GERMAN REICH EMBOSSED SHIELD ISSUES, 1872 - 1875 Introduction ‘The Deutsches Reich resulted from Otto von Bismarck’s unification of the 25 Gemran states on January 18, 1871 ‘Two different currencies initially co-existed: Thaler/Groschen for the northern part and Gulden/Kreuzer for the smaller southem part (see map), with exchange rate of 1 Groschen = 34 Kreuzer. On January 1 1875, the Mark became the uniform currency and new stamps were issued. Throughout 1875 most existing Groschen stamps on the market (except for % and ' Groschen stamps) could still be used, even in the southern, Kreuzer areas, at the rate of 1 Gr= 10 Pf The design and printing of this first issue of stamps was hastily done, and the small Prussian eagle was initially chosen. Within months, @ second issue with the larger German eagle was released. ‘The Prussian eagle has a smaller shield than the German ‘eagle; hence the names ‘small shield” and ‘large shield’ stamps. Engraved by H.G. Schilling. ‘The stamps were printed in combination of typography and embossing, on a white paper, in sheets of 1.50 stamps (15 rows of 10 stamps each), with comb perforation of 13%4:14% and without a watermark, The first edition of the Groschen stamps and the 3 Kreuzer value had a security printing of an invisible Burelage (a kind of invisible net underprint). The eagle was colourlessly embossed by the Royal Prussian Government printing office in Berlin (which became the German Imperial Printing Office after the 6 July 1879). Large shield stamps were gradually released from 1 June 1872 as the small shield stamps stocks were depleted. There is therefore no offical first day for the large shield stamps. Before unification, the North German Confederation had special stamps with higher value ~ 10 and 30 Groschen for parcels etc. The united German postal service followed suit, issuing similar 10 and 30 Groschen stamps, called ‘issue for internal use’. These stamps were not sold to the public, but used by postal clerks when required. They even looked like the old Northern Confederation stamps (rather than like the shield stamps). The new 10 and 30 Groschen stamps were used after stocks of the North German Confederation stamps ran out, and not immediately on 1 January 1872. The exhibit is divided into the following parts: Large Shield Part I- The Stamps Part 5 — Cancellations Part 2— Imprinted Stamps Part 6 - Production Varieties Part 3- Mixed Franking Part 7 - Miscellaneous Part 4— Significant Dates Due to limited space this exhibit shows only the highlights of the collection. Bibliography ‘Abeitsgemeinscaft Brsscilde Publications ‘Kod BreinakenHandbach 1925 ‘Ganzsachen Katalog des Berner Ganasachen Sanmmler Vereins 1957 ‘Zosanmenstling dex Poros by Were Stover 1985 Die ersten Einschreibezetel der Welt by Albert Fuchs (Grobe Alteutschland Speil Katalog 1975, angpter rech Poarten Handbuch 1991 ‘Michel Deutschland-Speial Katalog 2003 Feuse, NecverwendcleAkdeutchland Stampel ‘© VanderLinden, Catalogue dex Marques de Pasge ‘Note: where sted “nly _ pists known / exis the datement refer to the ‘uthenticalr report to he held study group publications oro the dy ofthe ‘biel samp market forthe ls tity i years Abbreviations used: Gr-Groschen s/s ~ small shield Kr—Krewzer Us large shield (© - Centificate attached to back of pagePART | - The Stamps ‘Small Shield Shield stamps were issued in both Kreuzer and Groschen currencies. Alll the stamps below are small shield stamps. They were all cancelled using the new German Reich cancellations, rather than the old German State cancellations, which were more common at the time.Small Shield - '% Gr An unusual block of four A block of eight. The largest known block of % Groschen s/s ©Small Shield — 1/3 Gr ‘New German Reich cancellation Old Prussian cancellation Old Prussian cancellation Light green colour Bluish green colour Light green colour A block of six on part of an inland letter with an old Prussian cancellation. ©Small Shield —% Gr — first issue A horizontal strip of four A block of four The colour of this 4Gr stamp (brick red) is very similar to the red 1Gr stamp. On 1 April 1872 a second issue was printed with a slightly different colour (yellow orange) to make it easier to distinguish in the dim artificial light at the post office.Small Shield — % Gr (second issue) Only 4 strips of four horizontal stamps are recorded. Only ten blocks of four are recorded. A vertical strip of four on a cover. One of only two known to still exist. © This stamp was released on 1 April 1872 to replace the ‘brick red’ 14Gr stamp. As mentioned, it was printed with a slightly different colour (yellow orange) to make it easier to differentiate from the red 1Gr stampSmall Shield — 1 Gr ‘Train station cancellation on a strip of three A block of five. As per the Feuser cancellation catalogue, this, old Prussian cancellation is not known to exist on shield stamps. A vertical block of six A horizontal strip of four on a letter.Small Shield — 2 Gr (Old Hannover postmark “EMDEN”. (Old Prussian date stamp “DARKEHMEN” Only 8 blocks of 4 are known to exist © A parcel dispatch cover. A horizontal strip of five 2Gr s/s stamps ~ only 3 are known to exist.Small Shield—5 Gr A horizontal block of six A block of five A parcel dispatch cover with a strip of three.Small Shield - 1 Kr A block of four and a pair: part of a ‘cash on delivery’ invoice for a newspaper advertisement. ©Small Shield — 2 Kr. (first issue) a Alek att a Glo annn a Zo ows fe Top: A parcel covering letter with a horizontal pair of 2 Kr. small shield stamps. Bottom: Only a few covers with a strip of three 2 Kr. stamps are recorded. ©‘Small Shield — 2 Kr (second issue) Bov2k., P-L Bigha ‘The largest known unit of this stamp on a letter is a horizontal strip of three. The original colour of this stamp (brick red) is very similar to the red 3Kr stamp. On | April 1872 a second issue was printed with a slightly different colour (yellow orange) to make it easier to distinguish in the dim artificial light at the post office.Small Shield — 3 Kr f Very few strips of four are recorded. © Only 5 blocks of four are registered to-date. © Fold letter with 3Kr S/S stamp, cancelled with the oval old Baden Postablage cancellation “ALBRUCK POSTABLAGE TIEFENSTEIN’ .These cancellations were used from 1.1.1864 (replacing the old number cancellations) until 1.1.1872, but here it is used 6 months later - June 1872.Small Shield — 7 Kr Old Baden cancellationSmall Shield — 18 Kr ° Cc According to authentication certificates, blocks of four and five are very scarce. A parcel dispatch cover.PART | - The Stamps Large Shield Shield stamps were issued in both Kreuzer and Groschen currencies. Al the stamps below are large shield stamps. They were all cancelled using the new German Reich cancellations, rather than the old German State cancellations, which were more common at the time. % Gr. -5 Gr. 21% Gr overprint on 2% Gr and 9 Kr Overprit Pon 9 Kr. (last issue) 16Large Shield —% Gr Embossing error —the third stamp from the top is missing part of the embossing on the lower right corner. ‘An uncommon combination of a horizontal strip of seven and a single “Gr stamp.Large Shield — 1/3 Gr (Yellow-Green) This is the second largest unit known to exist. The largest unit has 15 stamps.Large Shield — 1/3 Gr, (Blue-Green) The printing inks used at that time were generally of mineral and vegetable origin and it seems to have been difficult to procure standard colours. The green varies from yellowish to bluish shades.Large Shield — 4 Gr As the end-date of shield stamps approached, larger blocks of lower valued stamps were used to exhaust stockLarge Shield—1 Gr A block of ten — the 4" largest known unit Only five blocks of six such as the above are known to exist 21Large Shield —2 Gr A parcel covering letterLarge Shield — 2% Gr (Orange/Red - Brown) A oo ‘The stamp on the left has a partially un- embossed shield in the lower left part A Money Letter As mentioned above, the inks used at that time were generally of mineral and vegetable origin and it was difficult to procure standard colours. The brown varies from orange / red brown to chocolate brown shades. 