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 GIFT OF 
 Lewis Bealer 
 
THE STAMPS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GERMAN STATES 
 
 By Bertram W. H. Poole 
 PART I 
 
 "Stamps of the German Empire" 
 
 BADEN MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN 
 
 BAVARIA MECKLENBURG-STREUTZ 
 
 BERGEDORF OLDENBURG 
 
 BREMEN PRUSSIA 
 
 BRUNSWICK SAXONY 
 
 HAMBURG SCHLESWIG-HOISTEIN 
 
 HANOVER LUBECK 
 WURTEMBERG 
 
 HANDBOOK NUMBER 6 
 
 Price 35c 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 MEKEEL-SEVERN-WYLIE CO. 
 BOSTON, MASS. 
 

 i" 
 
THE STAMPS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GERMAN EMPIRE 
 
 BY 
 BERTRAM W. H. POOLE 
 
 AUTHOR OF 
 
 The Stamps of the Cook Islands, Stamp Collector's 
 
 Guide, Bermuda, Bulgaria, Hong Kong, 
 
 Sierra Leone, Etc. 
 
 MEKEEL-SEVERN-WYLIE CO. 
 HANDBOOK No. 6 
 
 PUBLISHED BY 
 
 MEKEEL-SEVERN-WYLIE CO. 
 BOSTON, MASS. 
 
GIFT OF 
 
 FOREWORD. 
 
 In beginning this series of articles 
 little is required in the way of an intro- 
 ductory note for the title is lucid 
 enough. I may, however, point out that 
 these articles are written solely for the 
 guidance of the general collector, in 
 which category, of course, all our boy 
 readers are included. While all im- 
 portant philatelic facts will be recorded 
 but little attention will be paid to minor 
 varieties. Special stress will be laid on 
 a study of the various designs and all 
 necessary explanations will be given so 
 that the lists of varieties appearing in 
 the catalogues will be plain to the most 
 inexperienced collector. In the "refer- 
 ence list," which will conclude each 
 chapter, only > s.ucji s. f arfif>s; Hifl >e in- 
 cluded as may; ie,'con&tfJdrekt ;"e,ssntial" 
 and, as such,' coming 'within 'the scope 
 of the.'phJlaJtetist'lcoUeetijig on ^ene^l 
 lines. .V. .' I.* I V: ' *: ; ! ; " : 
 
 The' subject 'will be divided into "the 
 four main sections under which the 
 stamps are usually classified, viz : (a) 
 the separate issues for the German 
 States; (b) the issues for Germany 
 proper; (c) German stamps overprinted 
 for use in the foreign post-offices; and 
 (d) the stamps for the German 
 Colonies. 
 
THE 
 
 STAMPS OF THE GERMAN EMPIRE. 
 
 By BERTRAM W. H. POOL?. 
 
 BADEN. 
 
 The grand-duchy of Baden is a com- 
 paratively small territory, having an 
 area of 5,821 square miles and a popu- 
 lation of about two millions. It is 
 bordered by the Rhine on the south and 
 west, Wurtemberg on the east, and 
 Bavaria on the north. Until the early 
 part of the 19th century it played an in- 
 significant part in European politics, but 
 when Austria and Prussia were at war 
 it sided with Austria. The results were 
 disastrous, for when the tide of battle 
 turned in favor of Prussia it found it- 
 self burdened with a huge war indem- 
 nity. It was forced to remodel its army 
 on Prussian lines and join the North 
 German Confederation. In the Franco- 
 German war its troops fought on the 
 German side, and in due time it be- 
 came a part of the new German Em- 
 pire. The grand-duchy has three votes 
 in the Federal Council, and elects four- 
 teen deputies to the Imperial Diet. The 
 existing grand-duchy of Baden is a 
 continuation and development of the 
 ancient duchy of Swabia or Alemannia, 
 principally through the two dynasties of 
 the margreaves of Baden-Baden and 
 Baden-Durlach. In 1803 the ruling mar- 
 greave of the united (1772) dynasties 
 was made an elector of the empire, and 
 in 1806 he proclaimed himself a sov- 
 ereign grand-duke. The town of Baden 
 is world famous for its mineral waters 
 and baths. Though the healing virtues 
 of the waters were known to the Romans 
 (Aquae Aureliae) it only came into re- 
 pute as a health resort about a century 
 ago. It has a population of less than 
 20,000, but it is estimated that its an- 
 nual visitors amount to at least four 
 times that number. 
 
 In tracing the philatelic history of 
 Baden in the "Adhesive Postage Stamps 
 of Europe" the late Mr. W. A. S. 
 Westoby wrote : 
 
 The postal administration of the 
 Grand Duchy of Baden was formerly 
 
 in the hands of the house of Thurn 
 and Taxis ; but the wars of the French 
 Revolution, followed by those of the 
 First Empire, so dislocated the service 
 that Baden, in common with some of 
 the other German States, withdrew 
 from the Thurn and Taxis monopoly, 
 and established an independent postal 
 administration. Since December 31st, 
 1871, the separate administration of 
 Baden has ceased to exist, and the 
 Post Office is now under the control 
 of the general postal administration 
 of the German Empire. 
 So long as it continued to issue post- 
 age stamps of its own the currency of 
 Baden was the florin, equal to about 40c, 
 divided into 60 kreuzer. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 On April 6th, 1850, the governments 
 of Austria and Prussia established a 
 Postal Convention for the interchange 
 of correspondence at fixed rates and 
 other German States were invited to 
 join the Union. Among other things 
 the Articles of this Convention stipu- 
 lated that, as a rule, correspondence 
 should be prepaid and that such pre- 
 payment should be effected by means of 
 postage stamps as soon as practicable. 
 Baden at once agreed to join the Union 
 but as the sanction of the Legislative 
 Assembly was necessary before the 
 grand-duchy could officially become a 
 member matters were delayed until the 
 meeting of that body in the autumn of 
 1850. The Legislative Assembly gave 
 its consent and also sanctioned the issue 
 of postage stamps. In the meantime 
 enquiries had been made regarding the 
 safest and most economical method of 
 manufacturing stamps so that directly 
 legal enactment was given to the recom- 
 mendation to join the Union, the 
 
 M80838 
 
authorities were in a position to pro- 
 ceed with the manufacture of suitable 
 labels. It was decided to issue four 
 values Ikr, 3kr, 6kr, and 9kr and Mr. 
 C. Naumann, of Frankfort, was com- 
 missioned to engrave the dies while the 
 paper was obtained from a local paper- 
 maker. It was decided that the most 
 economical method would be to print 
 all values in black but use paper of a 
 different color for each. Mr. Westoby 
 states that "the ,die & s were engraved on 
 copper ui ^relief,- antt ^oheisied of two 
 parts: thk numeral of J value; was in the 
 centr^ on,a circular ground, the pattern 
 of \wjiifrirJ varfcit 1h; each value; while 
 the rectangular, frame: was tfyi same for 
 all the values." 
 
 At the top we find "Baden" in German 
 capitals; at the bottom is "Freimarke", 
 meaning "Free stamp"; at the left is 
 "Deutsch: Oestr : Postverein", signify- 
 ing "German Austrian Postal Union"; 
 and at the right is "Vertrag v. 6 April, 
 1850", meaning "Convention of April 
 6th, 1850". The latter date, as already 
 explained, refers to that on which the 
 Postal Union was established. 
 
 The dies for the four values were 
 completed by Naumann on Dec. 20th, 
 1850, and 100 electrotypes were taken 
 from each of them, except of the Ikr 
 of which only fifty electros were cast. 
 It was decided to print the Ikr in 
 sheets of 45, in five rows of nine, and 
 the other values in sheets of 90, in ten 
 rows of nine. The extra cliches were 
 kept in reserve in case any of the others 
 should become damaged or worn and 
 have to be replaced. The paper was 
 machine-made, wove, and differed in 
 color for each value. The paper for 
 the Ikr was buff; that for the 3kr was 
 orange; that for the 6kr bluish green; 
 and that for the 9kr was rose-red 
 showing a faint tinge of violet. The 
 stamps were imperforate. 
 
