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Foto W. v. Loo

Dr. Heinz Jaeger, honorary president of the German Philatelists’ Association, founder and honorary chairman of the Consilium Philatelicum, esteemed internist in his long-time hometown of Lörrach, important, world-renowned and recognized philatelist and philanthropist, has left us forever.

Dr. Heinz Jaeger was born on May 8, 1924, in Grafenhausen. After finishing school, he studied medicine and worked as a doctor at Lörrach Hospital from 1950 to 1962. In 1963, he settled in Lörrach as a specialist in internal medicine. Heinz Jaeger became a stamp collector in 1936 when his father gave him a packet of stamps.

He was an assessor on the board of the German Philatelists’ Association from 1967, vice president from 1970, president from 1973 to 1991, and then its honorary president.

Despite his professional commitments as a physician, he promoted all areas of the association’s work with great personal dedication. Under his leadership, exhibitions and juries gained in importance and prestige, both nationally and internationally. He valued and supported the work of local associations as well as that of working groups, recognized the significance of philatelic literature, and contributed to it himself with outstanding works until well into his old age. Even in his old age, at 97, he took up his pen again and wrote the book “Briefmarken Sammeln – warum?” (Stamp Collecting – Why?) to encourage people to indulge in this hobby he loved so much.

During his time as president of the German Philatelists’ Association, he was responsible for numerous national exhibitions (NAPOSTA’s), IBRA 73 in Munich, the FIP Congress in Essen in 1980, various bilateral exhibitions with the eastern neighbors USSR, Hungary, CSSR, and Poland, and NAPOSTA/IPHLA 89 in Frankfurt. He was also the long-standing president of the Foundation for the Promotion of Philately and Postal History and remained its respected curator until old age.

In addition, he was a member of the program advisory board of the DBP/Deutsche Post (1970-1972) and a member of the art advisory board (1972-2002). He initiated the Consilium Philatelicum, was its chairman from 1999 to 2013, and, last but not least, succeeded in integrating the newly formed regional associations of East Germany into the BDPh in 1990/91.

With him as president, the German Philatelists’ Association enjoyed what were probably its best years. He and his team on the executive committee made the association a valued partner in politics, the postal service, sports, and the philatelic trade, always looking beyond its own horizons and determinedly implementing what was feasible.

In 1970, Dr. Jaeger received the BDPh’s Gold Pin of Merit, in 1975 the Richard Renner Medal, in 1978 the Baurat Luce Medal, and in 1984 the Hans Wagner Medal. This was followed in 1984 by the “La Grande Plaquette d’Honneur” from the Liaison Nice for his services to philately in Europe, in 1987 he was honored with the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists, in 1991 he received the Sieger Prize, the Kalckhoff Medal in 1996, and the Paul Hartung Medal from the APHV in 1999. Also worth mentioning are the Hesshaimer Medal (Austria) and, in particular, the Federal Cross of Merit 1st Class in May 1988.

Through his work in philately, Dr. Heinz Jaeger was always close to collectors. He sought contact, listened, was approachable, and also had a great sense of humor. Many collectors experienced this during the BonnPhilatelie series of events organized by “his” Consilium Philatelicum, to which he was deeply attached. Not only did he introduce the concepts of “outsider front-runner” and “long-running favorite,” but he also contributed his extensive expertise with lively lectures on his many philatelic and philatelic-historical hobbies and other niche collections, such as his “dolls.” Just a few weeks ago, Dr. Jaeger celebrated his 101st birthday, physically weakened but mentally alert and interested in world affairs and philately. In May, when CPh Chairman Günther Korn and CPh Honorary Chairman Wolfgang Maassen visited Dr. Jaeger on their way back from BERNABA, he wished them a speedy reunion as they said goodbye, even though it was clear that his strength and will to live were gradually fading.

We now mourn the loss of Dr. Heinz Jaeger, as we will miss his interest in the BDPh and its committees, as well as his consistently sensible, forward-looking, and well-intentioned advice. We will remember him with great respect and gratitude.