2BLarge Shield — 2% Gr (Chocolate-Brown) A horse-shoe cancellation. An unusual unit due to its high value. Rate to ItalyLarge Shield — 5 Gr An unusually large unit of very high value -45 Gr © AS Gr single franking on a Money Letter 2sLarge Shield —1 Kr Lt Z. ae Uncommon mass frankingLarge Shield — 2 Kr Only eleven pairs of this stamp are known. © Local letter from Nidda with an old Turn & Taxis cancellation © 27Large Shield —3 Kr 3 Kr V/s with the 7 Kr s/s on a registered letter. ‘On the top left corner: the word ‘Privatim’ means personal, or private 28Large Shield —7 Kr Pairs on letters are uncommon. So far only six such letters are registered (2 vertical and 4 horizontal pairs) 29Large Shield — 9 Kr (Orange brown /red brown) Only four blocks of four like the above are known to exist so far. This block of four has a printing variety - one per sheet of 150: colour spot under the “RY of “KREUZER’ (top left stamp). Very few stamps are known with this printing error. ‘A mourning letter to Yorkshire, England. ‘As mentioned before, it was difficult to procure standard colours with the printing inks used at that time. The browns vary from orange-red to chocolate brown shades. 30Large Shield — 9 Kr (Chocolate Brown) This cover, with railway cancellation “FRANKFURT AM 9.1 IV COELN” also shows the old Prussian one line boxed cancellation “FRANKFURT AM. EPB.X". According to P. Feuser’s book of old German cancellations (1983) p. 275, the EP.BX. cancellation is not known to exist on shield stamps, The cancellation shows that this letter was collected at the EP.BX station (a small sub-station near Frankfurt) by the Frankfurt AM to Coeln train on 9.1 (73), on its fourth daily trip. 31Large Shield — 18 Kr A block of four, uncommon due to its high value (24 times the inland letter rate). © Money carrying letter, once containing 804 Thaler © 32Large Shield — 2% Gr overprint on 2% Gr This is the third largest known unit (after a block of 25 and a block of 15). The Groschen stamps only became valid in Frankfurt a.m, (Kreuzer area) on 1.1.1875 © Front of a money letter. To prevent confusion with the yellow orange and rose coloured stamps of the set, the 24Gr and 9Kr overprints were ordered, which came only in orange-brown shades. They were released on 1.1.1874. 333 Z no Large Shield — 9 Kr overprint on 9 Kr This is the only strip of five of this stamp registered to-date, coe l align fBaefetabreie. sg Senn "| Yak pa Miia ait las fat Sefimmangsort: — Pohigewidht-<...Kilogr. Parcel dispatch note (Post Packetadresse). ‘As mentioned before, to prevent confusion with similarly coloured stamps of this series, these stamps were created with a large “9” overprint. They were released on 1.1.1874 34: Stamps with Margins The shield stamp sheets were perforated in fifteen horizontal rows of ten stamps each. This means that 46 stamps of each sheet of 150 stamps were with margins. However, with German precision, the margins were usually removed before the stamps were used. Hence stamps with margins are very hard to find today. The following stamps came from the bottom row of the sheet, as indicated by the white perforation (margin) 38PART II - Imprinted Stamps Entires EE ee ee Imprinted Stamps include envelopes, newspaper wrappers and postcards. They had characteristic features: OF the envelopes, the 1Gr was isued in two sizes: 147x84 mm and 148x115mm, while the 3Kr exists only in the former. They had the stamp imprinted inthe top right comer. In the same comer and on a two adjacent flaps at the back an oblique black double line overprint in small letters, across the stamp, reading “Ein sroschen postcouvert” (=1 groschen envelope) and “Drei Kreuzer postcouvert” (=3 Kreuzer envelope), in endless repetition. The stamps first had the small shield eagle, and from June 1872 the large shield eagle embossing. From June 1873 the envelopes were issued without the black overprint. ‘The wrappers were of size 352x66mm. They come with both small and large shield embossed The first issue of the Imprinted Stamps envelope in the Groschen area. The figures ‘I’ in the stamp were either ‘large’ = 4mm (see top envelope) or ‘small’ = 3.5mm (bottom envelope).Entires The first issue of the Imprinted Stamps envelope in the Kreuzer area with the two-line overprint: Top- with a small shield, and bottom with a large shield. 37Entires Newspaper wrappers were of size 352x66mm: Top ',Gr s/s, centre ',Gr V/s and bottom 1Kr V/sEntires - printed to a Special Order » NATIONALE“ . Lebens-Versicherungs-Geselischaft auf Gegenseitigkeit zu Berlin Schoneberger Ufer 31 aad Govrn (bol batlenmer AheClis- ‘ : rrcfrrrnieee’ Aw ba Gerben Angelegenbeit der Kaifer Wilhelms- Stiftung fiir Dewtfehe Snvaliden. Journ. No. Hpm aa Top: Standard Imprinted Cover: the company details are printed on a pre-existing Imprinted Cover. Bottom: When ordering a large number of Imprinted Covers, it was possible to get the government printer to print the company’s name and address on the covers/postcards. In addition, the above institution is one of only a few who were granted a special concession rate by the German postal authority. 