And so it begins...

This was the very first stamp issued by the DDR. It was issued on 9 October 1949 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union.

Curious that the DDR did not choose to celebrate itself with its first stamp. The Universal Postal Union dates from 1874 and has its headquarters in Bern, Switzerland. Since the creation of the UN, the UPU has been a UN agency. It serves to remove barriers to the free flow of mail across countries. Since that time, and despite many international conflicts, I am unaware of any attempts to block a country from joining. If you know better, please present your case in the comments.

Why east German stamps?

Everyone who collects stamps has their own reasons for doing so. they might have an interest in postal systems or postal history for example.If they collect thematically, stamps might be part of a wider interest in their subject.

For me, stamps are artefacts produced in particular places in particular times. The stamps tell stories about the culture or history of the country that issued them. Or, they may simply have been issued to coincide with an event such as the Olympic games taking place in that country; a genuine 'commemorative' issue.

That's why I collect stamps, but why focus on East Germany? There are many reasons. Some to do with collecting; some which link to with my interests in culture and history.

East Germany, or the DDR more properly, came into existence in 1949 and came to an end as a stamp issuing country in 1990. That's just forty-one years. If I have done my sums right from the Michel catalogue, the DDR issued 3,123 stamps. There is a reasonable prospect, therefore, that even an amateur collector like myself who devotes little time to the hobby might manage to obtain a complete collection. I am in no hurry. The possibility of completing the collection is enough for me.

I mentioned that collecting is a hobby and one to which I devote a little time. I am not obsessed as some are with stamp collecting. If I were, then perhaps I would choose a different country to collect. But, for me, a hobby collector, the DDR is fine. Another consideration for me is expense. Frankly, I cannot justify spending huge sums on my hobby. Lucky for me, then, that very few DDR stamps are expensive. Those few that are I am saving until I get within touching distance of completing the collection.

If I were a Communist, then the stamps of the DDR would be a nice bit of 'Ostalgie' to look back on the good old days of an actually existing socialist society. I am not a Communist but that period of history does interest me and, in the stamps of the DDR, we can see 'official' attitudes to science, industry, sport etc.

The blog may evolve but my intention as I write this is that most posts will be a picture of a stamp or set of stamps about which I will say a little about the story they tell. I think these stories are interesting. I hope you do too.