Commenced 23/07/2019

 

FERNSEHTURM

Previously known as the

EAST BERLIN TV TOWER

 

When you are in Berlin and around the Unter Den Linden area it is almost impossible to miss this structure, which is the highest point in Berlin.

I have been fascinated in the TV Tower (as I call it) for many years and have always collected postage stamps with depict it (and there are quite a few). I had always wanted to see it and did so for the first time in the mid-2000’s on my very first visit to Berlin, but I had to wait until my recent visit (2019) to actually visit both the restaurant and the viewing level at the top of the tower in the large ball shaped area.

The tower was completed in 1969 (the date given is the 3rd October, but it took some time to build as work commenced in 1965) and is 368.03 m tall (1,207.45 ft). It was built by the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) as a symbol of communist power and as a landmark East Berlin structure. It remains a landmark to this day but of course East Berlin has long ceased to be since the unification of Berlin. Now the building is called the Berliner Fernsehturm (within the building it is known as Fernmeldeturn 32). There is a restaurant at the top, which revolves slowly (during our meal here it made at least three complete revolutions) and underneath this a viewing level, which does not revolve around. It is not cheap to visit, but for me was an essential ‘tick in the box’ place to go to.

I also collect postcards which depict the TV Tower and display here the selection I have managed to obtain over my recent visits. I will show both sides of each postcard (unless there are a few which have the same reverse layout without any differences:

 

 

DER PALAST DER REPUBLIK

PALACE OF THE REPUBLIC, BERLIN

Published by

EDITION PANORAMA BERLIN

Ref: PO 50

 

I would have bought this postcard even if it did not feature the TV Tower in the top left corner. This is the building that hosted the Volkskammer, the parliament of the old German Democratic Republic (or East Germany as we more commonly called it). This building, with its gold coloured windows, hosted the parliament from 1976 to 1990. It was completed in 1976, construction started in 1973, and was demolished between 2006 and 2008. On my very first visit to Berlin I was fortunate enough to see this building before it was pulled down. I remember it well as the gold coloured windows and long outline were very eye catching. This postcard reminded me of seeing this building, but it also has a cracking image on it. I bought this card in the DDR Museum in Berlin.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN BERLIN BERLIN

Published by

BOOMCITY

Ref: 15595

 

A great postcard design, simple but eye catching. The TV Tower appears bottom left and top right.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN, GERMANY

Multi-View Postcard

Published by

BOOMCITY

Ref: 881025

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN, GERMANY

Multi-View Postcard

Published by

BOOMCITY

Ref: 881024

 

If you check this card out with the card immediately below you will see that the basic format is the same, its just that the images are different, although the TV Tower remains in the same bottom right corner. You do have to be a little careful here though as if you look too quickly you may assume these two cards are the same, when they are not. It would be possible to miss out on one of these.

 

BERLIN, GERMANY

Multi-View Postcard

Published by

BOOMCITY

Ref: 881027

 

If I collect any structures on postcard, I find that if it is a well- known landmark then they appear on multi-view postcards. This is certainly the case with the TV Tower.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN, ICK LIEBE DIR!

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: Berlin 8158

 

Bears are very popular in Berlin and appear on postcards and other collectible tourist items. This image shows a cuddly toy bear hugging the TV Tower.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN, ALEXANDERPLATZ MIT FERNSEHTURM

Published by

IMAGE NETWORK COMPANY, BERLIN

Ref: Art. No. T001-0129

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

FERNSEH- UND UKW-TURM IT TESTBILD

Published by

EDITION PANORAMA BERLIN

Ref: PO 10

 

This superb postcard depicts a stamp sheet which shows the TV Tower and a TV screen with a test card on it. I recognised what this was immediately as I have a mint and used copy of this stamp sheet in my television stamp collection. This was one of my favourite postcard designs and one which surprised me.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BRUNNEN-/ECKE BERNAUER STRABE

THE BERLIN WALL, WATCH-TOWER AND TV TOWER

By

HENDRIK G. PASTOR

Published by

PANORAMA-BERLIN-DE

Ref: Bestall-Nr. HP 02

 

A nice historic photograph of a time before the Berlin Wall came down, so prior to 1989. Postcards depicting images from this period are very popular and can be found in many of the tourist shops.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

MAP CARD

Published by

FUNORAMA PRAGEKARTE ORIGINAL

Ref: Art-Nr.: 25014036

 

The TV Tower is in the centre of this map. Also, the bear and the BERLIN word are embossed.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

This has a nice greyed-out reverse image with a hint of colour. You can see where there is a bit of embossing top left corner

 

BERLIN

Photo by

RAINER GAERTNER

Published by

VERLAGSGESELLSCHAFT MBH

Ref: publicon B 26

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

 

MITTE – NIKOLAIVIERTEL, THE OLD BERLIN

Published by

GLOBAL GUIDES, BERLIN

Ref: BP-24

 

This slightly larger postcard issue made me laugh when I saw it. It also captures the trend for ‘selfies’ which are so popular. I did also like the looks on the cats faces, and thinking about it, this also continues the trend for cat postcard images.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

This one seems to have some sort of reviewing system for the area, with smiley faces and sad faces etc

 

TOUCHING THE SKY / ALEXANDERPLATZ / BERLIN

Published by

PICKMOTION. COM

TESSA

Ref: Bild.Nr: B-0106

 

This is a nice photograph and another ‘polaroid photo’ design one

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLINER TURME / TEUFELSBERG / BERLIN

Published by

PICKMOTION. COM

SALTYFOTO

Ref: Bild.Nr: B-0108

 

Another of those ‘polaroid photo’ type postcard issue. This one has the old radio tower in the foreground (right side) and the TV Tower in the background.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

BERLIN FERNSEHTURM

By

PAUL LANGROCK (ZENIT)

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 4917

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN IM NEBEL

By

LOOKPHOTOS / DENIS FEINER

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 6212

 

This one goes really-well with the card depicted below.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN LIEBT DICH

By

MAURITIUS IMAGES

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 5994

 

This one appealed to my sense of postcard design. It is another unusual photograph and its printed on matt textured card.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN MITTE

By

ELISANDRA (ELI SANDRA) – AGENTUR ART & DESIGN LICENSING

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 5367

 

One of my favourite postcards from my most recent visit. There was a range of these map designs each depicting a different area of the city. I had to have this one because it shows the area around the TV Tower, and as it is depicted the card made the cut for my collection.

