GOOD BYE MEISTER

Today in Berlin: April 8, 1897

On this day in 1897 Germany lost one of its most prominent reformers: Imperial Postmaster General, Heinrich von Stephan.

Portrait of Heinrich von Stephan by Georg Barlösius. Via Museumsstiftung Post und Telekommunikation.

Von Stephan’s name might not ring many bells today, but the man was a household brand in the second half of the nineteenth century.

He was actively involved in the development of pneumatic post, almost singlehandedly led to the introduction of the postcard, was the main power behind the establishing of Berlin’s first telephone network and the standardisation of postage prices, also worldwide.