Germany 2006 "150 years of discovery of Neandertaler"


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Issue Date 10.08.2006
ID Michel: 2553, Scott: 2388, Stanley Gibbons: 3433, Yvert et Tellier: 2375 Category: An
Design Annegret Ehmke, Munich
Stamps in set 1
Value Euro 2.20
Size (width x height) 46mm x 27,32mm
Layout Mini-Sheet of 10 stamps
Products FDC x1, MS x1, Commmemorative cover with postcard x1
Paper stroke, white, fluoresce, special post paper DP 2
Perforation 14,25 x 13,75
Print Technique Multicolor offset print
Printed by Giesecke & Devrientv GmbH, Wertpapierdruckerei Leipzig
Quantity 8,000,000
Issuing Authority Deutsche Post
150 years of descovery of Neandertaler stamp of Germany 2006

On August 10th 2006, the Post Authority of Germany issued a stamp "150 years of discovery of Neandertaler". The design of the stamp was selected in a competition from submissions by various designers.

Drafts of 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler stamp of Germany 2006

 Drafts of 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler stamp of Germany 2006

Some more drafts can be seen in this presentation created by Peter Brandhuber (in German), who run Evolution of mankind and Philately group on the facebook.

In 1856 remains of the skull and other skeletal parts of a ancient human was found in the Neander Valley near Duesseldorf, which was then named after the place "Neanderthal". These bones were discovered by two Italian workers extended the entrance to the Kleine Feldhofer Grotte by removing the naturally sintered, and therefore rock-hard, clay layers which were embedded into the limestones of the cave. The bones came to the attention of the cave's owner Wilhelm Beckershoff, who assumed them to be the remains of a cave bear. The news was a worldwide sensation. The comparison with other finds of similar fossils showed that the Neandertalers lived from about 130,000 years ago to about 30,000 years ago. However, they were not direct ancestors of modern man (Homo sapiens), but a parallel, independent of branch of the hominid evolutionary tree. Her body was built stronger than that of modern humans. Neandertalers lived in communities and used tools and hunting weapons. The reason for their extinct, is still not known.



Products and associated philatelic items

First-Day-of-Issue sPostmarks
150 years of descovery of Neandertaler comemorative postmark of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler comemorative postmark of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler comemorative postmark of Germany 2006
150 years of descovery of Neandertaler comemorative postmark of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler comemorative postmark of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler comemorative postmark of Germany 2006
In addition, to the commemorative postmarks of Bonn and Berlin, another four postmarks from different locations were issued by Deutsche Post. 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 anniversary letter.
FDC
Official Anniversary Letter Private
150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006
The anniversary letter (A5 size) includes postcard and information flyer The FDC was signed by by the stamp designer Annegret Ehmke. The signature is under the bottom-left corner of the illustration. The reverse side of the cover has some background information (in German).
Circulated FDC letters
150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006
Regular and registered letters, cancelled and posted on the day of the stamp issue.
Mini-Sheet First Day Sheet
150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006 150 years of descovery of Neandertaler FDC of Germany 2006





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References

Technical details: Colnect Souvenir Sheet


Acknowledgements


Many thanks to Dr. Peter Voice, PhD Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Western Michigan University, USA, for review of a draft of this article and his very valuable comments.


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