 The stamps were printed by the 
 University printer, Mr. Hasper, of 
 Carlsruhe, ordinary black printers' ink 
 being employed. By the end of Febru- 
 ary, 1851, a supply considered sufficient 
 to last a year was ready but for some 
 reason or other the stamps were not 
 placed in issue until May 1st. The de- 
 mand for stamps being much greater 
 than had been anticipated the first sup- 
 ply was exhausted in less than three 
 months and a further supply had to be 
 printed. This second impression was 
 ready in August and the paper used 
 for the 3kr and 6kr differed in tint 
 from that originally used. The color 
 of that for the 3kr was yellow and that 
 for the 6kr yellow-green. The plates 
 differed also, the reserve cliches being 
 added, so that the Ikr was printed in 
 
 sheets of fifty and the other values in 
 sheets of one hundred. The additional 
 electrotypes were so added that the 
 horizontal rows contained ten instead 
 of nine specimens. 
 
 A well authenticated error of the 9kr 
 is known this being printed on the 
 bluish green paper of the 6kr. It is 
 an exceedingly rare stamp and it is pre- 
 sumed that only one sheet was printed. 
 
 Reprints of the Ikr, 3kr, and 6kr 
 were made in 1867 and, except to an 
 expert, these are very difficult to dis- 
 tinguish from originals. The shades 
 differ slightly, the paper for the Ikr 
 and 3kr is thicker and the gum is white 
 and smooth instead of being brown and 
 crackly like the gum on the originals. 
 Care should, therefore, be exercised in 
 the purchase of unused specimens. 
 
 c crence List. 
 May 1st, 1851. Black on colored paper. 
 Imperf. 
 
 1. Ikr on buff, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 2. 3kr on orange-yellow, Scott's Nos. 2 & 2a. 
 
 3. 6kr on green, Scott's Nos. 3 & 3a. 
 
 4. 9kr on lilac-rose, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 Another printing of the stamps of the 
 numeral type took place in 1853. The 
 color of the Ikr not being considered 
 satisfactory it was decided to print this 
 value on plain white paper. At the 
 same time, to reduce the cost of pro- 
 duction, fifty additional cliches were 
 made so that this value could be printed 
 in sheets of 100 like the others of the 
 series. In this printing, also, the 3kr 
 and 6kr exchanged colors though for 
 what reason is not clear unless there 
 was some idea that these values might 
 be confused with the similar denomi- 
 nations for the kingdom of Wurtem- 
 berg. No public notice of the change 
 of colors was given but the information 
 was conveyed to the post-offices in a 
 general order dated June 3rd, 1853, as 
 follows : 
 
 You are hereby informed of a new 
 impression of the postage stamps 
 which will be sent you in a few days 
 from the Grand Ducal General Post- 
 office, in which the colours are 
 changed, for the 6kr yellow, for the 
 3kr green, and white for the Ikr. All 
 
the Postoffices are informed of these 
 changes, in order to render mistakes 
 impossible. The new stamps are 
 not to be sold to the public till the 
 stock of the old ones is entirely 
 exhausted. 
 
 From this notice it is plain that the 
 new stamps could not have been issued 
 prior to June 3rd, 1853 and as a matter 
 of fact none of the values were used 
 until 1854. The Ikr was issued in Jan- 
 uary of that year while the other 
 values were placed on sale in the fol- 
 lowing month. 
 
 Later printings were made in 1854, 
 1855, and 1857 the colors remaining the 
 same. Before the printing of 1857 
 took place complaint was made of the 
 difficulty experienced in gumming the 
 3kr value. The manufacturers attrib- 
 uted this difficulty to the color of the 
 paper and recommended paper of a new 
 tint be used, blue being the color sug- 
 gested. As, however, a large quantity 
 of the green paper remained in stock 
 and the paper maker would only take 
 this back as "waste" it was decided to 
 use this up before making any change. 
 In 1858 another printing was made 
 and the suggested change of color then 
 took place. No notice of this change 
 of paper to either public or officials has 
 been found but from a study of dated 
 specimens it seems proved that the blue 
 3kr was issued in December, 1858. 
 
 All four varieties were reprinted in 
 1867 and, like the reprints of the 1851 
 issue made at the same time, their de- 
 tection is a difficult matter only possible 
 to one who has made a special study 
 of the stamps. The paper of the Ikr 
 and 3kr is thicker than that used for 
 the originals, the shades of all four 
 are slightly different, and the gum is 
 white and smooth. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1854-58. Imperforate. 
 
 5. Ikr black, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 6. 3kr black on green, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 7. 3kr black on blue, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 8. 6kr black on yellow, Scott's No. 8. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 After the last printing of the numeral 
 stamps, which took place in 1859, the 
 electrotypes had become so worn that 
 it was evident new sets would have to 
 be made for all values before further 
 printing could take place. The neigh- 
 bouring kingdom of Wurtemberg had 
 adopted a new design showing the 
 Arms of the State and as other 
 countries were contemplating the 
 adoption of more elaborate designs it 
 is hardly surprising that the Baden 
 
 Government was also considering the 
 advisability of replacing its plain nu- 
 meral stamps with something more 
 striking. As new plates were required 
 anyway the time was opportune for a 
 change. In an excellent article appear- 
 ing in the Philatelic Record for 1894 
 we read 
 
 The Postal Administration sent in 
 its report to the Government of the 
 Grand Duchy on 21st June, 1859, set- 
 ting forth the necessity of having 
 fresh plates provided for printing 
 the stamps, as those in use were worn 
 out, and that the question had arisen 
 whether the design should not be 
 changed; that the present design was 
 antiquated; that the printing on col- 
 ored paper was not clear, nor were 
 the stamps safe from imitation; that 
 it would be better that the stamps 
 should be printed on white paper in 
 colors according to their values, and, 
 as was then done elsewhere, the 
 country should be denoted by the 
 head of its Sovereign or its Arms ; 
 and that in order to render the 
 stamps perfect, secure from imitation, 
 and their separation readier, they 
 should be perforated as in England 
 and France. 
 
 The report was approved by the Min- 
 istry and on June 29th, 1859 the Postal 
 administration was authorised to obtain 
 the necessary dies for the new issue; 
 to purchase white paper for printing 
 the stamps; "to furnish the outer edges 
 of the stamps with perforation, so as 
 to facilitate their separation," and not 
 to print any more stamps in the old 
 designs but to use up all existing 
 supplies. 
 
 From motives of economy it was de- 
 cided to join with Wurtemberg in the 
 purchase of a perforating machine. 
 This was obtained from Vienna at a 
 cost of 1200 florins ($480.00) and set up 
 at Carlsruhe for the joint use of both 
 States. 
 
 Immediate steps were taken to pro- 
 cure suitable dies for the new issue 
 and a specification detailing what was 
 required was sent to two engravers 
 Ludwig Kurz, of Frankfort, and Fried- 
 erich Eckard, of Carlsruhe. According 
 to this specification the design was to 
 be a square of 7 l /2 Baden lines, or 23^2 
 mm., there was to be one original die 
 on steel or copper for each value, and 
 from each of these 110 electrotypes 
 were to be made "of the thickness of 
 a Baden copper kreutzer" and mounted 
 on metal. It was stipulated that proofs 
 should be sent and that the engraving 
 should be corrected if required. The 
 engravers were desired to specify the 
 
price at which they would undertake 
 the work. With each specification a 
 carefully executed drawing of the pro- 
 posed design in Indian ink was en- 
 closed. Quoting from the article in the 
 Philatelic Record again we read: 
 
 The engraver Eckard declined to 
 undertake the order under the con- 
 ditions,' but on the 15th July, Ludwig 
 Kurz, of Frankfort, offered to under- 
 take the work at the price of 10 
 florins for each die, and 48kr for 
 each of the 110 electro-casts of each 
 value. The cost of the whole would 
 therefore be 392 florins ($156.80)'. 
 The order was given to Kurz on 24th 
 August, 1859, and in October follow- 
 ing he sent in a proof of the 3kr 
 stamp. Some alterations were ordered 
 to be made, and on 8th November 
 he was informed that he might pro- 
 ceed with the other original dies. 
 On the 23rd November he sent proofs 
 of the 1, 3, 6, and 9kr, and he then 
 proceeded with the electro-casts, 
 which he delivered by the 23rd Decem- 
 ber 111 of each value, except that 
 of the 3kr, of which he delivered 110. 
 Kurz states that he engraved the 
 original dies on copper in relief with 
 the aid of aquafortis and that the draw- 
 ing from which he worked was fur- 
 nished by Herr Klimsch, of Frankfort. 
 