39Entires - printed to a Special Order The first German stationary printed to private order came to life in 1866 when the German post authority allowed the Prussian Royal Print to produce some for the ‘Victorian National Invaliden Stiftung’. This permission remained in force under the North German confederation and the German Reich. On 30.11 1871 the authority allowed the government printing office to bulk print entires (10,000 or more in each order) on Private covers, but only in the values of 1 and 2 Gr. No one made use of this service, except the Victorian National Invaliden Stiftung, and from 1871 the Kaiser Wilhelm Stiftung used it, when they were allowed to rint 1/3 Gr entires. The covers were of different sizes too. On 5.12.1872 the rule of minimum quantity was eased to 20 pieces per value and from this date on you could order any value covers, in white or pastel colours, on plain or ribbed paper. Postcards could be ordered only in values of 4 Gr and 2 Kr, and Newspaper wrapper in values of 1/3 Gr and 1 Kr. Unlike in England, printing of 2 stamps per cover/card was not possible. The large majority of those printed entires were never used — only very few were sent by ‘mail and got stamped. As per Dr. F. Kalkhoff’s publication - this is one of the rarest covers of the German Reich. It is the only known stationary of “% Gr L/S that was actually used. There are a total of 10 known enires printed to special orders and actually sent overseas: this one of 1/4Gr, three of 1Gr and six of IKr ~ see next page. All are sent to the same company in England. This stationary was ordered by the famous philatelist brothers Emil Louis Richard and Wilhelm August Louis Senf in Leipzig from the German printing office. It was used as a letter of 24 Gr to the company Weminck in London Sent from Hamburg on 10.3.1873. Red oval hand stamp PD (paid to destination) on front. Red arrival cancellation ‘London March 12 1873° on back. ©_ Entires - printed to a Special Order ‘Two Imprinted Covers, each with an imprint of 1 Kr /s stamp. Both printed by the postal authorities to the order of H. WERNINCK & Co in London, England. These were used by the company’s agents in Germany. Top: Since the rate for a standard letter to England was 9 Kr, stamps were added. © Bottom: This letter was sent from the Groschen area, where Kreuzer stamps were not sold. As postage for England was 2¥4 Gr, stamps were added. Nevertheless, the | Kr imprint was neatly cancelled. © Mixed franking of Groschen and Kreuzer stamps on a private Imprinted Cover is quite uncommon. aEntires - printed to a Special Order Top: The only postcards with imprinted shield stamps are those printed to a private order. Postcards from “Union A.G.” came in three colours: 1. Purple (above)-messages, 2. Yellow-price enquiries, 3, Buff-orders. Bottom: Privately ordered covers from the MAURY company in Paris exist in values of ¥ \,, 4, 1Gr and 1, 2, 3Kr, all in the size above (150x83mm) in lilac, pink, blue-green (above) and ivory. So far, none of these ‘covers turned up in a used condition.Entires - printed to a Special Order PAF (Privat — Anzeigen — Faltbriefe) advertising was introduced to the German public in 1872, and this type of advertising continued until 1922 (as per official postal publication number 94 from 5.12.72). In the following example an advertising company sent a collection of printed advertisements from different companies to its distribution list (see insert). This is a fold letter from J.J. Schreiber’s company in Berlin from November 1873 with imprinted 1Gr L/S stamp. Opened itis the size of an A3 sheet, and it advertises diverse companies: sewing machines, safes, linen factory, East indian liquours, leather goods, goldsmith, foundry, obituaries magazine, book and music retailer, dry cleaner, architect, Hungarian wines importer, hardware company, paint factory, shoe shop specialising in clerk’s footwear, newsagency and others including Schreiber’ own advertisement! 4BPostcard — Prepaid Reply Top: A sender’s part of a prepaid postcard from a Groschen area, with a ‘Gr stamp. This is an early release, where the title “Correspondenz Karte” was used. Later postcard issues used the title “Postkarte”. Bottom: A reply part of an early release prepaid postcard. This 2Kr stamp was sent from a Groschen area! ©Postcard — Prepaid Reply A complete prepaid postcard. The top half was the sender’s part. It included the sender’s message and Postage (see copy of reverse side). The bottom half, which included the reply postage, was meant to be torn off and sent back by the recipient. ©a Mixed Franking with Stamps Later issue imprint without grey lines with 3 Kr I/s. ‘The first postcards with imprinted stamps were issued on I January 1873, but not with the ‘normal’ shield stamps ~ see above. Prior to that date, postcards had a blank space to put a stamp on. This postcard was used as a forerunner to the dedicated parcel dispatch notes which were not introduced yet. © 46Cut-Outs Used As Stamps {n the late 1800's it was permissible in the German states and in the united Germany to use Imprinted Stamp g ‘or torn cut outs as normal Top: ‘Gr was never issued with two grey lines, as seen on this ', Gr s/s cut out (see early date of use). © Bottom: A registered letter with later issue (no grey lines) 1Gr s/s imprinted stamp cut out (postage) and a 2Gr Vs stamp (registration fee). The cut out has the large “I” figure (4 mm).Cut-Outs Used As Stamps ‘Two imprints cut outs of /,Gr V/s as well as a ',Gr V/s stamp, also cut out from a cover and then reused. © 3Kr V/s cut-out. Early issue with two grey lines 48Cut-Outs Used As Stamps Top: | Gr Vs cut-out with a small (3.5mm) number ‘1’, Note the two line diagonal overprint on the stamp indicating it was from the first issue of Imprinted Covers. © Bottom: A similar cover of a later issue, with a | Gr V/s cut-out with the large (4mm) number “1”. 49PART Ill - Mixed Franking Groschen Stamps Used In Kreuzer Areas Registered fold letter with 4 stamps (2 singles and a pair) of 1 Gr I/s. As Frankfurt was in the Kreuzer area, Kreuzer stamps should have been used. Nevertheless, in this case, the Groschen stamps were accepted. © Privately printed postcard sent from Carlsruhe in Baden, with a % Gr s/s stamp. Groschen stamps were not sold in Baden (Kreuzer area), therefore not many covers like this one exist. ©Kreuzer Stamps Used In Groschen Areas Reply paid postcard from Bonn (in the Groschen area) with a 2 Kr V/s stamp. Large shield 2 Kr ‘stamps were not used often, as demand for 2 Kr stamps was relatively low, and most German post offices still carried the ‘small shield 2 Kr stamps. This Postcard appears in Peter Feuser’s cancellation ‘Catalogue (1983), page 236. © 3 Kr stamp used in Konitz (near Marienwerder, Prussia), in the Groschen area.Kreuzer with Groschen Stamps Frankfurt and Lauscha are both in Thurn & Taxis where only Kreuzer stamps were sold. Top: Four | Gr stamps together with 1 and 3 Kr stamps, all V/s. The letter was accepted with the mixed franking, but had insufficient postage as indicated by the boxed rubber stamp “Unzureichend frankiert”. Bottom: Combination of Gr and Kr stamps. Only three letters to Italy are known with such a combination. © 2Kreuzer with Groschen Stamps Top: a registered letter from Frankfurt a.m. (Kreuzer area) with mixed franking of Groschen and Kreuzer. Bottom: another registered letter from Frankfurt a.m. ©With Pfennige Stamps Mixed franking between Groschen and Pfennige was only possible in 1875, after abolishing the Kreuzer and Groschen areas. Some Groschen stamps could still be used that year. Top: 5 Pf stamp and 2% Gr stamp on a letter to Paris. Bottom: 5 Pf Imprinted Cover with % Gr stamp on a posteard to Ziirich. 