue: railing on combine thinner.
	Reissue: windows and doors on skyscraper darker.

B. Types

1 October 1954: The third issue
20 pf. on 24 pf.
I, II		Type I: stamp printed in offset. Type II: stamp printed in letterpress.
1957/59: The fifth and the sixth issues
5 pf.
		The fifth issue (March 1957): perforation comb 13:12½. The sixth issue (November 1958): perforation comb 14, hatching on neck stronger, different hatching around ear.
10 pf.
		The fifth issue (January 1957): perforation comb 13:12½. The sixth issue (November 1958): perforation comb 14, head of the worker on the right isn’t touching top frame, nose of the right worker redone.
20 pf.
		The fifth issue (May 1957): perforation comb 13:12½. The sixth issue (January 1959): perforation comb 14, shade of the cyclist missing.

C. Varieties

CONSTANT VARIETIES
1 pf., the second issue		Field number
I	Nipple missing.	16
10 pf., booklet 3 (1960/61)		Field number
I	Green spots on machine part in the upper right corner.	Book 3/Sheet 2/Field 5
II	Two green dots on machine block.	Book 3/Sheet 2/Field 6
III	Green dot on machine block.	Book 3/Sheet 3/Field 6
20 pf., booklet 3 (1960/61)		Field number
I	Lane right from the cyclist broken.	Book 3/Sheet 3/Field 1

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
5 pf., the 5th issue
1	Leaking steam. (Field 20)

Bibliography

Michel Deutschland-Spezial 2005, Band 2: Ab Mai 1945 (Alliierte Besetzung bis BRD), Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-145-9
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%BCnfjahrplan_(Briefmarkenserie), Fünfjahrplan (Briefmarkenserie), Wikipedia article