Germany 2003
"Petrified forest of Chemnitz"
Issue Date |
07.08.2003 |
ID |
Michel: 2358,
Scott: 2259,
Stanley Gibbons: 3234,
Yvert et Tellier: 2184,
Category: pF |
Design |
Joachim Rie, Chemnitz |
Stamps in set |
1 |
Value |
Euro 1.44 |
Emission/Type |
commemorative |
Places of issue |
Chemnitz |
Size (width x height) |
35mm x 35mm |
Layout |
MS of 10 stamps |
Products |
FDC x1 MS x1 |
Paper |
stroke, white, luoresce, special
post paper DP 2
|
Perforation |
13,25 |
Print Technique |
Multicolor offset print |
Printed by |
Giesecke & Devrient
GmbH, Wertpapierdruckerei Leipzig |
Quantity |
29,000,000 |
Issuing Authority |
Deutsche Post |
On August 7
th, 2003, the Post Authority of Germany issued a stamp
"Petrified Forest of Chemnitz".
The design of the stamp was selected in a competition from a selection of submitted designs.
A massive volcanic eruption about 290 million years ago in what is now Chemnitz
give rise to a geological feature: the Petrified Forest.
According to recent research, the plants were buried by volcanic ash which helped
preserve the plants.
Over the course of time, silica and fluorite were precipitated in the plant's cells -
silicifying the plant material, turning it into fossils with exceptional preservation.
|
"Georgius Agricola on stamp of Germany (GDR) from 1955,
MiNr.: 497, Scott: 271.
|
What exactly happened in this rare phenomenon, scientists have not yet been able to
resolve completely.
Historic references describing the fossils at Chemnitz are known worldwide as it is
one of the oldest and most important discoveries of its kind.
As early as the Chemnitz mayor and scholars Georgius Agricola (1494-1555), who coined
term "fossil", mentioned these stones that were once in a polished form as jewelry very
popular.
Under the leadership of Johann Traugott Sterzel (1841-1914), the Chemnitz suburb
of Hilbersdorft systematically excavated these fossils.
Since 2001, the Museum of Natural History in Chemnitz has exhibited fantastic
examples of the petrified wood.
Since late 2001, gives the Museum of Natural History Chemnitz
fascination petrified wood. Some of the silicified trunks from the
region are situated in front of the museum.
Since August 2004 the Museum is located in an important central building named TIETZ.
The building was constructed by H&C Tietz in 1912/13 following
the French neoclassical style.
The historic shopping center hosts now the biggest civic collection and together with
the arrangement of the 290 million years old Petrified Forest also one of the heaviest
fossil collection.
Products and associated philatelic items
First-Day-of-Issue sPostmarks |
|
|
|
Addition to commemorative postmark of Bonn and Berlin the Museum of Natural
History Chemnitz produced its own commemorative postmark.
The Postmark of Berlin was used on the official FDC of Deutsche Post,
while the Postmark of Bonn was used on the
Souvenir Sheet,
and a postmark for the museum was used on covers produced by the museum.
|
|
FDC |
Official |
The Museum |
Private |
|
|
|
|
The FDC of the Museum of Natural History Chemnitz signed by stamp designer Mr. Joachim Rie
and Chemnitzer graphic designer and artist Evgeniy Potievsky who designed the first day cover.
|
|
|
Circulated FDC |
|
|
|
|
Souvenir Sheets with some technical and background descriptions |
|
|
|
|
Mini-Sheet |
Example of circulated covers |
|
|
|
|
References:
Acknowledgements:
Many thanks to Dr.
Peter Voice, PhD Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences,
Western Michigan University, USA, for review draft page of the article and his very valuable comments.