Grand Prix d’Honneur

This prize is awarded in the FIP Championship class.

Grand Prix National

The Grand Prix National is awarded for the best exhibit in the field of German philately, i.e. for exhibits from classes 2A (Traditional Philately Germany) or 3A (Postal History Germany).

The three Grand Prix prizes were created by glassblower Fernando Costa from the glassworks in Monschau in the Eifel. Fernando Costa is a master of his craft and created the Grand Prix prizes especially for IBRA from a glowing mass consisting of sand, potash and lime. Skilful pulling, pinching and blowing have resulted in three unique works of art that bear witness to an ancient craft. For the basic colours, the colours of the BDPh, the German association, namely green and white, were chosen.
The Romans brought the art of glassmaking to the Rhenish region a good 2000 years ago. The glassmaking craft is almost extinct today - but the rarer it is, the more fascinating the experience of a master at the glass furnace becomes for the observer. Next to bronze, glass is the oldest "material" in the world. Working at the red-hot glass furnace refers to something archaic. Nowhere else are the creative person, the material from the earth, the power of the fire and the designed object still so close together. In the Monschau glassworks, the glassmaking craft is still held in high esteem today. The IBRA organising committee is pleased to refer to the long history of the Rhine-Ruhr region and the present-day state of North Rhine-Westphalia with the three Grand Prix prizes. (www.glashuettemonschau.com).