Issued by Deutsche Bundespost in 1977, this 50 Pfennig commemorative stamp honors Bishop Wilhelm Emmanuel von Ketteler (1811–1877), a notable German Catholic bishop and social reformer. The design prominently features his ornate episcopal coat of arms, with symbolic elements such as the bishop’s hat, pastoral staff, and heraldic shield divided into quadrants displaying a wheel and lyre motifs. The magenta border and fine typography in Gothic script emphasize the stamp’s ecclesiastical and historical theme, marking the centenary of Ketteler’s death.