34Top: A letter to Holland on an Imprinted Cover with a 10 Pfennige stamp. Note the late date (2.11.1875). Bottom: 1Gr Imprinted Cover with a 20 Pf stamp on a money letter. Note the early date of usage of the combination of Pfennige and Groschen — it was only possible from two days earlier - 1 January 1875.Top: Money letter with a vertical pair of 25 Pf stamps and ¥4 Gr stamp. Bottom: Parcel despatch letter with C.O.D. to Bohemia (Austria) with two 50 Pf stamps. ©With “Issue for Internal Use” “Issue for Internal Use” stamps were not sold to the public. When required, the fee was paid to the post officer, who then affixed the stamps to the cover and cancelled them. Regulations called for these stamps to be cancelled using pen writing, indicating the location and the date, rather than with the normal cancellation. A Parcel dispatch letter sent from WEIMAR on 25.2.73 to New-York, USA, transit postmark BREMEN 27.2.72. The date used in the pen-cancellation of the internal-use stamps specifies the year as 1873, which is inconsistent with the year shown in the Bremen transit postmark - 1872. Note the different origins of the two internal-use stamps: 10 Gr from the Deutches Reich and 30 Gr from the North German Confederation. © 37With “Issue for Internal Use” pas ae wees The % Gr stamp was not cancelled in Schoenebeck and pen cancelled later. © letter. Note the date difference between the cancellation 3.9.72) and hand written eniaares eae ee eeTN All four stamps belong on the cover as the rate was 64Gr. © 38With “Issue for Internal Use” A parcel dispatch note for two bags. Sent from INGWEILER (in Alsace Lorraine) to Paris, France. © ‘The weight of the two bags was 30.250 Kg and 20.250 Kg. The total postage due (136 Gr) is indicated in red peneil on front of the dispatch note. The sender used a 1 Gr Vs and a 5Gr s/s stamps in addition to the thirteen 10 Gr internal-use stamps (on the back).Top: A posteard with 4 Gr s/s and % Gr Us Bottom: Mixed franking of first issue (second aes left which is also s/s) and third issues (all others including the 1 Gr stamp, are V/s). Very few such combinations of mixed franking are known, ©Different Issues of the Same Value A cover with 4 Gr first issue and 4 Gr second issue. A letter to London with two % Gr s/s stamps first issue, two % Gr s/s stamps first issue and two % Gr V/s stamps third issue. © 6Different Issues of the Same Value Top: One ¥ Gr s/s stamp of the second issue (right) and one ¥ Gr l/s stamp of the third issue (left). © Bottom: 1 Gr s/s stamp (right) and a 1 Gr V/s stamp (left).Different Issues of the Same Value Top: Letter with two 3 Kr stamps, the right is s/s first issue and the left is a Vs second issue. Two other unusual facts about this letter: It has four different coloured stamps, and the 18Kr stamp has a perforation error — missing perforation on the left side, half way down. © Bottom: Two IKr stamps, both I/s, but in two different colours: ‘yellow green’ and ‘pale blue green’ ©With North German Confederation stamps The above postcard (Frech Number 2 I) has a North German Confederation stamp of '4 schilling together with a German shield stamp of 1 Gr s/s. Horseshoe cancellation “Hamburg 7 Feb 72’ on both . The North German Confederation stamps were not valid after the 31.12.1871, and % schilling stamps (local letter rate within Hamburg) were ‘stadt postmarke fiir Hamburg’ — not to be used outside of Hamburg (the postcard was sent to Magdeburg). Until 30.6.1872 the correct rate for an inland postcards and letters was 1 Gr After that date postcard rate was reduced to 4 Gr. Therefore the ’ schilling stamp was not calculated as part of the rate, but it was cancelled nevertheless. ©With Italian Stamps Top: A standard letter from BONN, via MILANO, arrival in PALLANZA on 31 1 73 (on the back). The sender used an Imprinted Cover of 1 Gr only, so the addressee was fined for the short postage with 50 centesimi © Bottom: A letter to GENOVA. This letter weighed 31 grams as written on the top left comer. ‘The rate for a letter in the third weight group was 30 Kr, but the sender used only 20 Kr. A fine of 110 Centesimi was imposed. There are only a handful of existing letters to Italy of that period with a fine. © 65With French and Saxonian Stamps From 24.3.1871 until 15.5.1872, the French territory of Alsace Lorraine was occupied by Germany. All mail had to be franked with both German Groschen and French stamps. Here is such a letter from Erstein in Alsace Lorraine to Beaucourt. It has two 1 Gr and a 25 Centimes stamp. 1 Gr Vs stamp on a Saxonian stationary (entire) used in a mixed franking on 31/12/1874 (the last day the shield stamps were sold). Saxonian stamps / postal stationary were not valid after their postal authority was taken over by the North German Confederation on the 31.12.1867. The North German confederation itself was taken over by the German Reich on 1.1.1872. The shield stamp was sufficient postage, yet the outdated, non valid Saxonian entire was neatly cancelled too!PART IV — Significant Dates First Day Cancellations First day cancellation on a 1 Gr s/s stamp. © ‘A money letter from SONNEBERG on 1.1.72. © According to the Specialist Society Publication (August 1996), this is the only known first day cover to use the 2 Kr stamp (first issue), and one of only two first day covers with the 7 Kr stamp (both small shields). 67Pre and Post First Day Cancellations ‘The new German stamps and Imprinted Covers became valid on the day of unification, 1 January 1872. An imprinted stamp of 1 Gr (s/s), dated 2 days prior to unification. ‘The letter left WOHLAU on 30.12.71. However, since the new Imprinted Covers were not yet valid at the time, a fine of double the rate (2 Gr) was, imposed and collected in form of two 1 Gr stamps (a pair) of the North German confederation. © Imprinted Cover of the North German Confederation (1Gr) together with a German Reich stamp of 1Gr. Sent con the 2.1.(72) — the second day of use of German Reich stamps. The NGC stamp was no longer valid, so the German Reich stamp was added. Nevertheless, the superseded stamp was also cancelled. ©Pre - First Day Cancellations A small “Ladies” cover with a 1 Gr s/s stamp, sent one day prior to the first day of use. The affixed stamp was not accepted and the letter was treated as having no stamps at all. A fine of double the rate (2 Gr) was imposed (pencil mark “2” on the cover front) and collected from the addressee. © Ttappears some German post offices were selling the new stationery and stamps prior to the first day of use. A pair of 4 Gr s/s (second issue) stamps on a cut out cancelled on 14.1.72. The second issue of the s/s stamps had no official release date. They were released to the public as the first issue stamps ran out of stock. According to the Specialist Society Publication (March 1987), the earliest cancellation date found on stamps of this issue is 1 April 1872, three months after cancellation of the stamps above. This 1 Gr s/s stamp carries the cancellation GRoss LEISTENAU 2.1(18)71._ It is more than likely to be an error in the date as this stamp was not even designed at that early stage, The date should have been 2.1.72. © 1 Gr s/s stamp used on 31.12.1871, the day before the shield stamps became valid. The stamps were sent to the post offices prior to that date, but were supposed to be sold only from 1.1.1872. ©Early Days of Use SECOND DAY OF USE: A cut out from a standard letter from Alsace Lorraine to Paris on 2.1.1872. Note the French Ceres stamp. © All mail between Alsace Lorraine and France had to be franked with both German and the French stamps. THIRD DAY OF USE: ‘Newspaper wrapper with an