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Post by PostmasterGS on Jan 6, 2016 0:09:49 GMT
cjd, Sorry I'm late to the party, but the unit in your first stamp above is Gebirgsschützenbatallion 10 (10th Mountain Rifle Battalion).
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Post by PostmasterGS on Nov 14, 2015 14:28:58 GMT
rod222, For those who need a visual aid WRT the watermarks and printing types, here's Jay Carrigan's page on these issues. If you haven't saved a copy, you should probably do so, as there's no telling how much longer the page will be up in light of Mr. Carrigan's recent passing.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Oct 17, 2015 20:46:16 GMT
When I acquired the used copy of Sieger #I shown above several years ago, I was told by the German auctionhouse that there were three known used copies, and given the cancellation details for all three. These were as follows: - One copy with K1 “STU (TTGART) A1 … Feb 14” cancel (my copy shown above)
- One copy with cancel “KLOSTER ZINNA 18 FEB 1914”
- One on cover with additional 1 M. and 5 Pfg. Germania franking, canceled “STUTTGART 10.1.14"
I saw the copy on cover at auction once, but the cover also contains the only known used copy of Sieger #II, so it went for a price far higher than I was prepared to pay. Flash forward to a couple months ago -- I was browsing German auctions, and lo and behold, a fourth used copy of Sieger #I! It wasn't easy to get, but it now joins its sister in my collection.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Oct 9, 2015 19:24:40 GMT
I finally got around to working on the website again, and I now have completed building pages for all of the major Weimar and Third Reich sets. On to the Imperial period...
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Post by PostmasterGS on Sept 15, 2015 1:15:36 GMT
Don't have any details, but the text on the face translates as
Top: First International Dealers Day L/R: Stamp Dealers Association of Bavaria Bottom: Munich, 2-4 December 1920
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Post by PostmasterGS on Sept 8, 2015 18:08:25 GMT
rod222, I'm afraid I don't have a lot on Maier & Schneider. They were a stamp dealer and philatelic publisher operating in Munich and Berlin in the years immediately prior to WWI. They apparently did quite a bit of publishing, as there are several old philatelic references that list them as the publisher. They also produced a handful of cinderellas -- see here, here, here, here. The cinderella shown is from a set of at least five.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Sept 6, 2015 15:47:32 GMT
rod222, Here's the Bochmann listing (Leipzig S198) for that cancel. Translates roughly as follows: Commemoration of 450 Years of the Trade Fair Headshot of Emperor Maximilian The cancel was used at the special commemorative post office, which was only available to invited guests at the Trade Fair. At the end of the Trade Fair, the Trade Fair Office sold commemorative sheets bearing commemorative stamps which bore this commemorative cancel.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Sept 6, 2015 13:21:38 GMT
jimjung, Those are known in Germany as Automatenmarken, or machine stamps. They're dispensed from postage vending machines. From the BRD (West Germany), you have: 10 of the initial design (MiNr 1), which began in 1981 (Row 2, all but the Dutch stamp on Row 3) 1 of the second design (MiNr 2), which began in 1993 (Row 1, #3) 1 of the third design (MiNr 3), which began in 1999 (Row 1, #1) 1 of the fifth design (MiNr 5), which began in 2002 (Row 1, #2) In addition, you have 5 from the only design used in West Berlin (MiNr 1, beginning in 1987) (Row 1, #4, all of Row 4). If you'd like the Michel catalog excerpts that cover these, let me know.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Sept 4, 2015 18:57:22 GMT
