Berlin – Scott # 9N435

Description

Berlin – Scott #9N435, MNH

Issued in 1979, this 50 Pfennig commemorative stamp from West Berlin marks the 125th anniversary of the Litfaßsäule, or advertising column, an iconic fixture of Berlin’s streetscape and urban culture.

Details:

• Scott #: 9N435

• Denomination: 50 Pf

• Issue Date: 1979

• Design Theme: 125 Years of Advertising Columns in Berlin

• Color: Rose carmine and violet

• Condition: Mint, never hinged (MNH)

• Designer: H. Zimbelmann

• Printing Method: Photogravure

• Inscription: “125 Jahre Litfaßsäulen in Berlin – Deutsche Bundespost Berlin – 1979”

Design Description:
The design shows an elegant 19th-century Litfaßsäule surrounded by finely dressed Berliners in period attire, evoking the era when public advertising first became a recognizable feature of city life. The cylindrical column, covered with posters, stands as both a practical invention and a cultural icon of information sharing in urban Europe.

Historical Context:
Invented by Ernst Litfaß in 1854, these cylindrical kiosks revolutionized the way information, announcements, and advertisements were presented to the public. They quickly spread across Germany and much of Europe, becoming a hallmark of city life. Berlin, where the first columns appeared, adopted them widely as symbols of progress, modernity, and communication.

This issue honors not only Litfaß’s contribution to media and design but also the enduring presence of these columns, which remain part of Berlin’s cityscape today.