Germany DDR stamps year 1957-58 Five Year Plan – Perforation 13×12½ MNH
In the philatelic world, the Five-Year Plan (Fünfjahrplan) series of East Germany (DDR) is one of the most complex definitive sets ever issued. The specific 1957–1958 re-issues with the 13 x 12½ perforation are highly sought after by specialists because they differ significantly from the original 1953–1955 printings.
1957–1958 Five-Year Plan: Perforation 13 x 12½
Between 1957 and 1959, the DDR re-issued several values of the Five-Year Plan series. These are often referred to as the “V” (5th) and “VI” (6th) issues in German catalogs like Michel.
| Value (Pfennig) | Subject | Michel No. (Perf 13×12½) | Date of Issue |
| 5 Pf | Worker / Peace | 577 A | March 1957 |
| 10 Pf | Worker and Peasant | 578 A | Jan 1957 |
| 15 Pf | Industry / Factory | 579 A | Jan 1957 |
| 20 Pf | Sports (Cyclist) | 580 A | May 1957 |
| 25 Pf | Architecture (Zwinger) | 581 A | May 1957 |
| 30 Pf | Shipping / Shipbuilding | 582 A | June 1957 |
| 40 Pf | Steelworks | 583 A | March 1957 |
| 50 Pf | High-rise Building | 584 A | March 1957 |
| 70 Pf | Science / Chemistry | 585 A | June 1957 |
Identification Key
To distinguish these from the earlier 1953–1955 sets or the later 1958/59 “Perf 14” sets, look for these three markers:
- Perforation: Use a gauge to confirm exactly 13 x 12½. The earlier sets were often 13 x 13½ or 14 x 14¼.
- Watermark: These stamps use the Watermark 3 (DDR and Crossroads/Crossflowers).
- Printing Method: Most of the 1957 re-issues were printed using Offset Lithography (Raster) rather than the original Letterpress. In the 1957 offset version, the second “E” of “DEUTSCHE” usually aligns above the “A” in “DEMOKRATISCHE.”
