Postage stamp: Women of German History - Germany / Federal Republic of Germany 1989 - 300 Pfennig

With »Women of German History« the Deutsche Bundespost replaces the series »Industry and Technology« begun in 1975/76. The new series is intended to help raise awareness of women's achievements in society. The new stamps will be published simultaneously and with the same motifs in the issues »Deutsche Bundespost« and »Deutsche Bundespost Berlin«. Fanny was born in Hamburg on 14 November 1805 as the eldest child of Abraham Mendelssohn, son of the philosopher and emancipator of the Jews Moses Mendelssohn, and his wife Lea, born Salomon. Fanny and her siblings Felix, Rebecka and Paul grew up in a cosmopolitan and cultured home. At an early age, the eminent musical talent of the siblings Fanny and Felix, who also received the same education. However, it was clear that Felix was well able to choose music as his profession, whereas Fanny, as at that time corresponded to girls from "good (and well-to-do) families," had to devote her life to her family. However, this in no way hindered their pianistic and compositional training, which after 1819 led to a considerable series of compositions, above all songs, piano and chamber music as well as larger vocal works. After Felix finally left Berlin in 1833, Fanny took over the direction of "Sunday Music" on her own, not only as a pianist and composer, but above all as an organizer and conductor. These events contributed to Fanny's death on May 14, 1847 the hallmark of special goodness in music-loving Berlin. Her piano trio op. 11, D minor, was premiered there on April 11, 1847; it was printed posthumously, as were other compositions. Even before the re-discovery and re-discovery as a composer Fanny Hensel was known as the author of lively and witty letters and diaries. The notes also reveal Fanny's critical interest in the political events of her time, and it is significant that one of her recent diary entries deals with politics, namely the opening of the United Diet in Prussia in 1847: "Now is the policy for the near future Sole ruler, everything else will be impossible ... ". The letters and diaries are now edited and presented in critical editions, as a mirror of their time and in recognition of a remarkable personality. (Text: Dr. phil. Cécile Lowenthal-Hensel, Wiss. Supervisor aD, historian, founder and honorary member of the Mendelssohn-Gesellschaft e.V., Berlin)