German Reich year 1942 Peter Henlein MNH stamp
In 1942, during World War II, Nazi Germany issued a postage stamp commemorating the 400th anniversary of the death of Peter Henlein (also spelled Peter Henle or Peter Hele). Henlein was a German locksmith and clockmaker from Nuremberg who is often credited with inventing the first portable timepiece, or “watch,” in the early 16th century.
The stamp featured a portrait of Peter Henlein along with an image of one of his early portable timepieces. It was part of a series of stamps issued by the German Reich to honor notable figures in German history.
However, it’s important to note that while Henlein is considered a pioneering figure in the history of timekeeping, his exact role in the invention of the portable watch is a matter of some debate among horological historians. The development of portable timepieces in the 16th century involved contributions from multiple inventors and craftsmen, and the precise origins of the first “true” watch remain a topic of scholarly discussion.
