150th birthday of Wilhelm Emmanuel Freiherr von Ketteler - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1961 - 10

Wilhelm Emanuel Freiherr von Ketteler, who was born on 25 December 1811 in Harkotten in Westphalia and died on 13 July 1877 in Burghausen in Upper Bavaria, was since 1850 Bishop of Mainz. Its importance as a pioneer in the field of social development should be recognized by the publication of a commemorative stamp on his 150th birthday. Such a tribute can not be more meaningful in most cases than by the reproduction of the portrait; for in the facial features of a personality whose life's work has gained valid meaning for the general public, one finds, visibly and symbolically, something that has forced the spiritual out of realization. The designers involved in drafting were therefore induced to create a portrait mark. In doing so, they were given the freedom to try solutions that included the bishop's house crest next to the portrait. Bert Jäger and Prof. Hans Hillmann each received a proposal. Herbert Kern sent two designs, and the graphic designers Gerd and Erika Aretz four designs, while Karl Oskar Blase produced five sheets. Looking at the present series, it turned out that the designs, which confined themselves to the presentation of the impressive head, were confirmed by greater closeness, and that, on the other hand, the addition of the coat of arms was to be felt as an accumulation. All that was left to do was to find the most expressive portrait, and at the same time the solution that appeared to be the most successful brand in the distribution of image, value and font. The Federal Minister of Posts and Telecommunications has accepted the proposal of the Art Advisory Council and decided that the draft by Gerd and Erika Aretz should be carried out. The stamp was produced by Bundesdruckerei Berlin in two-color offset printing in green and black.