 The design shows the Arms of Baden 
 with supporters within a square frame 
 on a horizontally lined ground. In the 
 upper border "BADEN" is shown; in 
 the lower "KREUZER" preceded by a 
 numeral appears ; at the left reading 
 upwards is "FREIMARKE" (Free 
 stamp) ; and at the right reading down- 
 wards is "POSTVEREIN" (Postal 
 Union). All the inscriptions are in un- 
 colored Egyptian capitals on a solid 
 ground, and the angles are filled with 
 rosaces. The plates consisted of 100 
 electrotypes arranged in ten horizontal 
 rows of ten, the extra cliches being 
 held in reserve in case any of the others 
 became worn or damaged. 
 
 In February, 1860, the printer, Has- 
 per, was asked to submit color trials of 
 the various denominations. This order 
 he complied with and, as they were not 
 approved, he submitted further ones 
 later on. On March 22nd, he was in- 
 
 formed that the following colors had 
 been chosen: "For the Ikr, good Eng- 
 lish black printer's ink; for the 3kr, 
 Berlin blue; for the 6kr, dark chrome 
 yellow; and for the 9kr, light Munich 
 cochineal lake. He was directed to 
 make special efforts to keep the tints 
 in the various printings quite uniform 
 an order to which he paid no particu- 
 lar attention. Plain white wove paper 
 was used for this issue and, the question 
 of gumming being under consideration, 
 half of the first supply was gummed 
 with an Austrian adhesive matter made 
 of bone-glue, and the other half was 
 gummed with the mucilage used in Sax- 
 ony a mixture of Syriac gum and 
 glycerine. The latter was found the 
 most satisfactory and it was used for 
 all subsequent supplies. The perforat- 
 ing machine gave a gauge of 13 l / 2 and 
 was so constructed that an entire sheet 
 of 100 stamps could be perforated at 
 once. 
 
 The Ikr and 3kr were the first values 
 to be printed and these appear to have 
 been in use as early as June 1860, 
 though the catalogues give the date of 
 issue as 1861. As there were large 
 stocks of the old 6kr and 9kr numeral 
 stamps, which it was decided to use up, 
 the corresponding values of the Arms 
 type were not in use until fairly late 
 in 1861 while they were not in general 
 circulation throughout the grand-duchy 
 until the following year. There were 
 several printings of all values resulting 
 in several strikingly different shades for 
 the 3kr and 6kr. Of the former a print- 
 ing in Prussian blue is distinctly rare 
 unused. 
 
 In 1862 the perforating machine was 
 overhauled and fitted with a new set 
 of punches which gave a gauge of 10 
 in place of the previous IS 1 /^. The ex- 
 act date at which this took place is not 
 known but it was sometime between 
 March and June. Supplies of all stamps 
 printed in June or later are, therefore, 
 perforated 10. 
 
 In March 1861 the Prussian Postal 
 Administration addressed a circular to 
 the various States forming the German 
 Austrian Postal Union proposing that 
 uniform colors should be adopted for 
 stamps of the same or corresponding 
 values. This applied only to the stamps 
 in use for the three rates of postage 
 equivalent to 1, 2, and 3sgr, and so far 
 as Baden was concerned this affected 
 all but the Ikr. The colors decided on 
 were rose for the 3kr, blue for the 6kr, 
 and brown for the 9kr. Baden agreed 
 to the proposition which came into ef- 
 fect just prior to the alteration of the 
 gauge of the perforating machine. 
 About this period, too, some modifica- 
 
tion of the design was under discussion. 
 Following the many changes round 
 about this date in strict chronological 
 order is likely to result in confusion 
 and it will, therefore, be simpler to 
 deal, first of all, with the changes as 
 they affected the stamps of the type 
 with lined background. None of the 
 3kr stamps in the new rose color were 
 printed in this type for reasons we shall 
 detail later on. Although supplies of 
 the 6kr and 9kr in the new colors of 
 blue and brown respectively were or- 
 dered in December 1861, none appear 
 to have been delivered until the sum- 
 mer of 1862. Notwithstanding this 
 fact an official notification of the change 
 of colors was made to postmasters on 
 Jan. 29th, 1862, and this has thus 
 (though erroniously) been frequently 
 stated as the date of issue. As a matter 
 of fact the 6kr could not have been 
 used earlier than August, 1862, while 
 the 9kr does not appear to have been 
 in general circulation until the follow- 
 ing year. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1860-63. No Watermark. Perf. 13% or 10. 
 
 9. Ikr black, Scott's No. 10 or 15. 
 
 10. 3kr blue, Scott's No. 11 or No. 12. 
 
 11. 6kr orange, Scott's No. 13 or 13a. 
 
 12. 6kr blue, Scott's No. 16. 
 
 13. 9kr rose, Scott's No. 14. 
 
 14. 9kr brown, Scott's No. 17 or 17a. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 After the printing of the 3kr stamps 
 in June 1861 it was found that, although 
 little more than 60,000 sheets had been 
 supplied from first to last, the cliches 
 had become too badly worn to be of 
 further use. As a new set was neces- 
 sary advantage was taken of this fact 
 to ascertain whether a modification of 
 the design would not improve the ap- 
 pearance of the stamps. Kurz was sup- 
 plied with two of the cliches to see 
 what he could do and from one of these 
 he removed every alternate line of the 
 background and from the other he 
 erased the lines entirely so that the 
 Arms stood out on a plain rectangle. 
 The latter was considered such an im- 
 provement that the original dies of all 
 four values were returned to Kurz for 
 attention. The renovated dies were 
 
 ready for use early in August 1861 but 
 as only the 3kr was immediately neces- 
 sary Hasper was instructed to prepare 
 110 cliches for the new plate for this 
 denomination. A first printing of the 
 3kr in the new type was ordered late 
 in 1861 and a first delivery of 2000 
 sheets was made in March 1862. These 
 stamps arrived at the period when the 
 overhauling of the perforating machine 
 had been decided on but there was such 
 urgent need for 3kr stamps that this 
 supply was perforated before the new 
 punches were fitted. We thus find the 
 3kr of this issue perforated 13^ as 
 well as 10 like the other values. With 
 the 13 1 /2 gauge the stamp is quite a 
 rarity unused and fairly scarce used. 
 
 We have already referred to the fact 
 that the dies for the Ikr, 6kr and 9kr 
 had the background removed in 1861 
 but it was not until the close of the year 
 1863 that Hasper found it necessary to 
 construct plates from the altered dies. 
 He now made 110 cliches of each value 
 .to be ready for the printing of 1864 
 though none of the new 6kr were de- 
 livered until April of that year while 
 the Ikr and 9kr were not supplied un- 
 til June. On the 17th of June, 1864, 
 a circular was sent to the various post- 
 offices stating that the new postage 
 stamps of 6 and 9 kreuzer, with plain 
 background, would be supplied from the 
 General Post Store in the next quarter, 
 and the Ikr stamps of similar design 
 in the following quarter. From this 
 order it is evident the 6kr and 9kr could 
 not have been in use prior to July or 
 the Ikr until October 1864. Other print- 
 ings took place later on and as the 
 printer apparently made no special en- 
 deavor to keep the colors of the print- 
 ing inks uniform quite a wide range of 
 shades may be found in all except the 
 Ikr denomination. Of these the rarest 
 is the 6kr in a Prussian blue like that 
 of the similar tint found in connection 
 with the 3kr of the preceding issue. 
 The 3kr is known imperforate while 
 the 9kr in the bistre shade has been 
 found printed on both sides. 
 
 We now retrace our steps a little to 
 1861 when the alteration of design and 
 change of colors was under discussion. 
 In the same year a desire was expressed 
 for stamps of a higher value than 9kr, 
 the first step being taken by the Cham- 
 ber of Commerce of Mannheim, who 
 proposed to the Baden Ministry of 
 Commerce that 18kr and 30kr stamps 
 should be created. Although the use of 
 the then current 12kr and 18kr en- 
 velopes had been very restricted the 
 Ministry decided to introduce 18kr and 
 30kr labels and Kurz was commissioned 
 to supply the necessary dies for these 
 
values. The dies, which were in the 
 design with plain background, were de- 
 livered on October, 28th, 1861, and Has- 
 per at once proceeded to make the 
 cliches for the printing plates. The 
 colors decided on were green for the 
 18kr and cinnabar-red for the 30kr. 
 After a small number of sheets of the 
 higher value had been printed Hasper 
 reported that "the cinnabar-red was not 
 fit for printing from galvano-plastic 
 plates, as the quicksilver acted injuri- 
 ously on the copper." He was conse- 
 quently ordered to print this value in 
 orange for the future. Whether the 
 stamps in cinnabar-red were placed in 
 use or not is not certain. Westoby 
 lists it as haying been issued and if 
 his statement is correct the stamps in 
 this color must be of extreme rarity. 
 Other printings were made from time 
 to time though neither of the values 
 seems to have been in very great de- 
 mand. The total quantity of 18kr printed 
 was 315,200 and of these 151,012 were de- 
 stroyed in July, 1870 as the new postal 
 rates made the value absolutely useless. 
 The total supply of the 30kr stamps 
 numbered 430,400 and though compara- 
 tively few were used, and the stamp 
 is rare in this condition, it is common 
 enough unused as the remainders were 
 sold to a dealer some years later. 
 
