All 5-year-plan definitives,issued from 1953 till 1955 were reprinted in 1957. The reprints were printed at 20 millions sets each. They were exported and sold mainly abroad. All,except few "slipped through" stamps bear printed date-cancellations of the year 1956. The cancel were placed central on blocs of four,so that single stamps show a quarter of the cancel. All reprints were printed on ungummed paper.So gummed stamps cannot be reprints. The paper of the reprints is smoother than that of the originals. (best seen on the backside) Of the first set (Scott no.155-171),printed by Litho(graphy) the designs of originals and reprints differ in many details. Wether these are minor,as Scott claims,is a question of opinion. As I am myself a "novice" DDR-collector and my collection,that I had bought recently,did not contain the reprints,I found out,that they are not so easy to find. They are not attractive for stamp-dealers,because of theirs very low cat.-values and because they can so easily be confused with the originals. During my attempt to scan the 1953 series,I found that I miss one of the reprints,but will nevertheless show what I have. Talking about cat.-values,Michel lists the 1953 reprints at € 3.- for the set. I have no actual catalogue,what values the originals in used,but in an older issue,the originals were priced used € 110.-,versus € 3.- for the reprints. As no price for originals in c.t.o. was listed,I think they were not sold as such. original,left stamp,reprint right stamp upper original,lower reprint On all originals the A of DEMOKRATISCHE is placed under between the HE of DEUTSCHE,while it is further to the right under the E on all reprints. There are many differences in the design as well. On this stamp,the reprint 1 Pfennig value,the twig and leaves left to the 5 are much less shaded and appear to be nearly white.
Werner, That's an interesting slice of history. I'll have to go back through my DDR stamps and see if I can sort the originals from the reprints. My assortment of DDR is largely scattered and unorganized due to not getting a collection at auction, which I had planned on doing. I sort of missed the boat a while back when they were going for a song.
original left,reprint right stamp upper original,lower reprint On the reprints the distance of D(EUTSCHE) and D(EMOKRATISCHE) to the left (and to the right as well) is smaller than on the originals. Obviously the letters are bigger,what makes the inscription longer. But again the most sure distinction to spot the reprint, is the "A under the E"
original left,reprint right upper original,lower reprint On the reprints the distance of D(EUTSCHE) and D(EMOKRATISCHE) to the left is smaller than on the originals. In other words,the inscription is bigger. The leaves left to the "5" are darker and appear less prominent.
left original,right reprint upper original,lower reprint On the reprints the distance of D(EUTSCHE) and D(EMOKRATISCHE) to the left is smaller than on the originals. In other words,the inscription is bigger. The centres of the leaves left to the "5" are darker.
left original,right reprint upper original,lower reprint On the reprints the distance of D(EUTSCHE) and D(EMOKRATISCHE) to the left is smaller than on the originals. The centres of the leaves are darker.
left original.right reprint upper original,lower reprint The inscription is much bolder on the reprints.
left original,right reprint upper original,lower (lying on top of the original) reprint On the reprints the 6 is further apart from the border-line, than on originals. The inscrption is bigger and bolder on the reprints.
left original,right reprint upper original,lower (lying on top of the original) reprint Inscription slightly larger,the N of WERKTÄTIGEN further away from the border on the reprints. But again the most sure distinction to spot the reprint, is the "A under the E".
left original,right reprint upper original,lower (lying on top of the original) reprint The B of Berlin is closer to the frame on reprints. upper original,lower reprint On the reprints the second E of DEUTSCHE and the R of REPUBLIK are closer to the leaf above.
left original,right reprint upper original,lower reprint On the reprints the second E of DEUTSCHE and the R of REPUBLIK are closer to the leaf above.
left original,right reprint left original,right reprint The leaf to the right is complete on the reprints, while cut on the originals.
left original,right reprint left reprint,right original On the reprint the shadow of the building on the left is much lighter than on the originals. The upper flag-pole is clearly visible.
left original,right reprint left original,right reprint On the reprint the most to the right awn is touching the frame. As that is not so easy to be seen,so again the most sure distinction to spot the reprint,is the "A under the E".
left original,right reprint upper reprint,lower (on top of the reprint) original The inscription "DRESDEN ZWINGER-AUFBAU" is thinner on the reprints.
When scanning for this thread,I found out,that I have no reprint of the 60 Pfg.-stamp. Michel describes the difference,that on the reprints the rail of the ship does not touch the upper frame of the picture. However the easy way is again the position of the "A" of DEMOKRATISCHE under the "HE" of DEUTSCHE on originals,while mid under the "E" on reprints.
left original,right reprint left reprint,right original The structures to the left of the driver are less prominent on the reprints.Difficult to see,when obscured by a cancel. upper original,lower reprint So again the position of the "A" is the better option to differentiate.
left original,right reprint left reprint,right original The entrance and the windows of the building on the right are darker on the reprints. Again the difference is not that striking,so once more, the position of the "A" is the better option to differentiate.