Dr. Jaeger expressly wished for a funeral service and burial in the closest family circle after his death. This took place on August 22 in Lörrach.

On behalf of the Board of the Consilium Philatelicum in the BDPh e.V.

Günther Korn, Chairman

On September 6, eight clubs from the Rhine-Main region, together with the Association of Philatelists’ Clubs of Hessen, Rhine-Main-Nahe e. V., will host the 1st Hessen Stamp Exchange in the center of the association’s territory between Mainz/Wiesbaden and Frankfurt, more precisely in Hofheim am Taunus.

The postal service will be present with a team and a special postmark, as will the BPP with three specialists, the Frankfurt Philatelic Library, the ArGe Krone/Adler, and the event team from the Young Stamp Collectors of Hessen. The auctioneers will be represented by Haus Pfankuch from Braunschweig with a stand.

It is definitely worth stopping by at 9 a.m., as interested parties and visitors enjoy free admission, and only those who wish to reserve an exchange or offer table pay a fee that is less than ten euros. If you have any questions—including about booking the few remaining tables (around 150)—please contact the association’s managing director, Carsten Keller, at 0152/53129791 or by email at 10pfennig1880@gmail.com.

(bpp-gg) It was a special moment at the examiners’ conference on May 3 in Nuremberg when Peter Sem explained to the 70 or so people present that, at the age of 75, he would like to hand over his position on the board to younger hands. Sem has been a member of the board for a total of fourteen years since 2007, has been (and remains) the spokesperson for the BPP’s expertization group and Chairman of the Köhler Prize Board of Trustees. The members and guests thanked Sem with a long round of applause and unanimously elected 59-year-old Michael Ehrig as his successor as Vice President of the BPP in a secret ballot. Ehrig has been examining Portugal with subsidiary subjects in the BPP since 2013 and is President of the renowned Berliner Philatelisten-Club von 1888 e. V. BPP President Christian Geigle warmly welcomed the new Board colleague and praised his calm and level-headed manner, with which he is following exactly in the large footsteps of his predecessor.

Michael Ehrig

Prior to this, the members had unanimously accepted two new colleagues into the BPP. At just twenty years of age, Leon Bernhard is the youngest new member ever, but already boasts a wealth of philatelic knowledge and passed his examination, which lasted several hours, with flying colors the day before. Dr. Leif Kramp (44), son of BPP veteran Hans-Ludwig Kramp, passed his entrance examination just as convincingly. He will gradually take over and continue his father’s examination work. The spokesman for his examination board spoke of an “ideal constellation” for the handover. Those present were delighted to hear this.

President Christian Geigle, Leon Bernhard, Dr. Leif Kramp, Peter Sem (from left to right)

In their activity reports, the members of the Executive Board and representatives reported a quiet year. President Geigle once again criticized excessively long processing times, particularly in the case of inspection submissions with deadlines, and the lack of communication between individual colleagues and inspection customers when delays occur. Josef Bauer reported on the packing of the stamp treasure acquired from the Postal Museum in Berlin (in 580 boxes!) and its transportation to the office in Radolfzell. Work will soon begin there on developing an AI-supported process for digitizing the estimated 500,000 to 600,000 postmark cancellations.

Treasurer Gruber was able to present a very successful cash report, which closed with an annual surplus of around 28,000 euros. This enabled a large part of the purchase price for the stamp archive to be covered in the year of acquisition. The report of the two auditors and the applause from the audience were correspondingly positive.

The protection of the registered trademark “BPP” was once again a major issue last year. Representative Dieter Mertens reported on successfully concluded and ongoing proceedings, both in and out of court. He emphasized that the BPP had not yet lost a single case in court. Trademark law is very clear and strict, and the judges are very experienced. Word was obviously getting around in the circles concerned, so that the vast majority of cases could now be settled out of court and thus at comparatively low cost for the trademark infringers. President Geigle thanked Dieter Mertens for his great commitment, which the audience appreciated with a hearty round of applause.