rod222, The do, indeed, commemorate the 1950 Leipzig Spring Fair (Leipziger Frühjahrsmesse). The Leipzig Fair is one of the rare topics to see continuous issues throughout the mid-20th Century, despite the different German issuing authorities. The Leipzig Trade Fair dates back to the Middle Ages, and is still celebrated today. It has traditionally been celebrated twice a year, with the respective fairs being referred to as the Frühjahrsmesse (Spring Fair) and Herbstmesse (Autumn Fair), though different names have been used over the years. Prior to 1945, Germany issued a couple sets of stamps commemorating the 1940 and 1941 Spring Fairs -- see here under "Deutsches Reich". Post-WWII, West Saxony in the Soviet Zone released a couple sets (1945 Autumn Fair and 1946 Spring Fair) -- see here under "Briefmarken-Ausgaben für West-Sachsen (SBZ)". The Allied Control Commission released three sets (1947 Spring & Autumn Fairs, 1948 Spring Fair) -- see here under "Briefmarken-Ausgaben des Alliierten Kontrollrats". These were designed by German graphic artist Erich Gruner, who also designed the Leipziger Messe "MM" logo. The Soviet Zone then released three commemorative sets (1948 Autumn Fair, 1949 Spring and Autumn Fairs), also designed by Gruner -- see here under "Briefmarken-Ausgaben der sowjetischen Besatzungszone". Finally, once the DDR began issuing stamps, they continued the tradition, producing commemorative stamps every year from 1950-1990. Yours are the first two of that series. After Reunification, the BRD issued a 500-year commemorative in 1997 -- see here under "Briefmarken-Jahrgang 1997 der Bundesrepublik Deutschland". Also, the cancels are commemorative cancels available at the fair. Yours were cancelled 1 week after the first day of issue. Here’s the Michel entry for this set. The text next to the stamps indicates that they depict (1) Augustus the Strong being presented with the first so-called “Böttger” stoneware at the Leipzig Easter Fair, 1710, and (2) a glimpse of a garment house converted to an urban department store during the 1894 Leipzig Model Fair.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Aug 17, 2015 15:51:22 GMT
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Post by PostmasterGS on Aug 17, 2015 2:50:09 GMT
jimjung, The first is a Nazi Party donation stamp used in Elsaß (Alsace) in 1944. There are at least two values, as Erler-Norton lists a 1.50 RM red and black. "Opfer Ring" was used on stamps, lapel pins, badges, etc., to denote supporters of the Nazi Party. The second appears to be a local revenue for a bank in Frankenthal.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Aug 15, 2015 13:06:01 GMT
rod222, I have access to my books again, so here's the Erler-Norton entry for that HAPAG revenue.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Aug 15, 2015 12:55:35 GMT
Sorry, I don't have one for Chrome. With Google owning YouTube, they disable that function on the extensions available through the Chrome store. There are several available outside the Chrome store, but I haven't tried any of them. When I need to download a YouTube video, I just open it in Firefox.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Aug 15, 2015 11:59:17 GMT
What browser are you using?
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Post by PostmasterGS on Aug 13, 2015 22:56:07 GMT
It is, Andy, it definitely is.
DDR is a great area to collect. Finite timeframe. A lot of good-looking, modern issues. And as a whole, relatively easy and cheap to complete.
Yet despite my German fixation, I don't collect DDR! I couldn't imagine collecting 1872-1945 and 1949-1990 without attempting 1945-1949, and that's a bridge too far.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jul 24, 2015 12:28:24 GMT
jamesw, The first HAPAG cinderella on this page is among the most common HAPAG cinderellas. I don't have any detailed info, but it usually sells for US$5-$15. The second HAPAG cinderella on this page is from a set of similar design style. They are advertising HAPAG's Mediterranean and Orient cruises. I don't know how many were in the set, but there were at least three. The three shown are for sale at Philatino's after auction sale for US$25 (I'm not affiliated, that's just where I saw the pic). rod222, That mystery stamp is a revenue of the HAPAG line. Those are listed in Erler/Norton's Catalogue of the Adhesive Revenues of Germany - German Colonies and Overseas Steamship Lines, but I don't have access to my catalogs at the moment to look it up. IIRC, the "Theilschein" revenues were used for charter contracts. The shipping agent and the customer would each get a copy of the contract (hence the name, which translates literally as "part note/certificate/bill"), and a revenue was attached to show that the duty was paid. I can give specifics from the catalog in a couple weeks.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jul 1, 2015 17:57:40 GMT
rod222, It looks like it may still be possible to run Java in Chrome 42, but the workaround will likely be removed by end-of-year.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jul 1, 2015 9:52:00 GMT
Have you tried uninstalling and reinstalling both the browser and Java?
