Europe - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1981 - 50 Pfennig

With the 1981 edition, the Deutsche Bundespost issues the 26th mark of Europe. The first impetus from the private side to issue common European brands has already existed at the end of the 40s. In 1951, the European Union made a move aimed at common stamps of unlimited validity in all European countries. He failed due to the different currencies. Also a suggestion, which the German Federal Post Office addressed to the member states of the Council of Europe in 1952, as a precursor to a European Postal Union to create common postage stamps or at least postage stamps with the same brand image, met with rejection from most postal administrations. The idea was given new impetus in 1955 by proposals from the French Post Minister in a speech to the Council of Europe in Strasbourg: The Government Committee set up by the Messina Conference instructed the Committee on Transport and Transport to examine these proposals. In a memorandum he formulated two alternative proposals: a) The publication of a stamp with a single image, expressing the aspirations of Europe by the same symbol; b) The publication of series with images of the personalities that best symbolize the culture and civilization of Western Europe. The Paris Ministerial Conference (20.1.1956) decided to launch a joint European stamp for the 6 countries of the Coal and Steel Community. she appeared on 15.9.1956. The motif of the first edition symbolized the construction of the new Europe in a sky-stricken steel framework with the word »EUROPA«. For this year's European brands, "folklore" has been defined as a common theme. The German Federal Post has solved this issue with the presentation of 2 dance pairs in South and North German costumes.