Berlin – Scott # 9N346

Description

Berlin – Scott #9N346, MNH

Issued in 1974, this 90 Pfennig commemorative from West Berlin honors the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift (Luftbrücke) — one of the defining humanitarian operations of the early Cold War. The design features the iconic Berlin Airlift Memorial with three upward-curving struts symbolizing the air corridors from Frankfurt, Celle, and Hamburg that sustained the city during the Soviet blockade of 1948–49.

Details:

• Scott #: 9N346

• Denomination: 90 Pf

• Issue Date: 1974

• Design Theme: 25th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift (Luftbrücke Berlin)

• Color: Multicolor (gray gradient with red, blue, and white flags)

• Condition: Mint, never hinged (MNH)

• Designer: Heinz Schillinger

• Inscription: “Luftbrücke Berlin 1948/49 – Deutsche Bundespost Berlin – 1974”

Design Elements:
At the bottom of the stamp, the flags of the United States, United Kingdom, and France represent the Allied forces that organized the Airlift. The three white struts rising against a soft gray sky recall both the Airlift Memorial at Tempelhof and the planes that kept West Berlin alive through courage and coordination.

Historical Context:
The Berlin Airlift remains a powerful symbol of freedom, cooperation, and resilience. When Soviet forces blockaded all ground routes into West Berlin, Allied aircraft delivered over 2.3 million tons of food, coal, and supplies to the city’s residents for nearly a year, maintaining the city’s independence and morale.