View of the packed meeting room

The second part of the meeting dealt with a number of changes to the BPP’s regulations, an extension of the examination area and the admission of two colleagues as full members after successfully completing the three-year consultation period. As expected, there were no surprises here, nor were there any surprises with regard to the applications of seven older colleagues to extend their auditing activities beyond the standard retirement age of 70.

Last but not least, the date of the general meeting in 2026 has been set for Saturday, April 25. The BPP would like to ask all members, auctioneers and trade fair organizers to make a note of this date and, if possible, not to schedule any events involving BPP members on this weekend.

Another highlight of this year’s general meeting surprised the guests at the festive evening, which is traditionally the highlight and conclusion of the examiners’ conference. Laudator Peter Sem gave a wonderful speech on the recipient of the prestigious Köhler Prize, during which the audience gradually realized who he was: Carsten Brekenfeld, a member of the BPP since 2001, expertizer for German colonies, has accompanied and shaped the fortunes and development of the association from the beginning of his membership as legal advisor. Under presidents Dr. Hans-Karl-Penning and Christian Geigle, he was one of the “master builders” of the BPP as it presents itself today and rightly claims a leading international position.

President Christian Geigle, Tobias Huylmans (Managing Partner of Köhler), award winner Carsten Brekenfeld, Peter Sem (laudator and Chairman of the Board of Trustees), (from left to right)

On Sunday morning, it was time to say goodbye. Numerous members praised the very harmonious weekend and an equally consensual general meeting. Vice President Dr. Provinsky agreed: “We can be proud of our BPP. The Board and members work together, not against each other. It can continue like this!”.

Leon Alexander Bernhard
Korvettenweg 43
26723 Emden
Mobile: 0159 06107903, e-mail: kontakt@philatelie-bernhard.de

Proof area: Saargebiet Mi.No. 1 – 52 and postal stationery (K1 – K4, P1 – P7, A1 – A10)

Dr. Leif Kramp
Eickedorfer Vorweide 48
28879 Grasberg
Mobile: 0172 4274644, e-mail: leif.kramp@gmx.de

Proof area: Altentreptow, Demmin. Grabow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (Mi.Nos. 8-40 incl. postal stationery, cash frankings and note valuations), Stettiner Zipfel

Extensions of the examination area:

Jörg Mathies
Merkatorweg 31 b
22119 Hamburg
Mobile: 0157 88856980, e-mail: mathies@bpp.de

Test area: Generalgouvernement 1939 – 1945 incl. Frank stamp

The BPP mourns the loss of its Honorary President Dr. Hans-Karl Penning, who has passed away at the age of 83. He had joined the BPP in 1981 and examined numerous areas of German local issues and Saxonian blackenings until 2021. Dr. Penning was elected Treasurer as early as 1990 and succeeded Günter Bechtold as President in 1999. For a total of twelve years, Dr. Penning led the expertizers’ association in his own calm and considered manner, which earned him great trust and the highest esteem throughout German philately. He brought order and clarity to the association’s regulations, which were initially incomplete and not always perfectly formulated, reformed the philatelic definitions, introduced new attestation guidelines and worked with great dedication on the two-stage admission procedure for new members, through which the self-imposed quality standards for the examinations were and are kept high. In 2011, Dr. Penning handed over his office to his successor Christian Geigle. The award of the Köhler Medal and his election as Honorary President of the BPP recognized his outstanding services to the examination system.

Dr. Penning himself was also a dedicated collector with impressive knowledge, which he presented to an interested readership in numerous publications. In 2008, he wrote the book “50 Jahre Philatelistischer Prüfer” (50 Years of the German Philatelic Experts’ Association), a fascinating outline of all the ups and downs of the expertizing business in Germany.

Dr. Hans-Karl Penning has shaped the BPP like hardly any other member. We are extremely grateful to him for this. This includes his dear wife Hiltraut, who always supported him and accompanied her husband to the general meeting every year. It was there that rebellious colleagues would get to hear a few words from her.

Dr. Hans-Karl Penning passed away on 1 March 2025. Our condolences go to his wife and family, who accompanied him admirably in the last years of his life. We will always remember him fondly.