imprinted '/; Gr small shield, cancelled on 3.1.72 (arrival postmark 4.1.72 on the back). A blue cancellation such as the one above is uncommon as the general rule was to use black ink only.Very Late Days of Use The sale of all shield stamps ceased on 31.12.1874. All the Kreuzer stamps as well as 4 and !, Gr stamps could not be used after this date. The rest of the Groschen stamps could be used until 31.12.1875. Last day of sale of all shield stamps ~ 31.12.1874 Very late date of use for Kreuzer stamps ~ 28.12.1874 (last day - 31.12.1874) Be i 6 ‘The above were cancelled on the last day of use for these stamps - 31.12.74, Very late date of use for these Groschen stamps (last day — 31.12.1875) | ae] Newspaper wrapper cut out '/5 Gr from Berlin 30.12.1874. Although the last day Use of stamps beyond validity date: Kreuzer stamps were not was 31.12.1874, the above is the latest _valid after 31.12.1874. Nevertheless, these two stamps: 2 Kr s/s date on this stamp in existence. second issue and 1 Kr U/s third issue were used on 4.10.1875. nLast Day of Use Top: Local small letter with ‘4 Gr Us, used on the last day — 31.12.1874 © Bottom: Printed matter to Denmark with %4 Gr and ¥4 Gr V/s stamps sent on the last day of use ~ 31.12.1874 © nUse beyond Validity Date Top: A3 Kr stamp Vs used on 12.2 (19)20, 45 years after withdrawal from service. Bottom: An imprinted cover together with a 2 Gr V/s stamp, sent on 30.6,(18)94. The stamp and the Groschen currency were no longer valid after 31 Dec 1875. A 20 Pfennig fine was imposed (blue pencil mark “20"),Top: A.1 Gr stamp on a cover, sent on 20.12.76 (arrival postmark 21 XII 76 on back) from Landau i.d. Pflz in Bavaria. Shield stamps were never valid in Bavaria, and were not valid anywhere after 31.12.75. Bottom: An Imprinted Cover with 3 Kr stamp, with two 10 Pf stamps, sent from Dresden to Rotterdam. The Kreuzer stamps were never valid in Dresden, and were not valid anywhere at that date of 21.4.1877. 4PART V —- Cancellations Ausgabe (Delivery) Cancellations Delivery stamp marks date back to London of 1661. Later, the French used the “De’ Bourse” stamp mark. ‘The Germans used AUSG (short for ausgabe = delivery / dispatch) cancellations until 1 April 1909. Top: Front of confirmed delivery of document. Cancellations of stamps by AUSG are seldom seen. The AUSG stamp mark was to be used strictly to mark incoming mail, yet in this case it was used to cancel a stamp, as it was not cancelled in Ohlau. © Bottom: This letter has a different ‘ausgabe” cancellation 1sx Cash on Delivery (COD) COD had three fee components: The postal rate, the COD cost involved and the insurance, if required. Re 7 » Rostocker Zeitung. Postvorschuss ‘Thir, Aff Herm Sipe L Lee ola aa Top: Postvorschuss ~ COD where the post pays the sender on lodging, before it is paid by the recipient. This service was provided only to large reliable companies, such as this newspaper (not to private persons). Bottom: A similar COD, this time with a red ‘auslagen’ (synonym for ‘Postvorschuss") postmark.This letter has a black rubber stamp indicating the postage component is free. Some organizations dealing —_with government bodies could post articles for free, using this rubber stamp. However, the COD component still carried a fee. In this case, the fee was 3 Kr. © Cash on Delivery (COD)Insy Frankii “Aus Dem Briefkasten’ (out-of-the-mailbox) hand-stamps were put on insufficiently franked letters from mailboxes. Postal clerks wrote the fine (double the short postage) with a blue pen. Recipients paid the fine. Above are two examples of this type of hand-stamps, one within Germany and one abroad. There are hundreds of different ones as each post-office made up its own hand-stamps.Insufficient Franking In the Kreuzer area, the term ‘Brieflade” (=letter drawer) was used instead of ‘Aus Dem Briefkasten’ Top: A letter from Kork, franked with the normal rate of 3Kr instead of 7Kr (heavier letter — over 15gram). ‘The recipient had to pay 8Kr (blue pencil mark) consisting of 4Kr short postage + 4Kr fine. Bottom: Postage of 1Kr instead of 3Kr. The difference (2Kr) and fine (4Kr) - blue pencil mark ‘noch 6. © pShip Cancellations Top: A \etter to Stettin, cancelled with the ship’s special old Prussian cancellation “AUS SWINEMUNDE P. DAMPFS 223 (1872)" (“from Swinemunde by Steamship”), © Bottom: A generic cancellation “AUS______ _ PER DAMPFSCHIFF 68 (1872)". The origin “Wollin” is written in blue on the left. Generic cancellations such as this were used in 11 ports (10 in Germany and 1 in Denmark) too small to justify a special cancellation. ©Ship Cancellations ‘Two covers with Danish ship cancellations. They were used only for mail posted on board a ferry. Top: Between Kiel & Korsor (Denmark): “KORSOR - KIEL DPSK, POSTKT No! 7/9 (1872)" © Bottom: Duplex cancellation (both in one): “DPSK. P. EXP. No 6 12:3 (1872)" with a three ring circle No. 192 81Bavarian and Wiirttemberg Cancellations These two states kept their postal sovereignty until 1920 despite being part of the German Reich. The only way Bavarian or Warttemberg cancellations could appear on shield stamps was when the stamps were used on pre-paid reply-cards, as above (top Bavarian ©, bottom Warttemberg). 82id reply portions of cards, retuned from Bavaria © and Wiirttemberg © respectively. Here, the postal clerk did not accept the pre-paid stamp and attached domestic stamps as postage.Bavarian and Wiirttemberg Cancellations Top: The reply portion of a Bavarian reply-paid stationery sent back from Rappoltsweiler (Near Strasburg) to Landau i.d.Pfalz (in Bavaria). Here again, the postal clerk was not aware that prepaid reply cards from Bavaria and Wurtenberg could use their “foreign” stamps for the postage with no need to add German (shield) stamps as payment (the agreement covered reply-paid cards in both directions). In this case, a % Gr V/s stamp was added and cancelled in Rappoltsweiler. Bottom: Bavarian postal stationery (no PO11) with imprinted 2 Kr Bavarian stamp used as postage from Kreutzburg to Berlin. As this stamp was not valid in Germany, a 1 Gr Vs stamp was added to pay for the Postage. As from 1/7/1872, the rate of 1 Gr was for letters, and postcards were only ¥4 Gr, ©Bavarian and Wiirttemberg Cancellations Top: A rare example of a letter that slipped through, carrying a shield stamp cancelled with a Bavarian cancellation. Bottom: A 3Kr Vs Imprinted Cover, used within Warttemberg despite not being valid there. For some reason no fine was imposed.Cash Payment for Posting The F (Franco) cancellation was used until 1875, mainly in larger cities. It was substituted for stamps when Postage was paid in cash by the sender at the post office. Colours used were red, red-brown or purple. Top: This letter bears no stamps at all. The postage of 4 Gr for the registered double-weight letter was paid for in cash, and the letter was stamped with a purple F cancellation. Bottom: As this cover was used as a parcel dispatch note, the additional cost was paid for in cash, and a red F cancellation was used instead of stamps. 