 

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

OBERBAUMBRUCKE

By

JISKA DE WAARD

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 5898

 

This bridge is well-known, and I did get to see it on my recent visit and I also saw one of the yellow trains travel across it which is an iconic Berlin view for this part of the city.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

By

ELISANDRA (ELI SANDRA) – AGENTUR ART & DESIGN LICENSING

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 5235

 

Another nice art design by this company

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

By

SHUTTERSTOCK/ANTIKWAR

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 6338

 

The TV Tower is depicted front and centre – nice art design

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

FROM BERLIN WITH LOVE

By

ELISANDRA (ELI SANDRA) – AGENTUR ART & DESIGN LICENSING

Published by

SKOWRONSKI & KOCH VERLAG – BERLIN

Ref: PK 5297

 

A nice artwork design with the outline of the TV Tower down the right side.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

WALL ART DESIGN

(Depicted here within its packaging)

Novelty Metal Postcard

Published by

NOSTALGIC – ART MERCHANDISING GMBH

 

There is a range of different metal postcard designs issued by this company (priced around 2.99 to 3.99 euro’s each), but this was the only one which I found which featured the TV Tower. I like novelty postcard items, and this definitely fits the bill.

 

 REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE METAL POSTCARD PACK

 

As you can see this does have a proper postcard reverse side, but the package has an information sheet here at the back of the package which covers the metal postcard back.

 

DDR DREAMIN

SOMMER AM ALEX

By

KLARA BEZUG

Publisher not named but it could, and probably was, published by KLARA BEZUG

 

Before you ask, ‘No’, there is not a beach like this anywhere near Berlin, so this image is a strange one. I liked it and as it depicts the tower it had to be added to the collection (under weird TV Tower cards)

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

LOVE IS THE ANSWER

STOP BUYING STUFF

‘Pandabar klettert von der berliner Volksbuhne

By

KLARA BEZUG

Published not named but it could, and probably was, published by KLARA BEZUG

 

There are pandas at the Berlin Zoo (which is located in another area of Berlin some distance away – and from where you can not see the TV Tower),  they appear on a number Berlin related postcards and are popular animals.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN TRIP

By

HENRI BANKS

Published by

HENRI BANKS

“MAKE ART NOT WAR”

 

One of the more unusual designs I found and had I not found this in a shop very close to the TV Tower, and not known the shape of the TV Tower well, I might have missed them, which would have been a shame as it is very weird, but I really liked it.

 

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

With a nice greyed out image of the front image

 

BERLIN

BLICK ZUM FERNSEHTURM

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: Berlin 5196

I liked this one as it depicts the Nemo statue fountain which is in the square area close to the bottom of the shops and buildings around the base of the Tower.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

MULTI-VIEW POSTCARD

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: Berlin 7817

 

Multi-view postcards are a strange breed of postcard, so much loved by members of the non-collecting public, but all but ignored by proper postcard collectors. I wonder if this because they seem so common and are often amongst the cheaper type of tourist aimed postcards. Few seem to be added to proper collections and this is a shame as it is a type of card which people are very aware of.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

DER HIMMEL UBER BERLIN…

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: Berlin 8160

 

An illusional image of the top of the tower sticking up above the clouds. Look further down for a ‘polaroid photo’ styled postcard issue with this same image.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN GERMANY

FERNSEHTURM AM ABEND

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: Berlin 5203

 

Another slightly larger postcard. The BERLIN and the small Brandenburg Gate symbol top right are both printed in gold ink.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

BERLIN

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: Berlin 5260

 

This is a postcard which mainly depicts the Berliner Dom (well worth a visit), but as it also depicts the TV Tower which is behind the Dom. This is a slightly larger postcard.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

UNTITLED

Berlin TV Tower

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: 020

In their ‘BERLIN AFFAIR’ series

 

Another in what I think of as the ‘Polaroid Photo’ series, not that the company call them this, but you have to admit that these look just like the old polaroid camera photo’s (I had one of these cameras as a kid)

 

 REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

UNTITLED

Berlin TV Tower

Published by

SCHIKKUS VERLAG UND GROBHANDEL GMBH &CO. KG

Ref: 02046

In their ‘BERLIN AFFAIR’ series

 

This is very similar, if not the same photograph as appears on a normal sized postcard depicted further above.

 

REVERSE SIDE OF ABOVE POSTCARD

 

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

EURO SOUVENIR

BANK NOTE COLLECTION

‘BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ’

 

These can be found all over Europe at different locations. I have one I bought in France and which I depicted in 2016 with my posting related to my visit to Thiepval for the Somme 100 anniversary event. This one here I picked up in the tourist information gift shop located at the Brandenburg Gate. As it depicts the TV Tower I bought one for my collection.

 

NON-POSTCARD ITEM

Reverse side of Euro Souvenir Euro ‘0’ banknote

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© Mark Routh