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 28, 2015 11:38:35 GMT
rod222, This really calls for a native speaker, but here's my stab at it. The Kurrant script is very clean, with almost textbook letters (see here for an example). That makes it easy to read the German text, but my translation may be a little off. In German: In English:
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 17, 2015 9:08:53 GMT
rod222, You won't find that S/S in Michel. It's a cinderella that was distributed at the 1971 Luftpostausstellung (Airmail Exhibition) in Berlin. The text on the S/S states that the stamp depicts an unissued definitive design from Württemberg (French Zone), circa 1949.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 16, 2015 10:31:27 GMT
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 15, 2015 20:43:14 GMT
Uh-oh. I'm falling behind! These are some really nice pieces, Jim. A few comments, from the top. 1919 Semi-Postals -- these appear to be the common colors. Probably a philatelic usage, unless it was a really heavy letter. Glider-post -- really love the glider cachet. It's a shame the postal clerk didn't press a little harder on the cancels, because those are really nice commemorative cancels. AMG -- this is a really interesting piece. The "AM Post" Bi-Zone issues were printed by the Americans, British, and Germans, and there are noticeable differences in the three (here's a handy reference). For example, you have three 3 Pf varieties -- the first is American, the second British, and the bottom one German. That screams philatelic, but it's neat nonetheless. The rate is a little excessive (84 Pf), but it's correct if you discount the 12 Pf AM Post that's covered-up by the 25 Pf and 10 Pf. It seems odd that a philatelic usage would cover-up a stamp, so there may be a reason behind doing so that would also explain the rate. Torino -- love the handwriting. It's actually readable, which is rare for the period! Hotel -- the handwriting appears to be a mix of Kurrent and Sütterlin scripts, with horrible penmanship on top of it all. I can't get the business name, but the address appears to be Lindenstraße 20, unit 5. This would be mere yards from the Berlin SW 68 post office, which was on Ritterstraße between Lindenstraße and Alte Jakobstraße, about a block SE of what would later become Checkpoint Charlie. The building that's currently at that address appears to be old, so it's probably the same building your addressee lived/worked in. Gelber Hund -- nice one. The corners aren't in bad shape, which is a good sign. These tend to be rough around the edges. BRT cancel -- awesome machine cancel. Catalogs in Bochmann as MS 403. Used at numerous post offices from June-December 1943. SA/SS -- I agree! Stay away!!! Fake cancels on fake SA/SS stamps. FDC -- interestingly enough, it was FDC for the 30 Pf stamps, but not the 60 Pf. It's also a gross overfranking, unless they were mailing a brick! NSDAP -- neat cinderella, but let's talk about the cancel for a moment. During the period, it was common for companies (for some reason, largely financial institutions) to pay for machine cancels advertising their business. This one is advertising the Hamburger Sparcasse (still around, but now spelled Hamburger Sparkasse), a bank in Hamburg founded in 1827. The counter (4821) indicated how many cancels had been applied, so the post office knew how much to charge the business. Officials -- not sure what's going on with the rate on this one. There's no combination of weight/services which would warrant a 70 M rate. Either a shorted 100 M, or excessive postage for a 60 M letter. Mourning cover -- nice that you have one with a personal connection! Unfranked -- another great machine cancel. Catalogs in Bochmann as Gera 4 (4/i A), and was in use from 1937-40/ This cover also has a nice free franking marking from the II. Battalion, Kavallerieschützenregiment 7 (2nd Battalion, Cavalry Rifle Regiment 7), which was based at Gera.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 6, 2015 7:09:59 GMT
I'm not familiar with the Urban enclosures, rod222, but I find them odd -- they're in English, and Frankfurt is misspelled. A Germany company might use English if these were used on international mail, but they likely wouldn't misspell the name of one of their largest cities. The use of "No." for "number" is also more of an English abbreviation, as the Germans more commonly use "Nr.". Perhaps it's of English-speaking origin for a company doing business in Germany?
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 6, 2015 6:50:23 GMT
Hitler "Skull" design, propaganda sheets. Creative use of the word "forgeries", since those minisheets are forgeries of the original propaganda forgeries. Current street value of those minisheets is less than the cost of shipping, I'm afraid.
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Post by PostmasterGS on Jun 6, 2015 6:46:58 GMT
Of all the WWII propaganda forgeries, the American-made Hitler Heads are the most affordable. The plain forgeries can usually be had for about $10-$20 each, and the skull version for about $20-30.
The original forgeries weren't printed in minisheets, but in 10x5 sheets, so unless you really like full sheets and are prepared to fork over about $400-$500, stick with the singles.
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Post by PostmasterGS on May 29, 2015 12:59:26 GMT
rod222, jimwentzell, Nothing much to add from me. Rod covered it. And I'd agree -- probably printer's waste.
