The 25pf of East Germany issued in 1981 depicts a side passenger-paddle steamer of a series of which four were built.
Built between 1963 and 1964 on the VEB Schifswerft Rosslau for the VEB Farhgastschiffahrt at Dresden.
The name of the vessel depict on the stamp is not given, but the four ships were launched under the names of ERNST THÄLMANN, WILHELM PIECK, FRIEDRICH ENGELS and KARL MARX.
Dim. 69.91 x 7.80 x 1.35m., over paddle boxes 13.30m, draught 0.80m.
Powered diesel electric, by two type 8 NVD diesels, each 320 hp, speed 17 km.
Passengers 1.012 persons.
Crew 4 and 7 stewards.
Used in the service of the White Fleet on the upper Elbe River.
ERNST THÄLMANN was in 1991 renamed in AUGUST DER STARKE.
WILHELM PIECK was in 1991 renamed in GRÄFIN COSEL.
FRIEDRICH ENGELS was in 1991 renamed in J.F.BÖTTGER (named after Johann Friedrich Böttger), 1992 out of service; engine built out and is now in theVerkehr Museum (Traffic Museum) at Dresden, most probably hull scrapped.
KARL MARX 1988 laid up in Dresden Neustadt, 1990 out of service and scrapped.
The first two are now in use as floating accommodation.
East Germany 1981 25pf sgE2363, scott?
Source: http://www.ddr-binnenschifffahrt.de