Landmarks of Spirit and Stone: "Sehenswürdigkeiten" 1989 Series (February Issue)

This official Ersttagsblatt (7/1989) continues the "Sehenswürdigkeiten" (Sights/Landmarks) definitive series with two significant German sites. Released by the Deutsche Bundespost on February 9, 1989, these stamps highlight a major pilgrimage site and a monumental natural rock formation.

The historical and technical details on the reverse of the sheet describe the following:

100 Pf – Wallfahrtskapelle Altötting: The Chapel of Grace in Altötting is one of Germany's most visited shrines, with a core dating back over 1,200 years. It became a famous pilgrimage site following reported miracles in 1489. The stamp depicts the distinctive octagonal chapel that houses the "Black Madonna," a Gothic wooden statue darkened by centuries of candle soot.

350 Pf – Externsteine Horn-Bad Meinberg: This stamp features the monumental sandstone rock formation located in the Teutoburg Forest. These rocks, rising up to 40 meters, have been used by humans for millennia, from prehistoric hunters to medieval Christians who carved a unique relief of the Descent from the Cross into the stone. The site is also noted for its potential use as an early astronomical observatory.

Artistic Design: This issue was designed by Sibylle and Fritz Haase of Bremen. The first-day cancellation from Bonn features a specialized circular postmark dedicated to the "Sehenswürdigkeiten" roll-stamp series