 .Reference List. 
 
 1862-64. No Watermark. Perf. 13 y 2 (3kr 
 only) or 10. 
 
 15. Ikr black, Scott's No. 19. 
 
 16. 3kr rose Scott's Nos. 18, 20, or 20a. 
 
 17. 6kr blue, Scott's No. 21 or 22. 
 
 18. 9kr brown, Scott's No. 23 or 23a. 
 
 19. 18kr green, Scott's No. 24. 
 
 20. 30kr orange, Scott's No. 25. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 At the end of 1867 the North German 
 Postal Confederation, which was then 
 formed, established a new scale of rates 
 to take effect from January 1st, 1868. 
 The rate on letters weighing under *4 oz. 
 was fixed at 3kr and that on heavier 
 letters up to l / 2 oz. at 7kr. The latter 
 rate also applied to letters sent to 
 Switzerland, Belgium, and North 
 America by way of Prussia, and later 
 on it was extended to other foreign 
 countries. The necessity of creating a 
 new stamp of 7kr was at once apparent. 
 The Baden Post Office in recommend- 
 ing the issue of this new value at the 
 same time suggested the withdrawal of 
 the 18kr value and reported that there 
 was sufficient stock on hand of the 6kr, 
 9kr, and 30kr to last for years. The 
 
 stock of the 18kr was, therefore, with- 
 drawn and destroyed as we have already 
 stated. It was decided to issue a 7kr 
 stamp as recommended and Maier an 
 engraver of Carlsruhe was entrusted 
 with the task of preparing the die. As 
 the inscription "POSTVEREIN," on 
 the right-hand side of the frame, no 
 longer applied, the word "FREI- 
 MARKE" was subsituted. It will be 
 noted that the inscriptions are in thicker 
 type than before (especially as regards 
 "BADEN") and the value at foot is 
 contracted to "KR". The work is al- 
 together much inferior to that of Kurz. 
 At the same time it was decided to 
 alter the designs of the Ikr and 3kr to 
 correspond with the new 7kr. It would 
 appear that Maier only engraved one 
 matrix, with the numerals of value 
 omitted, and from this the three sec- 
 ondary dies required were constructed. 
 Although the new rates were effective 
 as and from January 1st, 1868, the 7kr 
 stamps were not ready for issue until 
 October and the modified Ikr and 3kr 
 were issued about the same time. An 
 official notice, dated September 1868, 
 was circulated to the post-masters inti- 
 mating them of the change of design, 
 viz : 
 
 A printing of three sorts of stamps 
 from a new die will be ready this year. 
 These are the stamps of 1 and 3 kreu- 
 zer, and a new value of 7 kreuzer. 
 The design is the same as before, ex- 
 cept that the word FREIMARKE is 
 repeated in the right side of the frame, 
 in place of POSTVEREIN as here- 
 tofore. The value is indicated by a 
 numeral, and the letters KR. 
 
 The colours of the new issue are 
 1 kreuzer green, 3 kreuzer red, as 
 before, and the 7 kreuzer blue, but 
 of a darker tone than the present 6 
 kreuzer stamp. The delivery of the 
 new 1 kreuzer stamp to the Post- 
 offices has. already begun, and that of 
 the 3 kreuzer will follow as soon as 
 the old stamps in the chief depots 
 have been exhausted. The delivery of 
 thej kreuzer stamps will follow at the 
 beginning of the next quarter, and, un- 
 less otherwise ordered, in the quan- 
 tities necessary for each of the Grand 
 Ducal Post-offices. 
 
 There were further printings of these 
 stamps in the years 1869, 1870, and 1871. 
 On December 31st of the latter year 
 the Postal Administration of Baden 
 ceased to exist as a separate institution, 
 and on January 1st, 1872, its stamps 
 were superseded by those of the German 
 -Empire. 
 
Reference List. 
 1868. No watermark. Perf. 10. 
 21. Ikr green, Scott's No. 26. 
 L'L'. : % ,kr rose, Scott's No. 27. 
 23. Tkr blue, Scott's No. 28. 
 
 THE LAND POST STAMPS. 
 
 In 1850 a rural post was established 
 in Baden, its chief object being to oper- 
 ate a messenger service connecting rural 
 villages which had no post-offices of 
 their own with the nearest State Post- 
 office. It had an organisation of its 
 own, distinct from the State Post, but 
 to which, nevertheless, it was an ad- 
 junct. In the year 1862 a Grand Ducal 
 decree was issued, under the date of 
 26th September, authorising improve- 
 ments in connection with this rural post 
 and Ikr, 3kr, and 12kr stamps were or- 
 dered to be prepared for its use. These 
 stamps are of similar design showing 
 large numerals in the centre with 
 "LAXD-POST" above and "PORTO- 
 MARKE" below. An ornamental bor- 
 der completed this very unpretentious 
 design. All were printed in black on 
 yellow wove paper and perforated 10. 
 The inscription "Porto-marke" indi- 
 
 cates they were postage due stamps but 
 they were not postage due stamps in 
 the ordinary meaning of the term. 
 These labels were used solely in con- 
 nection with the rural post and in ad- 
 dition to being used to collect deficient 
 postage, they were used to collect the 
 delivery charge on parcels, and for va- 
 rious purposes such as the collection and 
 conveyance of money. At this period the 
 Post-office collected taxes and, in some 
 instances, debts due to tradesmen. For 
 this service it charged a commission 
 fixed at the rate of Ikr per florin and 
 this commission was denoted by means 
 of these rural post stamps. The stamps 
 were not sold to the public but were 
 used only by officers of the rural post. 
 
 The stamps are scarce used, especially 
 the 12kr but they are common enough 
 unused owing to the fact that in 1873 
 Julius Goldner, of Hamburg, purchased 
 the remainders consisting of 322,800 of 
 the Ikr, 455,400 of the 3kr and 160,000 
 of the 12kr. 
 
 \9e^sy-^>o^ 
 
 1862. 
 24. 
 
 Reference List. 
 RURAL STAMPS. 
 No watermark. Perf 10. 
 Ikr black on yellow, Scott's No. 29. 
 
 25. 3kr black on yellow, Scott's No. 30. 
 
 26. 12kr black on yellow, Scott's No. 31. 
 
 BAVARIA. 
 
 Bavaria, or Bayern, is a kingdom of 
 the German Empire, consisting of two 
 detached portions the smaller being 
 west of the Rhine, between Alsace- 
 Lorraine, Rhineland and Hesse-Darm- 
 stadt; and the larger east of the Rhine, 
 between, Bohemia, Austria, Switzerland, 
 Wurtemberg, and Baden. It has an 
 area of 29,286 square miles and a popu- 
 lation well in excess of six millions, the 
 majority of whom are Roman Catholics. 
 Bavaria forms a hereditary constitu- 
 tional monarchy, the legislative power 
 being invested in the king and two leg- 
 islative chambers. The kingdom has 
 six votes in the federal council and 
 sends forty-eight members to the Im- 
 perial Diet. 
 
 Baiern, or Boiaria, land of the Bpii, 
 overrun by Rome of the early empire, 
 was divided into three provinces 
 
 Rhaetia, Vindelicia, and Noricum. On 
 the breakup of the Roman power, the 
 country, occupied by the Teutonic tribe 
 of Baguwarians (Bavarians) at the 
 close of the 5th century, was ruled 
 by dukes, first elective, then hereditary. 
 After a struggle of two . hundred 
 years, Bavaria, absorbed by the 
 Franks, was ruled by Charlemagne, who 
 left his descendants as margraves (788- 
 900) to hold the marches against Hun 
 and Bohemian. 
 
