Description: This dark brownish-red and lilac-black definitive stamp was issued by the West Berlin postal authority under the Deutsche Bundespost Berlin. The intricately engraved design showcases a historical view of the Berliner Schloss (Berlin Palace) as it appeared around the year 1703. The foreground features the prominent equestrian statue of the Great Elector, Friedrich Wilhelm, positioned before the palace's sprawling Baroque facade. A small, stylized banner across the top center is inscribed with "Schloss 1703". The face value of 20 Pfennig is enclosed in a circular medallion at the top left, while the bottom border reads "BUNDESPOST BERLIN" anchored by the state title "DEUTSCHE" running vertically up the left frame. The stamp shows a partial black wavy machine postal cancellation.
Circa: 1960s
Condition: Used, ripped
Notes:
This stamp carried immense political and emotional weight when it was issued in 1962. The actual Berlin Palace, heavily damaged during WWII Allied bombing, had been completely demolished by the East German communist government in 1950 to clear space for military parades. By celebrating the palace's 1703 glory, West Berlin's postal service used this stamp to preserve the cultural memory of the city's unified architectural identity.