Stock Photo - Jan. 01, 1981 - 150th. Birthday Of Heinrich Von Stephan (+): Heinrich Von Stephan (our picture), the organizer of the German postal system, was born 150 years ago, on january 7th. 1831, in Stolp. Heinrich von Stephan (ennobled 1885) became 1870 general post-director of the 'Norddeutschen Bund', later a member of the Prussian manor, State Secretary of the national post-office and minister of state. Under this direction the German postal system developped into an exemplary postal service institution. 1870 Stephan introduced the postcard, being invented by him five years before. With conclusions of postal agreements he established the possibility for a simplification and reduction of the postal taxes. 1871 he founded the post-museum, 1974 the world postal union. - In the national German postal system he improved the postal system of the country, the united post and telegraphy and 1877 he established the telephone. Heinrich von Stephan died on April 8th. 1897 in Berlin. (Credit Image: © Keystone Press Agency/Keystone USA via ZUMAPRESS.com)