86Hand Drawn Cancellations Money orders (Post Anweisung) were postcard-like forms with no money - unlike money letters. Until 1880 they were destroyed by the post office after use. The above money orders are not the real thing, but products of postal clerk school where the students were trained to fill up forms and calculate rates. Even the date stamps are replicas. This type of forms is known to exist with 16 different cancellations, all with the same date. 87Pen and Pencil Cancellations Pen and pencil cancellations have two sources. When a postman noticed an uncancelled stamp, he crossed it with his blue pencil. And a railway cancellation was done with ink rather than a pencil Sande, Decfade Station winpesue Example of a railway cancellation. For explanation see next page. 88Railway Cancellations ‘A postcard with two 1 Kr s/s stamps, marked “GR. ROSSHEIM 19.872" using a pen and blue pencil. In early days, mail posted on trains or within railway stations was collected by railway personnel and cancelled on route using pen and l_The date and station where the mail was collected were noted next to the stamps. Bis resth gral) tt Sorgforwied be fpr eG Pe fea Ge Mae DE Another pen railway cancellation on a fold letter to Darmstadt.An old postcard. Vertical strip of ', Gr s/s stamps cancelled with a rail cancellation MINDEN 203 IV BERLIN. lewspaper wrapper with imprint of a ‘Gr V/s stamp, mailed in Braunschweig in the train mail-box. Cancelled with train cancellation MAGDEBURG 9.6 Il HANNOVER.Railway Cancellations Railway cancellation from Baden district on a train from Wiirzburg to Ludwigshafen. This is an uncommon railway cancellation — most railway cancellations have three lines. A letter to France, cancelled with a 3 line railway cancellation WEISSENFELS 14,8 BASEL, and a blue French rail cancellation. OTLetters Used More Than Once Top: This letter was sent from SCHWETZINGEN on 29.10.74 to Heidelberg. It was then folded over and sent back, from HEIDELBERG on 30.10.74 to Schwetzingen. © Bottom: From STOLLBERG B. CHEMNITZ on 21.9.74 to Schwarzenberg, and back to Stollberg on 2.9.74 © OyLetters Used More Than Once | HORST Mar 2s 2 y This letter was sent from DARFELD to HORSTMAR on the 9.2.1872 with a ‘large’ 1 Gr stamp (16 perforation holes from the bottom row of the sheet, with the white selvage showing). It was then re-folded and sent back to DARFELD with a2 Gr stamp (see above). A letter used 3 times, originally sent from ADELNAU on the 9.5 to Gollancz, then back on the 13.5 to Adelnau and finally back again to Gollancz on the 16.5. © 983Letters Used More Than Once ; &~ ident de la Société charida te) dle Saint-Régis, rue du Gindre, 3. A PARIS. Wh : ey avzecyl ea Lous LY Top: A delivery confirmation document sent from Paris to Dettweiler, certified and returned to Paris. It bears mixed franking of French and German stamps, and the 1 Gr stamp is small - 15 perforation holes. © Bottom: A letter with a 3 Kr stamp sent from NIDDA to Gross-Gerau. It was then returned to Nidda, but without a stamp as the sender was a government department,Coloured Ink Cancellations Black ink was mandatory for German cancellations. Very few exceptions are found, where blue, green and very rarely red cancellations were used. For some reason most of the blue ink cancellations were done in the earlier years (mainly in 1872). Top: Blue cancellation ‘Bremen 7.9.72’ to Baltimore, USA. Arrival red cancellation “New York 26 Sept. Bottom: Red old Hannover cancellation “Gottingen18/1”. This letter to Berlin was sent registered (also in red ink ~ quite rare) short of the registration fee of 2Gr (‘2’ pencil mark in red). ‘The fee was paid in the post- office and the payment was confirmed with the red F (for Franco) cancellation, As mentioned above — red ink cancellations are rare. The above letter is registered as Number 55 in the registry of red cancellations). © 95Packkammer (Packing Room) Cancellations Packkammer cancellations were used to mark the parcel dispatch note when it was collected, to avoid a only in 1874, © ‘A parcel dispatch cardContrary to the field-post in Alsace Lorraine during the war with France, which was free as the soldiers lived in field conditions, soldiers in permanent garrisons had to pay postage. Fold letter (see below) could be purchased at the garrison. These letters were pre-printed with the unit’s name, location, post office, and a picture of the uniform on the left. When these letters are folded over inside out (see insert), a similar, but reversed pre-printed text appears: “To ___(space for soldier’s name) of the___th company’ and address On the left, the same picture and space for the sender’s details, der g3 Com arde Schitzen-Bataillons zu Berlin. ae te de Sehitden-Bataillons 7Soldiers’ Post Cancellations A covering fold letter to a parcel sent from Walschleben to a soldier in the Sangethausen barracks. This parcel was sent on 10.12.1872, arriving the next day.Field Post Cancellations Although field post in Alsace Lorraine during the war with France was postage free, all additional services (express, parcels etc) had to be paid for. The cancellations used were those of the state of origin of the unit. osT yoane EXPED. ‘A field post parcel covering letter from “K.D. FELD POSTEXPED. 4 INF. DIV. % Gr s/s first issue with 21.572)" with 1 and 5 Gr s/s stamps as well as the appropriate parcel post sticker Bavarian field post number 348 of the field expedition of the fourth division, This was aGerman cancellation “KB. field post in occupied Alsace-Lorraine. Blue arrival cancellation “K. PR HAUPT _ FELDPOST21....EXPED.....” SEUER AMT FRANKFURT A. 0.” (=Royal Prussian Main Tax Office Frankfurt). © As per authentication certificate - the only one known to exist © A similar parcel covering letter with two 2Gr s/s and one 5Gr s/s, cancelled “K.D FELDPOSTEXPED. 19 INF. Div. 25:5". and a parcel sticker No.205 from this field post in Nancy. On the rear a two line black hand stamp “Aus Dem Haupt-Steueramte” and signature. Only one more letter from the fourth infantry division and two more letters from the 19" infantry division are known to exist.Foreign & distribution Cancellations ‘The Danish digit 1 within 3 rings Danish 188 © and 191 © DUPLEX ona _A Danish railway station on I Gr V/s stamps. © Gr Vs and a2 Gr s/s stamp. cancellation on a 1 Gr Vs stamp. © ‘Swedish rail cancellationon _ Old French double ring cancellation with no date French dot and %4Gr sis first issue stamp. © on a horizontal strip of 1 Gr s/s stamps. © number cancellation on 2 Gr s/s stamp © German post office seal cancellation on a horizontal Distribution cancellations on a 1 Gr Us pair of % Gr s/s second issue stamps. © and a ¥ Gr s/s stamps. © An unknown cancellation onal Gr Bavarian railway cancellation Dutch dot and number s/s stamp. ona3 Kr s/s stamp. © cancellation on 1 Gr s/s stamp. © 100Foreign & distribution Cancellations A Letter sent from Strasburg to Versailles with 1 and 2 Gr s/s stamps. It travelled by train from STRASBURG! ELSass / 30 5 III / AVRICOURT (see cancellation on rear of cover to the right), arriving in Paris on the following day (arrival cancellation ALLEMAGNE AVRIC PARIS 31 MAI 1872 in blue on front of cover.) ‘The stamps were cancelled at the German post office