Christmas stamps of the Federal Republic of Germany

Peter Altmaier , Executive Minister of Finance, presents the 2017 Christmas stamp in Cologne Cathedral . It shows a section from the altar of the city patron by Stefan Lochner

Christmas (official name) is a charity stamp series of the Federal Republic of Germany, which is issued by the Federal Ministry of Finance and distributed by Deutsche Post AG . In addition to the normal postage value, a donation surcharge is levied, which is used to support the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft der Freie Wohlfahrtspflege e. V. serves.

Since 1995, the series has continued the tradition of the German Federal Post Office, which began in 1969, of the Christmas stamps issued annually in November as a surcharge (see: Christmas stamps from the Deutsche Bundespost and Christmas stamps from the Deutsche Bundespost Berlin ).

In 2001, after 1978 ( Bundespost - Block 17 and Berlin - Block 7) a block of stamps appeared again , this is a joint issue with Spain (Block 56).

Up to 2011, two stamps were published each with the current value for mailing postcards and standard letters. Since then, only one Christmas stamp has appeared for standard letters. In addition, since 2013 a special stamp with a winter motif (without Christian reference) has been offered for no surcharge.

Issue occasion

The Christmas stamps are issued for the benefit of the voluntary welfare organization. The recipient of the auction proceeds is the Federal Working Group of Freie Wohlfahrtspflege e. V. The organizations that make up it help wherever state aid is insufficient.

“Ladies and gentlemen, the Christmas stamps are sold - this has been a fine tradition for more than three decades - with a surcharge in favor of welfare. This money goes directly to the social work of the charities [sic!]. Christmas stamps help people to help other people. "

- Peer Steinbrück : Federal Minister of Finance , 2005

List of issues and motives

Legend

• Image: An edited image of the brand mentioned. The ratio of the size of the stamps to each other is shown approximately to scale in this article.
• Description: A brief description of the motif and / or the reason for the issue. In the case of issued series or blocks , the descriptions that belong together are indented with a marker.
• Value: The postage value of the individual stamp in the currency unit specified in the table header. A "+" means that it is an additional stamp (= postage value + donation).
• Issue Date: The date this stamp was first sold.
• Edition: As far as known, the number of this edition offered for sale is given here.
• Design: As far as is known, it is stated here who designed this brand.
• Mi.-No .: This stamp is listed in the Michel catalog under the corresponding number.

DM (1995 to 1999)

All stamps in DM were valid for postage until June 30, 2002 .

image	description	Values ​​in pennies	Issue date	Edition	draft	Mi. -No.
	Christmas stamps 1995 Annunciation , details from the Marienfenster of Augsburg Cathedral	80 + 40	November 9, 1995	5,300,000 of which 280,000 on ETB	Ernst Kößlinger	1831
	The birth of Christ , details from the Marienfenster of Augsburg Cathedral	100 + 50	November 9, 1995	9,560,000 including 280,000 on ETB	Ernst Kößlinger	1832
	Christmas stamps 1996 The three kings	80 + 40	November 14, 1996	4,865,000	Peter Steiner	1891
	Birth of christ	100 + 50	November 14, 1996	9,175,000	Peter Steiner	1892
	Christmas stamps 1997 Adoration of the Magi	110 + 50	November 6, 1997	5,243,000 of which 248,200 on ETB	Jan Lenica	1959
	Birth of christ	110 + 50	November 6, 1997	8,638,000 of which 248,200 on ETB	Jan Lenica	1960
	Christmas stamps 1998 Visit of the shepherds	100 + 50	November 12, 1998	5,500,000	Jan Lenica	2023
	Birth of Christ	110 + 50	November 12, 1998	8,280,000	Jan Lenica	2024
	Christmas stamps 1999 Annunciation of the angel	100 + 50	November 4, 1999	5,080,000	Peter Steiner	2084
	Birth of Christ	110 + 50	November 4, 1999	7,780,000	Peter Steiner	2085

DM / Euro (2000 and 2001)

After the fixed euro exchange rate to the DM had been fixed, the stamp years 2000 and 2001 were issued as so-called double denominations. In addition to the usual value in pfennigs (DM), the corresponding value in euros was added. These stamps are still valid for postage. In each of the two years, the stamps were issued as a joint issue with Spain. Although both countries belong to the euro area, the respective brands are only valid for shipping in their issuing countries.

