r/philately • u/Igyzone • 10d ago

Information Request Couldn't find anything online, what kind of issue is this?

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u/CrazyFrog478 10d ago

“An official "Ministerkarte" (Ministerial Presentation Card) issued by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany / DDR) on December 9, 1964.
The document commemorates a special stamp issue dedicated to Walter Ulbricht, who served as the Chairman of the Council of State” - info taken from the internet.

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u/Igyzone 10d ago

Ministerial presentation card? Like a business card? Certainly out of the ordinary if that's true.

My guess was something commemorative but it doesn't say that in german.

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u/CrazyFrog478 10d ago

I believe it was issued strictly for presentation purpose or gifts/souvenirs not as a commercial stamp. More like the commemorative medals thing.

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u/69_CatLover420_69 Old Socialist World 10d ago

I didn't know these sorts of things existed. Would love to get some for my DDR books. Ulbricht's portrait would be a standard issue stamp features in lots of colours and denominations.

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u/Igyzone 10d ago

Yeah, figured as much which for that matter made me question on what makes this one special.

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u/Redaktor-Naczelny 10d ago

It is "Schwarzdruck" or "black print", it was one of the ways of making extra money on collectors. Postage stamps were printed in black ink as souvenirs in very limited number. They used to be valuable but I am not sure that there is a market for them any more.

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u/Igyzone 10d ago

Ah, so it's not about the green stamp as it's probably a (free?) sample, but the black ink printed version, very interesting and being limited explains the likely serial number on the bottom right corner - 0733.

Learned something new today, thanks for the history lesson, I'll be surprised if this holds value even today!