DDR year 1957 stamps Art / Paintings Dresden Art Collections MNH full set
In 1957, the German Democratic Republic (DDR) issued a significant series of postage stamps titled “Von der Sowjetunion zurückgeführte Gemälde der Dresdner Gemäldegalerie” (Paintings of the Dresden Gallery returned by the Soviet Union).
This was the second set in a multi-year series celebrating the return of masterpieces that had been taken to the USSR for safekeeping (or as trophy art) following World War II.
The 1957 Stamp Series (Michel #586–591)
The set consists of six stamps, each depicting a world-famous work from the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister (Old Masters Picture Gallery) in Dresden.
| Value | Painting Title | Artist |
| 5 Pf | The Holy Family with Elizabeth and the Infant John | Andrea Mantegna |
| 10 Pf | The Tribute Money (Der Zinsgroschen) | Titian |
| 15 Pf | Portrait of Charles de Solier, Sieur de Morette | Hans Holbein the Younger |
| 20 Pf | Saskia with a Red Flower | Rembrandt van Rijn |
| 25 Pf | The Girl with the Casket (Mademoiselle Lavergne) | Jean-Étienne Liotard |
| 40 Pf | The Standard Bearer | Giovanni Battista Piazzetta |
Key Details for Collectors
- Issue Date: June 26, 1957.
- Catalog Numbers: Michel: 586–591 | Scott: 355–360.
- Significance: These stamps are highly regarded by philatelists for their high-quality photogravure printing, which captured the fine details of the original oil paintings.
- Context: The DDR used these issues both to promote their cultural heritage and to highlight the “friendship” with the Soviet Union through the return of the art.