using a captured French cancellation: the Germans cut out its centre and used it in the Strasburg rail post office for confirming arrival of incoming registered covers, it was not meant to be used for cancelling outgoing postage. Such use for this cancellation is very rare, I have only seen one other such cover in the past 40 years. © 101: ‘oreign & distribution Cancellations Danish cancellation BAHNHOF ITZEHOE 16/8 1872 (in Holstein). This area was Danish till 1864 when it ‘became Prussian. On 1.1.1868 it became part of the North German confederation, and on 1.1.1872 it became part of the German Reich. The Danish cancellation was still in use here, 8 years and 3 country changes later. A distribution cancellation was used strictly to cancel the paper slip attached to a sealed, full bag of sorted ‘ail in a distribution centre, prior to sending it to its destination. It bears the number of the relevant distribution centre. Here it was used to cancel this postcard.Cancellation Errors In the date stamp cancellations of the time, the postal clerk had to change the date manually each day by teplacing the date number and month or year abbreviation as required. Errors often occurred in this manual process, ( Ex Missing Year © Month *5” upside down © es “FEB” upside down © ‘Year “75” upside down © Hours “12-1N” upside down © Missing year Missing year “7” upside down in front Day and month swapped of day places 103PART VI - Production Va Ss Small and Very Small Stamps ‘The variation in the number of vertical perforation holes occurred due to the comb perforation method used. It only appeared in either the top or the bottom row of the stamp sheet. The normal stamp had 15% vertical perforation holes. Stamps with 15 perforation holes are considered small, 14 holes — very small, 16 holes — large and 17 holes ~ very large. © © Very Small Stamps (14 vertical perforation holes) a Very Small Stamps, together with normal size stamps ‘Small Stamps (15 perforation holes)Small and Very Small Stamps - thitheey ee FOAL SE Small stamp ¥4 Gr 15 vertical perforation holes together with a normal stamp 15% vertical perforation holes from Hamburg to Denmark. Very small stamp of '/; Gr L/S with only 14 vertical perforation holes. Sent from Salzkotten to Warburg 10sSmall Stamps The above covers have stamps with only 15 vertical perforation holes: Top: \Gr Vs stamp. Bottom: A parcel covering letter with a small 2 Kr s/s stamp (the 9 Kr stamp is normal size). © 106Large and Very Large Stamps The small and large stamps occur only on the top or bottom line of the sheet, depending on which direction the perforation is started from. This is due to accumulated minimal distortion after each row, affecting the last line of stamps, A large stamp (16 perforation holes) © Large stamps. These are normally identified by a white unprinted line at the bottom of the stamp '@ [S] Very large stamps (17 perforation holes). These can be identified by two white unprinted lines at the bottom of the stamp 107Large and Very Large Stamps A pair of large stamps (2 Gr large shield) with 16 vertical perforation holes on a registered letter from Milheim to Minden. There is also a printing error in the right stamp ~ a white spot on the right top of the frame.Paper Folds A narrow unprinted line from the centre left to the top right of the stamp. This printing error was the result of a seratch in the printing plate causing the printing error to extend over two stamps. The one shown here is the right-hand stamp of this pair. See the above photocopy showing the printing error over both stamps, This is listed in the shield stamps printing error catalogue by Klein, Hesselbarth and Sommer (1983), An Imprinted Cover with an imprinted 1 Gr Vs stamp, together with a 1 Gr V/s stamp. The printing error shows as a vertical unprinted line about 1% mm wide running through the stamp. © 109Printing Errors Nail Head Marks ~ show through when the printing plate wears thin, or if the nail is protruding Ce ° Top: Right hand stamp - error at top of circle This stamp is the last stamp in the sheet — see next page Bottom: the numerator ‘1’ of the large ‘24’ on the right hand stamp is shifted to the left © Various printing errors © Reddotatthe bottom Broken figure ‘1’ at the right, next to the “1” © bottom right comer 10 Blue spot above the of “GROSCHEN’Printing Errors 1Gr Vs. The spot under the word ‘Reichs’ is the best known printing error of this issue. This error appears. only on the bottom right stamp in the 150 stamps sheet. This is the 150th stamp in the 150 stamps sheet as it also has the white line at the bottom, indicating itis in the last row of the sheet. A second error is in the embossing ~ the left claw of the eagle is missing. © MmPrinting Errors ‘The printing error consists of a red dot between REICHS and POST. Front of a parcel covering letter. The error is a small circle in the centre of the left perimeter of the stamp. n2Rough Perforations These rough perforations occurred when the sheets to be perforated were put into the perforating device face down. Usually the top or bottom row of perforations ended up ‘rough’ 13Misperforations ‘The misperforations displayed in the stamps above occurred when the mark printed on the selvedge of the stamp sheet is incorrectly aligned in the perforating device. Perforation is then shifted sideways, up or down. A\ll the above stamps have authentication certificates © on the back of this page. rape AA different misperforation occurs when one of the perforating needles ts broken leaving the hole un-punched. AS it is a comb perforation, if the needle on the horizontal part of the comb is broken, the misperforation will appear at the top and bottom of the same stamp, but if it is one of the vertical ‘teeth’ of the comb, it will appear on one side of the stamp, and the other side of the stamp next to it 4Imperforations Only 27 s/s and21 V/s unperforated stamps exist today. Of them, 12 are of 2 Gr s/s and 18 are of 5 Gr Vs. Left: A 2 Gr s/s stamp, completely impeforated (unperforated) with the old Prussian cancellation “Hoengen 245 oo”, The stamp above is number U08 (2Gr) in the register of these stamps known, and the only one as a “randstiick’ (from the left border of the sheet). © Right: A'S Gr l/s stamp completely imperforated (unperforated), with the old Prussian cancellation “DAMGARTEN 28,7.75". As mentioned above, only eighteen unperforated stamps of 5 Gr I/s are known to exist. Of these, four were used in Damgarten between 4 and 28 July 1875. This stamp is registered in the Shield Stamps Study Group registry as No. U33 5 Gr. © usDouble Embossing of Shield Double embossing occurred when the stamp sheet original embossing was found to be off-centre, and the whole sheet was re-embossed correctly. Top: The second embossing is 2mm to the left and above the original. © Bottom: The second embossing is 2mm to the right and above the original. The above letters are registered as No. 419 (top) and 760 (bottom) in the list of double embossing published by the German Specialist Society for Shield stamps. © 116Double Embossing of Shield “Gr Us. Gris 1Gr Us. 2Griis. 