Kurt Gscheidle (16 December 1924 – 22 February 2003) was a German politician affiliated to the Social Democratic Party (SPD).

In 1948 he returned from war captivity, began studies at the Dortmund Social Academy [de] and graduated as an engineer.

In 1969 Gscheidle was a nominee for Chairman of the German Confederation of Trade Unions (DGB) but had to step down in favour of Heinz Oskar Vetter.

As West Germany participated in the Olympics boycott the stamp was never issued, however Gscheidle, then Minister of Post had received some proofs which he kept after his incumbency.

From 1982 to 1983 his wife erroneously used about 24 of these stamps for her private correspondence, which today realize peak prices at auctions.