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Post by PostmasterGS on May 29, 2015 9:54:01 GMT
Here's another neat series from the collection. From 1925-1929, Germany released a series of semi-postal depicting the coats of arms of various German states/territories. The surcharge went to benefit the Deutsche Nothilfe, a German charity program for which the Reichspost released annual stamp sets from 1924-1935. The stamps were designed by Sigmund von Weech, a German graphic designer who later became famous for his decorative textile designs. 1925The 1925 series depicts the coats of arms of: - 5+5 Pf — Prussia
- 10+10 Pf — Bavaria
- 20+20 Pf — Saxony
These issue all have a vertical waffle watermark (Michel wmk 2X). 1926The 1926 series depicts the coats of arms of: - 5+5 Pf — Wurttemberg
- 10+10 Pf — Baden
- 25+25 Pf — Thuringen
- 50+50 Pf — Hessen
These issues can all be found with vertical (wmk 2X) or horizontal (wmk 2Y) waffle watermarks, with the exception of MiNr 400 (X only). 1928- 5+5 Pf — Hamburg
- 8+7 Pf — Mecklenburg-Schwerin
- 15+15 Pf — Oldenburg
- 25+25 Pf — Braunschweig
- 50+50 Pf — Anhalt
These issues can all be found with vertical (wmk 2X) or horizontal (wmk 2Y) waffle watermarks, with the exception of MiNr 429 (Y only). 1929- 5+2 Pf — Bremen
- 8+4 Pf — Lippe-Detmold
- 15+5 Pf — Lübeck
- 25+10 Pf — Mecklenburg-Strelitz
- 50+40 Pf — Schaumburg-Lippe
These issues can all be found with horizontal (wmk 2Y) waffle watermarks. Total quantities produced were: MiNr 375 -- 4,913,150 MiNr 376 -- 3,926,961 MiNr 377 -- 983,730 MiNr 398 -- 5,268,464 MiNr 399 -- 4,163,636 MiNr 400 -- 438,290 MiNr 401 -- 210,336 MiNr 425 -- 1,207,598 MiNr 426 -- 2,400,716 MiNr 427 -- 2,406,013 MiNr 428 -- 284,850 MiNr 429 -- 156,984 MiNr 430 -- 3,051,237 MiNr 431 -- 4,214,414 MiNr 432 -- 4,898,586 MiNr 433 -- 379,455 MiNr 434 -- 177,788
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Post by PostmasterGS on May 27, 2015 18:46:16 GMT
rod222, Luftpost and Flugpost literally mean "air post" and "flight post", respectively. I get the impression that in the early days of airmail, it was more common to refer to zeppelin mail as "Luftpost" and airplane mail as "Flugpost". But over time, Luftpost became the dominant term for all airmail. And that's good to know on the LZ127 label. I'd never actually seen one that wasn't printed, and I was looking forward to seeing yours!
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Post by PostmasterGS on May 27, 2015 11:51:08 GMT
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Post by PostmasterGS on May 26, 2015 20:28:28 GMT
I haven't posted anything educational lately, so here's another history/philatelic lesson from the collection -- courtesy of one of the most popular German series. Initial Issue -- MiNr 423 & 424 On 20 September 1928, Germany issued its first set of airmail stamps depicting the Graf Zeppelin, L.Z.127, flying over the Earth. These stamps have a horizontal waffle watermark (Michel Wmk 2Y), though at very rare copies of the 4 RM value are known to exist with vertical watermark (Wmk 2X). The 2 RM stamp covered the postage for cards sent to America, and the 4 RM stamp covered the cost of covers to the same. 1st Südamerikafahrt -- MiNr 438 & 439. On 26 April 1930, Germany introduced a new special issue for the first South American flight of L.Z. 127. The first South American flight left Friedrichshafen on 15 May 1930, for stops in Sevilla, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Recife, Lakehurst, Sevilla, and returning to Friedrichshafen. These issues can be found with either vertical (Wmk 2X) or horizontal (Wmk 2Y) waffle watermarks. Addition to the Basic Set -- MiNr 455 In May 1931, a new L.Z.127 stamp was introduced at a lower value of 1 RM. This value was primarily used on shorter European flights, or as supplemental postage on longer voyages. It's cataloged by Scott as part of the initial, unoverprinted set, but separately by Michel. Unlike the other unoverprinted issues, the 1 RM value is found with a vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X). 1931 Polarfahrt -- MiNr 456-458 On 10 July 1931, Germany issued another L.Z.127 overprint, this time on the occasion of the L.Z.127's flight to the North Pole. The polar flight left Friedrichshafen on 24 July 1931, with stops in Berlin-Staaken, Leningrad, Franz-Josef-Land, Berlin-Tempelhof, and returning to Friedrichshafen. These issues can be found with the vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X). Chicagofahrt -- MiNr 496-498 These issues can be found with the vertical waffle watermark (Wmk 2X). ForgeriesBecause of the popularity of zeppelin stamps, forgeries of these issues are common. The easiest way to distinguish the originals is the watermark. Vertical (2X) and Horizontal (2Y) Waffle WatermarksIn addition, the most common forgeries use line perforation rather than comb, which can be distinguished by the appearance of the corner perforations. Comb (left) versus line (right) perforationAlso, if looking at a high-quality scan, there are also noticeable differences in the printing quality of originals and forgeries.
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