 The title of duke was restored (920) 
 for services rendered to the empire, and 
 Bavaria helped the Emperor Otto I. to 
 defeat the Huns at Augsburg. In the 
 middle ages there were constant quar- 
 rels between duke and emperor; and 
 the towns, which were either imperial 
 or free (Augsburg, Nuremberg), eccle- 
 siastical (Bamburg), or ruled by princes 
 
(Baireuth), rose into importance 
 through the transit of Italian trade 
 northwards, and again declined owing 
 to the development of sea-borne com- 
 merce. During the same period the 
 boundaries of Bavaria underwent con- 
 tinual change. 
 
 In 1180 Frederick Barbarossa con- 
 ferred the duchy on Otto, Count of 
 Wittelsbach, founder of the present 
 Royal house. Maximilian I. (1598- 
 1623) was made elector, and received 
 the northern half of Bavaria, owing to 
 Tilly's victory over the elector Palatine. 
 The French defeat of Blenheim (1704) 
 was shared by Bavaria, but after the 
 treaty of Utrecht (1713) the elector 
 was re-instated in his dominions. There- 
 after Bavaria oscillated between the 
 French and German alliance, being in- 
 vaded (1796) by Moreau, who occu- 
 pied Munich; siding with Napoleon I., 
 who created Maximilian Joseph I. a 
 king (1805-6) ; and, subsequently, se- 
 cured in her new dignity by the allies, 
 helping to overthrow her benefactor 
 (1813). In 1866 Bavaria sided with 
 Austria in the Austro-Prussian war, 
 and had to pay the penalty of its choice 
 in the shape of an indemnity and the 
 cession of territory to Prussia. 
 
 In 1886 the throne of Bavaria passed 
 to Otto Wilhelm Luitpold who, how- 
 ever, owing to mental incapacity has 
 never taken any active part in the gov- 
 ernment of his kingdom. His uncle, 
 Prince Leopold, was appointed Regent 
 and was virtually ruler until the time 
 of his death a few months ago at the 
 advanced age of 90 years. 
 
 Although Bavaria became a member 
 of the German Empire in 1870, she re- 
 tained certain independent privileges, 
 amongst them being the sole control of 
 her postal system. Bavaria is the only 
 German State to still issue its own dis- 
 tinctive postage stamps for Wurtem- 
 berg, which for a long period also is- 
 sued its own stamps, relinquished the 
 privilege on April 1st, 1902. 
 
 Bavaria was the first of the German 
 States to adopt adhesive postage stamps, 
 its pioneer labels appearing in 1849. 
 From that date until 1876 the currency 
 of the kingdom was the florin of 60 
 kreuzer worth about 40c in United 
 States money. In 1876 the Imperial 
 currency of pfennige and marks was 
 adopted. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 An ordinance of King Maximilian, 
 dated June 5th, 1849, authorised the 
 issue of postage stamps and fixed the 
 rates of postage. Local letters and 
 
 printed matter were carried for 1 
 kreuzer, subject to certain limitations 
 of weight; the rate on ordinary single 
 letters (weighing not more than 1 loth 
 or %oz.) was fixed at 6kr for distances 
 up to 12 German miles; while 6 kreuzer 
 was the charge for carrying single let- 
 ters for longer distances. Postage 
 stamps of these values were, therefore, 
 prepared and, according to an elaborate 
 "code of instructions" dated October 
 25th, 1849, these were to be placed on 
 sale on November 1st following. The 
 only items we need reproduce are those 
 concerning the prepayment of letters 
 viz. 
 
 1. From the 1st November next 
 the prepayment of matter sent 
 by post in the interior of Ba- 
 varia must be effected exclusive- 
 ly by stamps, which the Postal 
 Administration is entitled to sell 
 according to Art. VII of the 
 Royal Ordinance of June 5th; and 
 for the correspondence, the marking 
 of the postage on the seal-side of the 
 letter, prescribed up till now, must 
 be stopped. 
 
 2. The stamps intended for the 
 prepayment bear the figures of the 
 single rates, according to the new 
 tariff for the interior of Bavaria, of 
 1 kreuzer in black, of 3 kreuzer in 
 blue, and of 6 kreuzer in brown-red 
 colors. Each stamp of the last two 
 kinds carries in itself a red silk 
 thread running from top to bottom, 
 as evidence of its genuineness. 
 
 The design, common to all three 
 values, shows a double lined numeral, 
 ornamented with arabesques, within a 
 square frame. In the top border is 
 "BAYERN" (Bavaria), in. the bottom 
 one is "FRANCO" (Free), at the right 
 is "KREUZER", and at the left the 
 value in words "EIN", "DREI", or 
 "SECHS". In the small squares in the 
 angles the value is denoted in figures on 
 a checkered ground. The large central 
 numeral on the Ikr is on a ground of 
 mazework which occupies the whole of 
 the interior square. In the case of the 
 3kr and 6kr the numerals are on a circu- 
 lar ground of solid color, this circle be- 
 ing flattened where it meets the inner 
 lines of the border, thus causing the 
 type generally known as "broken circle." 
 The spandrels, or spaces in the angles, 
 are filled with arabesque ornamentation. 
 The designs were drawn by Mr. P. 
 Haseney, and the dies were engraved 
 on steel by Mr. F. J. Seitz, of Munich. 
 The printing plates were constructed of 
 separate blocks or cliches struck from 
 the original dies and clamped together 
 in a printer's chase. For the plate of 
 the Ikr the casts were taken in ordinary 
 
 10 
 
type-metal there being ninety of these 
 in all, arranged in ten horizontal rows 
 of nine. The printing plates for the 
 3kr and 6kr also consisted of ninety 
 impressions but these were arranged in 
 two panes of 45 each (nine rows of 
 five) placed side by side. The cliches 
 for these values were struck in brass 
 at the Mint and these impressions were 
 soldered on to bars of iron in rows of 
 five. The stamps were printed by Mr. 
 J. G. Weiss, of Munich. 
 
 The Ikr was printed on ordinary 
 white wove paper, but for the other two 
 denominations a special greyish-white 
 paper was employed, in the fabric of 
 which red threads were introduced. 
 This paper, known as "Dickenson" 
 paper from the name of its inventor, 
 had the threads arranged at intervals 
 of 20 mm. so that one thread appeared 
 in each stamp. According to a writer 
 in the Philatelic Record for March, 
 1893, 
 
 The threads were introduced into 
 the paper lengthways of the continu- 
 ous roll, and not inserted between 
 t\vo laminae of the pulp, but were 
 pressed into the pulp as it reached 
 the "couching rollers," which, aided 
 by the suction boxes, remove the 
 greater part of the remaining water, 
 and turn the sheet of pulp into one 
 of paper. It was evidently intended 
 that the thread should be especially 
 visible on the back of the stamp, and 
 impressions which shew it on the 
 front are frequently classified sepa- 
 rately by philatelists as being ex- 
 ceptions to the rule, and constituting 
 varieties, due only, however, to the 
 printer having taken the impression 
 on the wrong side of the paper. 
 The plate of the Ikr soon showed 
 signs of wear owing to the comparative 
 softness of the type-metal of which it 
 was composed. Consequently, about 
 September, 1850, a new plate was made 
 for this value the cliches of which were 
 made of brass similar to those employed 
 for the 3kr and 6kr. The new plate had 
 Jthe ninety stamps arranged in two panes 
 of forty-five each. Only 2000 sheets 
 were printed from this new plate when 
 it was decided to alter the color and 
 also to adopt a design conforming to 
 that of the other denominations. These 
 later impressions of the Ikr taken from 
 the brass plate can be distinguished by 
 the greater sharpness and clearness of 
 the design. The color is also a more 
 intense black than that used for the 
 earlier printings. 
 
 The Ikr is known with silk thread in 
 the paper. This variety is a proof or 
 essay but that it is of considerable 
 rarity may be judged from the fact that 
 
 Gibbons prices it at $30. The Ikr is 
 recorded as existing in a tete-beche 
 pair but whether this is a true tete- 
 beche, caused by the inversion of one 
 of the cliches on the plate, or due to 
 two impressions (one upside down in 
 relation to the other) being printed on 
 the same sheet of paper, I cannot say. 
 
 The 6kr stamp of this issue is an ex- 
 ceedingly rare variety unused. The 3kr 
 may be found in a number of distinctive 
 shades of which the deeper tints are 
 much the rarer. 
 
 There are no reprints of these stamps. 
 
 i BAYERN I 
 
 1 FRANCO 1 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1 Nov. 1849. No watermark. The 3kr and 
 6kr have a silk thread in the paper. 
 Imperf. 
 