2%4Gr Vs. Second embossing Second embossing Second embossing Second embossing _ Second embossing is15mmtolef.© movedbysmm© is2mmtoleft© is 1 mmtoright. is 1mm toright © 1 Kris, 9Kr iis. Second embossing appears 1 mm to the left. © Second embossing appears 1 mm to the left. © Embossing Irregularities (Errors) Left stamp embossing very light, almost invisible © Embossing very light, almost Embossing moved to the lower Un-embossed line in _ Embossing off- invisible right comer © lower centre © centre to the right 7PART VII - Miscellaneous Forgeries ELBING ~ FULL FORGERY Elbing is a small place near Danzig in Germany. There is not much literature about this forgery. It is believed that the postmaster of the local post office in Elbing forged 5 Gr stamps — both in small and large shield - and used them when he was personally serving a customer who needed higher values. ‘The design varies slightly from the original, in colour and width (see original on the right for comparison). The first of these forgeries was discovered at an auction in 1930. Until 1979 it remained unnoticed, but then everybody started searching. To date 58 pieces were discovered. The above stamp (on the left) is number 22 of those 58 registered. © 5 Gr at the time was enough to buy a nice dinner with a beer at the local pub. PARTIAL FORGERY 1 Kr sis stamp. This is actually not a stamp but a cut-out from a newspaper wrapper, which was then Perforated by hand. The reason for doing it would possibly be to increase the value of a postal stationery as (re-gummed) stamps are worth much more. This forgery is easily recognisable as the background of the perforated line is white, whereas in the stamps the background is in the stamp’s colour. usForgeries The most common type of forgery is using genuine stamps, usually of high values, and cancel them with the wrong or forged cancellation to further enhance their value. Here we have the highest value of the shield stamps ~ 18Kr Us, with a 30 Gr of the issue of the interior both stuck on the back of a Hungarian publication, There is also a part of a ‘Hungarian cancellation. Both stamps are stamped with a five ring blue ring cancellation with the number 23 in the centre. This cancellation is a forgery. © 5 ring cancellations existed decades earlier in the old state of Baden, ‘number 23 was used in Burkheim but the numerals shape was different — see on left Nr. 25 Konstanz, Nr.34 Eigeltingen, Nr 87 Mannheim, Nr. 96 Muggensturm, One would also assume that after so many decades of use, the rings will show some wear and tear. 19Bisected stamps To overcome shortage of small value stamps, larger values were cut by half. Bisected stamps were officially approved only by the local postal authority in the city of SYKE in the state of Hannover. Only 29 pieces of shield stamps and one of Pfennige from SYKE are known. In addition - seven other letters from other parts of Germany are known with bisected stamps in the shield period, with different stamp values. The letters on this page are two of these. Top: Large part of a letter from Schleswig with a 1 Gr s/s stamp and a diagonally bisected 1 Gr s/s stamp to make up the 1% Gr postage to a cross border destination in Denmark. © (tested by four different authenticators), Bottom: Another letter with a horizontally bisected 1 Gr s/s stamp. It, too, is genuine © 120Telegraphic Cover Telegraphic cover used to deliver a telegram by mail from the telegraph office to the addressee, if the addressee lived in a different locality to the telegraph office. In those days, the post and the telegraph authorities were two different entities. These telegrams were always sent ‘registered express’. The above was sent from Schneeberg on 20 May 73 (Old Saxonian cancellation) to Hundshiibel and bearing % Gr, 1Gr and two 2Gr V/s stamps. © Very few of these telegraphic covers are known to exist with shield stamps. 11Red or black ‘Recommandiert’ rubber stamps in serrated box were used mainly in the Groschen area before the introduction of registration labels. ‘The hand written numbers appearing on the covers were sequential numbers given to consecutive registered items.Registration Labels ‘The word ‘chargé’ in the red rubber stamp (top) and in the black rubber stamp between the two dotted lines (bottom) were both used in the Kreuzer area prior to the introduction of registration labels. Again, hand written numbers on the covers were sequential numbers given to consecutive registered items, same as in the Groschen areas. 123Registration Labels Until October 1870 labels did not exist anywhere in the world. Registered mail was indicated by writing or by rubber stamps but without numbers. Then the German Postmaster General, Heinrich Von Stephan introduced a trial of five kinds of numbered registration labels (“Recommandirt”) all in Alsace Lorraine area. Top: A registered letter from Alsace Lorraine, with the first of five types of trial registration labels (and two different ‘Recommandirt’ hand stamps). This type was issued in October 1870 and has hand written number. According to authentication certificate, this is one of only five such letters known to exist. © Bottom: Second of the five types of trial registration labels, issued in August 1872.Top: The third type of trial registration label issued in December 1872. As per authentication certificate there are only fourteen letters known with this type of registration label. © Bottom: Letter front with the fifth trial label, issued at the end of 1874. Here, the word EINGESCHRIEBEN first appears, and permanently replaces the word Recommandirt. ©This is the fourth type of trial registration label. It is identical to the third label but itis black instead of red. It was used exclusively in Strassburg (as opposed to the whole of Alsace Lorraine) parallel to the third label. Only 3 letters with the black registration label are known to exist. This is one of those three letters. ©ie Registration Labels The letters below have the first permanent registration labels. They are also the last types of German registration labels to appear with the Shield stamps. ‘These permanent labels were issued on the 9 January 1875 (top) and September 1875 (bottom) for the whole of the German Reich (the trial registration labels were used only in Alsace Lorraine). ‘The registration numbers were sometimes still hand-written on the label, but this practice was ceased when the numbers were also pre-printed. WALDHEIM 7 ON MOR Ib ges ney € ie Stratenn® ae Aivaettinh cor OP ereccsaree” A registered letter with mixed franking and a three-line registration label: the location on the first line, “Registered” on the second line and the registration number on the third, 127‘Ladies letters’ For a while it was fashionable, especially among the ladies, to use ‘triangular’ letters, These were specially printed square picces of lined paper with a triangle flap on top. The triangle was embossed or printed with the sender’s name. The above is one of 10 triangular letters known to exist, and the only one from Breslau. Fine filigree embossed border ~ this type of covers was used mainly by ladies or as romantic love letters. This one was sent on New Year’s Eve. 128