twopencepostage
**Member** 
Posts: 9
What I collect: Worldwide postage stamps circa 1900 and newer
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Post by twopencepostage on Jul 2, 2020 14:57:56 GMT
Hello, so this is my first post ever to TSF. Thought I'd start with a question about these 1923 2mil Overprint inflation stamps from Germany. I have always understood how post WW I economic conditions in Germany lead to these crazy denominations on many postage stamps. What I do not understand is the current collector value of these stamps and how I see them range from $4.00 to $2,000+ in value. Condition aside (a few of these are pretty rough, but a couple look pretty crisp), are there attributes that I need to cue in on that helps determine scarcity of certain versions of these stamps? Below are four 200 Mark and three 5 Mark versions that I have. I've also posted the backs of these as well, noticed what appears to be a watermark in a diamond pattern there. Would love to hear opinions from all those who are more experienced than me about these stamps.   |
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rex
Member 
Posts: 1,147 
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Post by rex on Jul 2, 2020 15:52:15 GMT
The value increases according to the rarity/scarcity on the market. The first two at the top left seem ok to me, the others you show have some missing teeth, and this also greatly lowers the catalog value.
I hope I have been of help.
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,642
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Jul 2, 2020 15:58:50 GMT
I'm at work at moment- these values are fairly common- postally (sp?) used are less common. I have many more mint values than used. There are others very familiar with these and hopefully they will chime in!
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ajkitt
Member
Posts: 175
What I collect: Classics, Central Europe, World
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Post by ajkitt on Jul 2, 2020 16:00:10 GMT
... are there attributes that I need to cue in on that helps determine scarcity of certain versions of these stamps? Hi twopencepostage, Hi values for inflation period stamps are mostly limited to overprint errors (upside-down, double imprints, omitted, etc.), perforation errors (they forgot to perf it), or legitimately postmarked examples of rarer releases (bonus if they're still attached to the original envelope/package). Just a head's up, what you referred to as a diamond watermark is more commonly referred to as a "waffles" or "network" watermark, while an earlier German watermark (that looks much more diamond-like) is usually referred to as a "lozenge" watermark. |
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ajkitt
Member
Posts: 175
What I collect: Classics, Central Europe, World
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Post by ajkitt on Jul 2, 2020 16:06:50 GMT
… and, side-note here, I don't know whether you've noticed, but the stamp in the lower right has serrate perfs (squarish slits rather than the usual punched holes), which are generally more valuable - but (all other things being equal) that would still only make a .20 stamp worth maybe .50.
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henrye
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 41
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Post by henrye on Mar 10, 2021 7:37:29 GMT
Maybe the difference in the prices for these is related to the combination of original value versus overprinted value. For instance, (referring to the images posted byt twopencepostage) one is a 200 Mark stamp overprinted with 2 Million (Millionen), while the other is 5 Thousand (Tausend) overprinted with 2 Million (Millionen). The 200 Mark stamp was probably printed in the earlier part of the hyper inflationary cycle versus the 5,000 Mark one, even though both were later overprinted with 2 Million. I have a couple samples of the red 200 Mark overpinted with 2 Million and also have one overprinted 20 Thousand (Tausend) as well as a couple of blue 200 Mark ones overprinted with 30 Thousand (Tausend). I never thought these were worth much, but some of the prices on ebay seem to suggest otherwise.  Could the price driver for these be just the original versus overprint cobinations? |
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cara
Member
Posts: 198
What I collect: Germany (FRG, GDR, Berlin); occupied Germany 1945-1949, Deutsches Reich 1872-1945, Switzerland, USA (newbie)
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Post by cara on Mar 10, 2021 8:20:17 GMT
The value of these overprinted hyperinflation stamps is mainly driven by
- mint or used
- colour
- perforation
- printing method
Normally used stamps of the hyperinflation period have a higher value than mint stamps.
Michel special listed for the 2 million overprint on 200 Mark (Michel # 309) the following characteristics:
- mint or used
- perforation: K 14:14 1/4 or punctured? ("durchstochen") - the last stamp on the picture with 2 Million overprint on 5 thousend marks is punctured
- plate printing or roller printing
- lots of colour differences
values are between 0.20 Euro-Cent (mint, perforation K 14:14 1/4, plate print, gray-red) and 17,000 Euro (used, punctured, plate print, vivid red)
especially for the color determination you need an expert who has many reference stamps.
cara
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polarbear
Member
Posts: 585 
What I collect: Canada Used to 2015, revenues, perfins. Newfoundland, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Worldwide textiles/handwork and Christmas.
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Post by polarbear on Mar 10, 2021 10:53:53 GMT
I have some of these stamps. An older distant cousin was in the war and sent letters to my grandmother on a regular basis. The letters disappeared a long time ago. But my brother rescued the stamps and, in his youth, Scotch taped (!!!) them into an album! Fast forward about 25 years and I was able to freeze some of them off. That was over 25 years ago now. I was not very knowledgeable about stamps at the time and a lot didn’t make it. Here are the ones that did. I have no idea of value here. Can anyone tell me which ones I should investigate further?   |
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salentin
Member
collecting Germany,where I live and about 20 more countries,half of them in Asia east of the Indus
Posts: 5,615
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Post by salentin on Mar 10, 2021 12:54:46 GMT
The used stamps are all of minimum-cat-value (-.20 €) or close to that. The mint stamps in pristine never hinged condition would be in the range of -.50 to 1.- € cat-value each. Hinged,but otherwise in perfect condition they would be in the range of minimum (-.20 €) to -.40 € cat-value each. With a damaged or no gum at all and/or other faults like #9 -12 on the first page,the stamps are worthless.
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polarbear
Member
Posts: 585
What I collect: Canada Used to 2015, revenues, perfins. Newfoundland, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Worldwide textiles/handwork and Christmas.
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Post by polarbear on Mar 10, 2021 13:11:34 GMT
Thanks @saletin. Probably worthless then.
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salentin
Member
collecting Germany,where I live and about 20 more countries,half of them in Asia east of the Indus
Posts: 5,615
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Post by salentin on Mar 10, 2021 13:17:54 GMT
I´m afraid so,yes...
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henrye
**Member**
Inactive
Posts: 41
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Post by henrye on Mar 11, 2021 4:53:31 GMT
So the prices on ebay are more hopeful than realistic. Figures. |
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