Bundesdruckerei
Encyclopedia
The Bundesdruckerei is a German manufacturer for banknotes
and stamps
, identity cards
, passports
and visas
, driving licences
and vehicle registration certificate
s.
It was founded as Reichsdruckerei ("Reich
printer") in 1879 and existed under this name until 1945. In 1951, it became the Bundesdruckerei. It expanded into multiple security-related fields after being privatized in 2000. In 2009 it became a state owned enterprise again.
Euro banknotes
Euro banknotes are the banknotes of the euro, the currency of the eurozone and have been in circulation since 2002. They are issued by the national central banks of the euro area or the European Central Bank...
and stamps
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
, identity cards
German identity card
The German Identity Card is issued to German citizens by the local registration offices ....
, passports
German passport
German passports are issued to nationals of Germany for the purpose of international travel. A German passport is, besides the German ID card, the only other officially recognized document that German authorities will routinely accept as proof of identity from German citizens...
and visas
Visa (document)
A visa is a document showing that a person is authorized to enter the territory for which it was issued, subject to permission of an immigration official at the time of actual entry. The authorization may be a document, but more commonly it is a stamp endorsed in the applicant's passport...
, driving licences
European driving licence
The European driving licence is a driving licence replacing the many driving licence styles already in use in the member states of the European Union. It has the credit card-style with a photograph and possibly a microchip. They were introduced to replace the 110 different plastic and paper driving...
and vehicle registration certificate
Vehicle registration certificate
A vehicle registration certificate is an official document providing proof of registration of a motor vehicle. It is used primarily by governments as a means of ensuring that all road vehicles are on the national vehicle register, but is also used as a form of law enforcement and to facilitate...
s.
It was founded as Reichsdruckerei ("Reich
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
printer") in 1879 and existed under this name until 1945. In 1951, it became the Bundesdruckerei. It expanded into multiple security-related fields after being privatized in 2000. In 2009 it became a state owned enterprise again.