Germany celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union in 1924. They did so by issuing two stamps depicting a portrait of Ernst Heinrich Wilhelm von Stephan (born Heinrich Stephan, January 7, 1831 – April 8, 1897). He was a general post director for the German Empire who reorganized the German postal service. He was integral in the founding of the Universal Postal Union in 1874, and in 1877 introduced the telephone to Germany. Todays stamp is a mint copy of the 10 pfennig issue.