Berlin – Scott #s 9N193-94

Description

Berlin – Scott #9N193-94, MNH

Issued in 1961, this two-stamp set from West Berlin commemorates the German Evangelical Church Congress (Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag) held in Berlin that year. Each design combines a prominent Berlin church with the Jerusalem Cross, symbolizing faith and unity across a divided nation.

Details:

• Scott #: 9N193–9N194

• Denominations: 10 Pf & 20 Pf

• Designs:

  • 9N193 (Green & Violet): St. Mary’s Church (Marienkirche), one of Berlin’s oldest houses of worship.

  • 9N194 (Purple & Rose): Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church (Gedächtniskirche), the famous war-damaged landmark on Kurfürstendamm.

• Design Theme: Jerusalem Cross with church façade

• Condition: Mint, never hinged (MNH)

• Issue Date: 1961

• Inscription: “Deutscher Evangelischer Kirchentag 1961 / Deutsche Bundespost Berlin”

Historical Context:
These stamps mark the postwar revival of religious and moral life in Berlin during the Cold War. The Kirchentag of 1961 was especially symbolic—it occurred in the same year the Berlin Wall was constructed, reinforcing the Church’s message of spiritual unity amid political division.