 1. Ikr black, Scott's No. 1, or No. la. 
 
 2. 3kr blue, Scott's No. 2, No. 2a, or No. 
 
 2b. 
 
 3. 6kr brown, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 In April, 1850 Bavaria joined the 
 German-Austrian Postal Union and as 
 the rate on single letters between the 
 states belonging to the convention had 
 been fixed at 9 kreuzer, arrangements 
 had to be made to issue a label of this 
 denomination. Its approaching issue 
 was announced by a Post-office notice, 
 dated 25th June, 1850, and it was ac- 
 tually placed in use on July 1st, 1850. 
 The design of this new 9kr is very 
 similar to that of the 3kr and 6kr of 
 1849 with one important exception 
 the circle containing the large central 
 numeral is a perfect sphere and not 
 flattened where it touches the frame 
 lines. 
 
 The die was probably engraved by 
 Seitz and the plate was constructed by 
 the ordinary electrotype process. It 
 consisted of two panes placed side by 
 side. Each pane was composed of 45 
 casts arranged in nine rows of five, 
 with vertical and horizontal lines be- 
 tween them, and a single line around 
 the whole. The plate was backed with 
 type metal so as to render it quite solid. 
 The color chosen was yellow green but 
 a printing was made in a pale blue 
 green a shade that is of considerable 
 rarity unused. The stamps were im- 
 perforate and printed on the paper with 
 silk threads. 
 
 11 
 
An official notice, dated October 1st, 
 1850, announced that the color of the 
 1 kreuzer stamp would be changed from 
 black to rose. But not only was the 
 color changed but the design was 
 altered to conform with that of the 
 other denominations. It was similar to 
 that of the 9kr; the circle being com- 
 plete and not intercepted by the inner 
 lines of the inscribed border. The 
 plate was made by the same process, 
 the sheets consisted of ninety stamps 
 in two panes as in the case of the 9kr, 
 and the same silk-thread paper was 
 used. 
 
 A new plate was also constructed for 
 the 6kr, this likewise having the circu- 
 lar ground complete. At what date 
 this was brought into use is uncertain 
 but probably some time in 1851. 
 
 On July 19th, 1854, a Government 
 notice was issued intimating that a 
 stamp of higher value than 9kr would 
 be issued for the general convenience 
 of the public, and on August 1st fol- 
 lowing, an 18kr stamp made its ap- 
 pearance. In design, method of manu- 
 facture, etc., this value corresponds to 
 those already described. 
 
 A postal convention between Bavaria 
 and France came into operation on 
 July 1st, 1858, it being mutually agreed 
 that the postage on a letter not exceed- 
 ing 10 grammes in weight should be 
 12kr. A new stamp representing this 
 rate was placed on sale in Bavaria on 
 the day the new convention came into 
 force, the design corresponding to 
 that of the other values then current. 
 
 The 3kr underwent no change either 
 of design or color so this denomination 
 does not exist with completed circle. 
 As it was in use from 1849 until 1862 
 it may be found in a wide range of 
 shades. 
 
 Reference* List. 
 
 1850-58. A silk thread in the paper. Imperf. 
 
 4. Ikr rose, Scott's No. 5. 
 
 5. 6kr brown, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 6. 9kr green, Scott's No. 6, or No. 6a. 
 
 7. 12kr red, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 8. 18kr yellow, Scott's No. 8. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 An official notice, dated July 6th, 
 1862, announced that on October 1st 
 following, various changes would be 
 made in the colors of the different 
 values, viz. 
 
 The 3 kreuzer, taken as equivalent 
 to 5 Austrian neugroschen or 1 sil- 
 bergroschen, will for the future be 
 printed in rose instead of blue. 
 
 The 6 kreuzer, equivalent to 10 
 Austrian neugroschen or 2 silber- 
 
 groschen, will be printed in blue in- 
 stead of brown. 
 
 The 9 kreuzer, equivalent to 15 
 Austrian neugroschen or 3 silber- 
 groschen, will be printed in light 
 brown instead of green. 
 
 The colors of the remaining values 
 will be altered from the same date as 
 follows : 
 
 The 1 kreuzer, from rose to yellow. 
 The 12 kreuzer, from red to green. 
 The 18 kreuzer, from yellow to 
 
 vermilion red. 
 
 The change in the colors of the 3, 6, 
 and 9 kreuzer was made so that these 
 denominations would correspond to 
 those of the other signatories to the 
 German-Austrian postal union and this, 
 of course, necessitated the changes in 
 the other values to prevent confusion. 
 The exact dates of issue of the new 
 varieties is not known. All we know 
 is that the stamps in the new colors 
 were placed on sale as the stocks in 
 the former tints became exhausted. 
 The stamps were printed from the 
 same plates as before and in most of 
 them considerable variation of shade 
 may be found. The 6kr in ultramarine 
 is a rare shade worth looking for. 
 
 This completes the history of the 
 "numeral" stamps of Bavaria but be- 
 fore dealing with the later issues it will 
 be as well to refer to certain varieties, 
 printed in black on colored paper, so 
 that there may be no misunderstanding 
 as to their status should any of our 
 readers come across them. We can best 
 do this by reprinting the following para- 
 graph from the Philatelic Record: 
 
 It was the custom in Bavaria to 
 make up the stamps for the supply of 
 the post-offices into packets of fifty 
 sheets, and these were placed in cov- 
 ers of various colored paper, on which 
 a copy of the stamp, with the number 
 of sheets and stamps in the packet, 
 was printed in black. No order for 
 this is found among the official docu- 
 ments relating to the earlier issues, 
 but the system continued in use till 
 the close of the numeral issues. 
 During the period which commenced 
 subsequently to the issue of the 1 
 kreuzer, type II, down to October, 
 1862, the color of the paper for the 
 1 kreuzer was gray, that for the 3 
 kreuzer was blue, that for the 6 
 kreuzer was brown, that for the 9 
 kreuzer was green, that for the 12 
 kreuzer was red, and that for the 
 18 kreuzer was yellow. The stamps 
 impressed on the covers had no postal 
 value whatever, and were simply 
 printed on the covers as an indication 
 of the particular value of the stamps 
 contained in them. 
 
 12 
 
Reference List. 
 
 1862. A silk thread in the paper. 
 
 Imperf. 
 
 9. Ikr yellow, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 10. 3kr rose, Scott's No. 10. 
 
 11. 6kr blue, Scott's No. 11. 
 1 9kr bistre, Scott's No. 12. 
 
 13. 12kr green, Scott's No. 13. 
 
 14. 18kr red, Scott's No. 14, or No. 14a. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 The adoption of a new design for the 
 stamps of Bavaria evidently involved 
 much serious consideration for, though 
 the idea was mooted in the early part of 
 1865 and proofs were actually existent 
 twelve months later, it was not until 
 January 1st, 1867, that the stamps were 
 really issued. The approaching change 
 was 'announced by means of a Govern- 
 ment Notice dated December 14th, 1866, 
 the salient provisions of which were as 
 follows : 
 
 With the Royal approval a new is- 
 sue of postage stamps has been pre- 
 pared, which will be issued according 
 to the consumption of the stock of 
 the existing values. 
 
 The new stamps are, like the 
 former, printed in color on white 
 paper traversed by a red silk thread, 
 and bear the Royal Arms of Bavaria, 
 with the two supporters in white re- 
 lief on a colored ground, and with 
 the numeral of value in each angle. 
 The stamps will, like the former, be 
 issued for the values of 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 
 and 18 kreuzer. 
 
 The colors of the stamps of 3, 6, 
 9, and 18 kreuzer are, as in the former 
 issue, carmine-red, blue, light brown, 
 and vermilion-red; the stamps of the 
 1 kreuzer are green in place of yel- 
 low, and those of 12 kreuzer violet 
 in place of green. 
 