The two Christmas stamps 2001 appeared as a joint issue with Spain also as a block (German block number 56, Spanish block number 102) and cost 4.45 DM or 2.28 euros (German postage stamps: 100 + 50 Pfennig = 0.51 + 0.26 euros and 110 + 50 pfennigs = 0.56 + 0.26 euros; Spanish postage stamps: 75 pesetas = 0.45 euros and 40 pesetas = 0.24 euros). The Spanish stamps are not valid for postage in Germany. The block was only sold by the shipping offices and by so-called stationary philatelic counters. Special feature for block 56I normal paper [0.08mm] white fluorescence, block 56II thick paper [0.1mm] yellow fluorescence.

image	description	Values ​​in pennies and euros	Issue date	Edition	draft	Mi. -No.
	Christmas stamps 2000 Joint issue with Spain Birth of Christ; Painting by Conrad von Soest	100 + 50 € 0.51 + € 0.26	November 9, 2000	4,470,000	Ernst Jünger, Lorli Jünger	2151
	Modern nativity scene	110 + 50 0.56 + 0.26 €	November 9, 2000	7,010,000	Christiane Hemmerich	2152
	Christmas stamps 2001 Joint issue with Spain "Virgin with Child" by Alfredo Roldán	100 + 50 € 0.51 + € 0.26	November 8, 2001	5,920,000	José Luis Lopez Villalba	2226
	"Adoration of the Shepherds" by Jusepe de Ribera	110 + 50 0.56 + 0.26 €	November 8, 2001	8,260,000	José Luis Lopez Villalba	2227

Euro (since 2002)

