GERMAN PHILATELY

PROPAGANDA POSTCARDS
(1931)

This page was last updated
16-Sep-2026 07:12

AUSSTELLUNG GEWERBEFLEISS DER BAYERISCHEN OSTMARK MÜNCHEN 1931
INDUSTRY EXHIBITION OF THE BAVARIAN OSTMARK MUNICH 1931
(1931)

BACKGROUND: This elegant Art Deco/Expressionist landscape in blue-green tones, advertises the "Ausstellung Gewerbefleiss der Bayerischen Ostmark, München 1931", the Exhibition of Commercial Industry of the Bavarian Eastern March. The "Ostmark" referred to the eastern regions of Bavaria (roughly today's Upper Palatinate and Lower Bavaria). The coat of arms displays the classic Bavarian blue-and-white lozenge pattern. The artist, DECHERT, signed the lower left.

SONDERSTEMPEL: There was no special cancellation used for this event.




The postally used example below was used in Munich and the card is addressed to a Fräulein Käte Barbieux in Tübingen. The card features an 8 Rpf green Ebert stamp with Munich machine cancellation postmark applied on 16th Sep 1931.

The reverse side bears the inscription "Offizielle Ausstellungs-Postkarte" (Official Exhibition Postcard) and was printed by H. Sonntag & Co., München.

The machine cancel slogan reads "Spendet zur Glaspalast-Künstlerhilfe", "Donate to the Glaspalast Artist Relief Fund". This is historically significant: the Munich Glaspalast (a grand iron-and-glass exhibition hall modeled on London's Crystal Palace) burned down on 6th Jun 1931, destroying thousands of artworks. The relief fund for affected artists was a major public cause that year, and its appearance here helps date the card to mid-to-late 1931.

REFERENCES:
1. PRIVATPOSTKARTEN KATALOG BAND 1, Book Two, by HANSPETER FRECH 2017 Edition. Page 885 and 918