 The delivery of the new stamps to 
 the post-offices will be in sheets of 
 60 pieces, and in larger quantities in 
 packets of 50 sheets. 
 The design consists of the Arms of 
 Bavaria surmounted by a Royal crown 
 with lions as supporters. Under the 
 Arms is scroll ornamentation with 
 "KREUZER" in small capitals below; 
 while above is the name "BAYERN." 
 The preceding details are on a back- 
 ground of solid color and of somewhat 
 eccentric shape. In the angles are num- 
 erals in white on solid colored discs 
 to denote the various values, while the 
 spandrels are filled with ornamental 
 scrolls. In referring to the change of 
 design the Stamp Collectors' Maga- 
 zine, made the following interesting 
 comments on stamp designs in general : 
 
 The substitution of an elegant de- 
 sign like this for the existing prosaic 
 figure, is matter for congratulation. 
 That a stamp may be ornamental as 
 well as useful, is a proposition which 
 most postal administrations now show 
 their acquiescence in. Economic rea- 
 sons are, we fear, too much in favor 
 of armorial bearings as a device for 
 stamps; but for our part, while ac- 
 knowledging the excellence of the 
 change from figures to arms, we must 
 confess we should prefer to see the 
 features of foreign sovereigns on a 
 larger number of stamps than at 
 present bear them. The objection to 
 the employment of our own Queen's 
 effigy on her colonial stamps, that 
 the frequent repetition is monotonous 
 and tiresome, would not hold good in 
 respect to continental monarchs, over 
 whose dominions the sun sets in the 
 ordinary course of nature. 
 The original or matrix die was en- 
 graved on steel by Peter Reiss, a medal 
 coiner employed at the Royal Mint. The 
 secondary dies, on which the numerals 
 of value were engraved, and the brass 
 blocks which formed the printing plates 
 were also struck at the Mint. 
 
 The plates were constructed by a pro- 
 cess similar to that employed for the 
 numeral series. Each plate consisted 
 of sixty brass cliches arranged in two 
 panes of thirty each (6 rows of 5) 
 placed side by side. A space about the 
 width of a stamp separated the panes. 
 The design was embossed in slight re- 
 lief on a colored ground the series be- 
 ing a particularly attractive one. The 
 paper was similar to that used for the 
 preceding issues, having silk threads em- 
 bedded in its substance in such a man- 
 ner that one thread was apportioned 
 to each vertical row of stamps. It is 
 probable that the use of this paper pre- 
 vented the adoption of perforation 
 which, at that period, was in general 
 use. 
 
 There is a well-known minor variety 
 of the Ikr in which the numeral in the 
 upper right hand corner has a distinct 
 colored stroke across the centre. 
 
 On January 1st 1868, a new postal 
 arrangement was made with the North 
 German Confederation, Wurtemburg, 
 and Baden involving a postal rate of 
 7kr. Later this rate was extended to 
 include the agreements with Denmark 
 and Belgium and the natural outcome 
 was the issue of a 7 kreuzer stamp. 
 The issue of this new value was an- 
 nounced in a Government decree dated 
 August 30th, 1868, and at the same time 
 it was decreed that the color of the 
 6kr would be changed to brown so as 
 
 13 
 
to avoid confusion with the 7kr. These 
 new varieties were placed on sale on 
 October 1st and a month later the 9kr 
 was withdrawn from use and the 6kr 
 in the old color of blue was demonetised. 
 The new 7kr value was similar in de- 
 sign, impression, and paper to the other 
 denominations of the series. 
 
 All values of this issue are said to 
 exist on laid paper and as such are re- 
 corded in Scott's catalogue. M. Moens, 
 in a note in his catalogue observed 
 that "the paper is found with fine lines 
 resembling laid paper." It seems quite 
 certain that J:he variety is not a true 
 laid paper but is merely due to some 
 slight imperfection in manufacture. 
 The "laid" and "wove" varieties may 
 be found on the same sheet and the 
 former is generally considered of such 
 minor importance as to be hardly 
 worthy the attention of even an ex- 
 treme specialist. It would, therefore, 
 appear that the "laid" paper varieties 
 are hardly worthy of catalogue rank. 
 
 Most of the stamps of this issue pro- 
 vide considerable variation in shade. 
 
 ference List. 
 
 1867-68. Embossed. Silk thread in paper. 
 Imperf. 
 
 15. Ikr green, Scott's No. 15 or 15a. 
 
 16. 3kr rose, Scott's No. 16. 
 
 17. 6kr blue, Scott's No. 17. 
 
 18. 6kr bistre, Scott's No. 21. 
 
 19. 7kr blue, Scott's No. 22. 
 
 20. 9kr bistre, Scott's No. 18. 
 
 21. 12kr mauve, Scott's No. 19. 
 
 22. 18kr red, Scott's No. 20. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 Although, as we have previously ob- 
 served, Bavaria was the first of the Ger- 
 man States to issue postage stamps it 
 was the last to make use of any provi- 
 sion for their easy separation. This was 
 apparently due to the fact that the silk- 
 thread paper was considered such an ex- 
 cellent safeguard against counterfeiting 
 that the authorities were loth to give 
 it up. At last, however, the obvious 
 convenience of perforation made its 
 adoption indispensable and the silk- 
 thread paper was replaced by a new 
 watermarked paper. A Government No- 
 tice dated June 12th, 1870, stated that 
 a new issue of postage stamps of the 
 values of 1, 3, 6, 7, 12, and 18 kreuzer 
 
 would be made and issued as soon as 
 existing stocks of the old series were 
 exhausted. It was stated that the paper 
 would no longer contain the red silk 
 threads and that the stamps would have 
 the edges indented, but no mention was 
 made of the watermark. The stamps 
 were ready for issue on July 1st, and 
 were placed on sale just as quickly as 
 the corresponding values of the im- 
 perforate series were sold out. The 
 same plates were used, and the same 
 colors were retained, the differences be- 
 ing confined to the watermark and per- 
 foration. The watermark consisted of 
 a number of crossed lines forming a dia- 
 mond pattern generally known as 
 "lozenges." There are two varieties of 
 this watermark in one of which the 
 diamonds or lozenges are 17 mm. wide, 
 while in the other they are narrower 
 and only measure 14 mm. in width. 
 Gibbons catalogues both varieties in 
 full applying much higher prices to the 
 variety with narrower lozenges. Both, 
 however, occurred on the same sheet 
 so that the philatelic importance of the 
 differences is not particularly great. The 
 paper was intended to be horizontally 
 laid but on the majority of specimens 
 it is exceedingly difficult to find any 
 trace of the laid lines, though they are 
 generally quite plain on the margins of 
 the sheets. This appears to be due to 
 the fact that the intersecting lines form- 
 ing the lattice watermark were so much 
 heavier than the "laid" lines on the 
 dandy roll that they received most of 
 the pressure and, consequently, while 
 they were deeply indented into the paper 
 the horizontal lines of wire to which 
 they were stitched made no impression 
 at all. The paper is, therefore, best de- 
 scribed as wove. 
 
 As the same"" plates were used as for 
 the 1867-68 series it follows that the 
 stamps were printed in sheets of sixty 
 divided into two panes of thirty each. 
 
 The perforating machine was so con- 
 structed that an entire pane of thirty 
 stamps was perforated at one opera- 
 tion, the gauge being 11^2. 
 
 In 1872 certain revisions were made 
 in the postal tariff a Post-office Notice 
 dated November 30th, stating that for 
 the future the rate on single letters to 
 France, Great Britain, Norway, Portu- 
 gal, Spain, Constantinople, and the 
 United States via Bremen or Hamburg, 
 would be 9 kreuzer ; and that the rate 
 to Italy, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Alex- 
 andria, and the United States via 
 Cologne, would be 10 kreuzer. As these 
 rates could not be made up by existing 
 values except by the use of two stamps 
 it was announced that labels of these 
 denominations would be issued. At the 
 same time it was stated that owing to 
 
 14 
 
the limited use for the 12 kreuzer stamp 
 no more of this value would be printed. 
 On December 31st the provisions of this 
 Notice came into effect the 12kr being 
 withdrawn and the new 9 and 10 kreuzer 
 stamps being placed on sale. Of these 
 the 9kr was printed in pale brown and 
 the lOkr in yellow. The plates were of 
 similar size to those of the other de- 
 nominations and the paper and perfora- 
 tion were also similar. 
 
 Late in 1876 Bavaria, in common with 
 many of the other German States, de- 
 cided to make a clean sweep of its ob- 
 solete postage stamps, envelopes, etc. 
 According to an article in the Monthly 
 Journal the lot was placed on sale in 
 October, 1876, and in addition to a list 
 of the quantities of the different varie- 
 ties a lengthy note was added of which 
 the following is a summary : 
 
 All these articles, which were with- 
 drawn from use on January 1st, 1876, 
 have been stamped with an oblitera- 
 tion dated June 30th of that year; no 
 reprints will be made; offers may be 
 submitted for the whole stock, for the 
 whole of one or more kinds, or for 
 fixed quantities of different kinds 
 separately. Offers must be sent in 
 by January 1st, 1867, after which the 
 Government will announce its deci- 
 sion. Preference will be given to the 
 largest offers. 
 