image	description	Values ​​in euro cents	Issue date	Edition	draft	Mi. -No.
	Christmas stamps 2002 "The Annunciation" - excerpt from painting by Rogier van der Weyden	51 + 26	November 7, 2002	3,100,000	Detlef Glinski	2285
	"The Holy Family" - section from the Miraflores altar by Rogier van der Weyden	56 + 26	November 7, 2002	5,650,000	Detlef Glinski	2286
	Christmas stamps 2003 Adoration of the Shepherds	45 + 20	November 13, 2003	3,110,000	Gerhard Lienemeyer	2369
	The holy family	55 + 25	November 13, 2003	5,750,000	Gerhard Lienemeyer	2370
	Christmas stamps 2004 Parallel edition with Belgium »The Flight into Egypt« - painting by Peter Paul Rubens	45 + 20	November 4, 2004	2,840,000 of which on ETB 125,000	Ernst Jünger, Lorli Jünger	2429
	"The Adoration of the Magi" - painting by Peter Paul Rubens	55 + 20	November 4, 2004	5,450,000 of which on ETB 125,000	Ernst Jünger, Lorli Jünger	2430
	Christmas stamps 2005 Adoration of the child	45 + 20	November 3, 2005	2,660,000 of which 125,000 on ETB	Ernst Jünger, Lorli Jünger	2492
	Our Lady in the Rose Arbor	55 + 25	November 3, 2005	5,360,000 of which 125,000 on ETB	Ernst Jünger, Lorli Jünger	2493
	Christmas stamps 2006 The Nativity (painting by Master Francke )	45 + 20	November 9, 2006	2,570,000 including 105,000 on ETB	Annegret Ehmke	2569
	The Adoration of the Magi (painting by Master Francke)	55 + 25	November 9, 2006	4,950,000 of which 105,000 on ETB	Annegret Ehmke	2570
	Christmas stamps 2007 Motifs from the Gospel of Luke Adoration of the Magi	45 + 20	November 8, 2007	2,650,000 of which 105,000 on ETB	Ernst and Lorli Jünger	2626
	The birth of christ	55 + 25	November 8, 2007	4,930,000 of which 105,000 on ETB	Ernst and Lorli Jünger	2627
	Christmas stamps 2008 Motifs from museums in Germany and Vatican City Joint issue with the Vatican City »Birth of Christ« by Albrecht Dürer	45 + 20	November 13, 2008	2,590,000 including 95,000 on ETB	Werner Hans Schmidt	2703
	"Adoration of the Magi" by Raphael	55 + 25	November 13, 2008	4,450,000 including 95,000 on ETB	Werner Hans Schmidt	2704
	Christmas stamps 2009 Church treasures - initials from the Hoya Missal	45 + 20	November 12, 2009	2,246,000 including 85,000 on ETB	Elisabeth Hau	2763
	Church treasures - initials from the Hoya Missal	55 + 25	November 12, 2009	4,151,000 of which 85,000 on ETB	Elisabeth Hau	2764
	Christmas stamps 2010 Mary with baby Jesus	45 + 20	November 11, 2010	2,173,000 of which 74,000 on ETB	Julia Varbanov	2829
	Adoration of the Magi	55 + 25	November 11, 2010	4,203,000 including 74,000 on ETB	Julia Varbanov	2830
	Christmas stamps 2011 St. Martin	45 + 20	November 10, 2011	2,339,500 of which 67,500 on ETB	Karen Scholz	2895
	St. Nicholas	55 + 25	November 10, 2011	4,241,500 of which 67,500 on ETB	Karen Scholz	2896
	Christmas stamp 2012 Christmas chapel	55 + 25	November 2, 2012	2,084,000 of which 60,200 on ETB	Carsten Wolff	2961
	Christmas stamp 2013 Star of Bethlehem	58 + 27	November 2, 2013	?	Kitty Kahane	3035
	Christmas stamp 2014 Star of Bethlehem	60 + 30	3rd November 2014	?	Nicole Elsenbach	3108
	Christmas stamp 2015 silent Night	62 + 30	November 2, 2015	?	Greta Gröttrup	3183
	Christmas stamp 2016 The shepherds in the field	70 + 30	November 2, 2016	?	Stefan Klein and Olaf Neumann	3266
	Christmas stamp 2017 From the sky above	70 + 30	2nd November 2017	?	Heribert Birnbach	3340
	Christmas stamp 2018 Church window	70 + 30	2nd November 2018	?	Behr design office	3418
	Christmas stamp 2019 Church window	80 + 40	October 10, 2019	?	Marvin Hüttermann	3495

Winter motifs

image	description	Values ​​in euro cents	Issue date	Edition	draft	Mi. -No.
	Winter mood	58	November 2, 2013	?	Nicole Elsenbach and Frank Fienbork	3039
	Snowman	60	3rd November 2014	?	Bianca Becker and Peter Kohl	3111
	Give joy	62	November 2, 2015	?	Regina Kehn	3185
	Christmas ball	70	November 30, 2016	?	Stefan Klein and Olaf Neumann	3269
	Christmas chapel	70	2nd November 2017	?	Bettina Walter and Jennifer Dengler	3344
	Christmas sleigh	70	2nd November 2018	?	Jennifer Dengler	3421

See also

• Christmas stamps from the German Federal Post Office
• Christmas stamps of the Deutsche Bundespost Berlin

literature

• Michel catalog Germany 2010/2011 , Schwaneberger Verlag, 2010, ISBN 978-3-87858-045-4 .

Web links

Commons : Christmas stamps of the Federal Republic of Germany  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

1. ^ The postage stamps of the Federal Republic of Germany 2006; P. 104
2. ↑ Speech by the Federal Minister of Finance, Peer Steinbrück, on the occasion of the presentation of the Christmas stamps in Cologne on December 19, 2005  ( page no longer available , search in web archives )  Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. .  
3. ↑ Nativity scene: Property of the Metropolitan and Parish Church Foundation "to our dear woman" in Munich
4. ↑ File: Hans-Jürgen Stein; from the book "the most beautiful nativity scenes" by Helmut OJ Wagner