Description: The specimen shown is an official government official service stamp (Dienstmarke) issued by the German Democratic Republic (GDR). Rendered in a deep reddish-purple or magenta ink, the central vignette prominently displays the finalized national emblem of East Germany. This iconic state symbol features a heavy industrial hammer representing the working class, intersecting a draftsman's compass representing the intelligentsia, all enclosed by a rich wreath of rye representing the peasantry wrapped in the black-red-gold national tricolor. The top header reads DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK, while the lower margin explicitly displays the denomination 50 flanked on both sides of the identifying text DIENSTMARKE, indicating it was strictly restricted to state ministries, police stations, and local municipal offices.
Circa: 1957 - 1963
Condition: Used
Notes:
The 50-pfennig denomination was commonly used for heavier official correspondence.
The emblem remained the principal state symbol until German reunification in 1990.