 Xo account will be taken of tenders 
 submitted by firms or individuals who 
 have no domicile in Germany or Aus- 
 tria-Hungary, unless they are vouched 
 for by some firm domiciled in Bavaria, 
 and of sufficiently high standing. 
 The entire lot was purchased by Mr. 
 G. Zedmeyer, of Nuremberg, though 
 the price paid was not made public. 
 The lot included the following remain- 
 ders of the issue we are now discuss- 
 
 ing: 
 
 6kr bistre, 
 9kr pale brown, 
 12kr mauve, 
 
 171,600 
 
 174,000 
 
 3,000 
 
 2.-,. Gkr bistre, Scott's No. 25. 
 
 2>. 7kr blue, Scott's No. 26. 
 
 27. 9kr pale brown, Scott's No. 27. 
 
 28. lOkr yellow, Scott's No. 28. 
 
 29. 12kr mauve, Scott's No. 29. 
 :;o. 18kr red, Scott's No. 30. 
 
 THE SIXTH ISSUE. 
 
 On August 5th, 1874, a new stamp of 
 1 mark was issued, the value being ex- 
 pressed in Imperial currency. This de- 
 nomination was specially intended for 
 the prepayment of the rate on large 
 parcels and packages within the Union 
 of the German States. The die was en- 
 graved on steel by Herr P. Reiss, medal 
 coiner to the mint, and the stamps were 
 printed at the Mint of Munich. The 
 design shows the Royal Arms, with sup- 
 porters, surmounted by a crown and 
 resting on a scroll pattern base. Above 
 the crown is "BAYERN" in a curve, 
 and under the base "MARK" in large 
 capitals, the whole being embossed on a 
 ground of solid color. In each of the 
 four corners the value is expressed 
 by a large "1" embossed in white on a 
 disc of horizontal lines. 
 
 The plate was constructed in the 
 same way as those for the other values 
 but consisted of fifty stamps arranged in 
 five horizontal rows of ten. The same 
 watermarked paper was used but as 
 the stamps were of extra large size 
 (measuring 25 mm. by 21 mm.) the im- 
 pression fell very irregularly over the 
 watermark, the paper, of course, being 
 originally intended for stamps of much 
 smaller size. 
 
 The stamp was at first issued imper- 
 forate as the only perforating machine 
 available was not adapted for use on 
 such large stamps. A new machine was 
 ordered capable of perforating an entire 
 sheet of fifty stamps at a time and on 
 April 1st, 1875, the perforated stamps 
 made their appearance. The gauge is 
 similar to that of the lower values, viz. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1870-72. Embossed. Wmk. crossed lines. 1874-75. 
 
 Perf. Iiy 2 . 
 
 23. Ikr green, Scott's No. 23. 
 LM. 3kr rose, Scott's No. 24. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Embossed. Wmk. crossed 
 
 31. 1 mark mauve, Imperf., Scott's No. 31. 
 
 32. 1 mark mauve, Perf. 11^, Scott's No. 
 
 :: 
 
 15 
 
THE SEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 Towards the close of the year 1875 
 a change was made in the watermark 
 of the paper, the crossed lines being 
 superseded by a uniform pattern of un- 
 dulating lines (placed horizontally) set 
 8^2 mm. apart. The paper was hori- 
 zontally laid but as the watermark made 
 such a heavy impression the laid lines 
 of the paper are frequently impossible 
 to detect. The same paper was used 
 for the envelopes and wrappers which 
 up to that time had been printed on 
 plain paper. The same plates were used 
 as for printing issue five and the colors 
 and perforation also correspond to that 
 series. The 1, 3, 7, 10, and 18 kreuzer 
 values were printed on this paper and 
 were placed on sale some time in No- 
 vember, 1875. They had but a short 
 life, for on January 1st, 1876, they were 
 withdrawn and replaced by a new series 
 with values in Imperial currency. 
 
 Among the remainders sold in 1876 
 
 the following quantities of the stamps 
 
 of the issue under notice were included: 
 
 Ikr green, 942,000 
 
 3kr rose, 1,470,000 
 
 7kr blue, 321,000 
 
 lOkr yellow, 120,000 
 
 18kr red, 99,000 
 
 1875. 
 
 33. 
 
 34. 
 35. 
 36. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Wmk. undulating horizontal 
 Perf. \\y z . 
 
 Ikr green, Scott's No. 33. 
 
 3kr rose, Scott's No. 34. 
 
 7kr blue, Scott's No. 35. 
 lOkr yellow, Scott's No. 3G. 
 
 lines. 
 
 37. 18kr red, Scott's No. 37. 
 
 THE EIGHTH ISSUE. 
 
 Until the close of the year 1875 all 
 the stamps issued in Bavaria, with the 
 single exception of the 1 mark value 
 issued in 1874, had the values expressed 
 in South German currency but, with the 
 idea of creating greater uniformity, the 
 Imperial currency of marks and pfennige 
 was introduced on January 1st, 1876. 
 This, of course, necessitated the issue of 
 new stamps and particulars of the new 
 series were announced in a Post-office 
 Notice dated December 9th, 1875. We 
 take the following summary of its con- 
 tents from the Philatelic Record: 
 
 "The stamps will be issued: 
 Value of 3 pfennige in light green. 
 5 dark green. 
 
 10 ' carmine red. 
 
 20 blue. 
 
 25 red-brown. 
 
 50 ' vermilion red. 
 
 1 mark in violet. 
 
 2 marks in orange yellow. 
 
 The new stamps, like that of 1 mark, 
 will be embossed with the Royal Arms 
 in oval shields, with the supporters 
 and crown, and the name BAYERN 
 above the crown in white on a colored 
 ground. The value of the stamps will 
 be expressed in figures in relief in the 
 four angles, and the denomination 
 PFENNIG or MARK in relief under 
 the Arm? 
 
 The postage stamps with value in 
 pfennig are of the same size as those 
 of the former issue in kreuzer, and 
 will be delivered to the Post-offices in 
 sheets of 60. Those of 2 marks are 
 of the same size as those of 1 mark, 
 and will be delivered in sheets of 50." 
 
 The original dies for the new series 
 were engraved on steel by Herr P. 
 Reiss at the Mint of Munich and the de- 
 sign of the lower values, as will be un- 
 derstood from the above description, is 
 very similar to that of the 1 mark of 
 1874 but on a smaller scale. The die 
 for the 2 marks was a subsidiary one 
 made by taking an impression from the 
 1 mark and altering the corner numerals. 
 The plates were of similar size to those 
 of the preceding issue and they were 
 constructed in a similar manner. 
 
 The paper was watermarked with the 
 undulating lines placed %y 2 mm. apart 
 as in the case of the stamps of 1875 and, 
 while it was apparently intended to be 
 laid, the "laid" lines are very faint or 
 fail to show at all. This, as already ex- 
 plained, was due to the greater pressure 
 exerted on the pulp by the watermarked 
 lines sewn on the dandy-roll. There was 
 such a large supply of the 1 mark stamps 
 on hand that it was not until 1879 it was 
 necessary to print this value on the paper 
 watermarked with wavy lines. 
 
 In consequence of the similarity of 
 color of the 3pf and 5pf it was decided 
 to change the latter and on December 
 4th, 1878, a Post-office Notice was pub- 
 lished announcing the issue of the 5 
 pfennige stamp in violet and at the same 
 time it was stated that the color of the 50 
 pfennige would be changed from ver- 
 milion to dark brown. The new stamps 
 were ready on January 1st following and 
 they were sold as the stocks of the old 
 colors were used up. 
 
 The same perforating machines one 
 for the pfennig and one for the mark 
 
 16 
 
values were used as before, both 
 gauging ll l / 2 . 
 
 The 1 mark stamp of this series is an 
 extremely rare variety unused, though 
 in used condition it is comparatively 
 common. 
 
 51. 20pf blue, Scott's No. 51. 
 
 52. 25pf bistre-brown, Scott's No. 52. 
 
 53. 50pf brown, Scott's No. 53. 
 
 54. 1 mark mauve, Scott's No. 54. 
 .">. 2 mark orange, Scott's No. 55. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1875-79. Wmk. undulating horizontal lines. 
 Perf. 11^. 
 
 38. 3pf green, Scott's No. 38. 
 
 39. 5pf dark green, Seott's No. 39. 
 4i>. 5pf mauve, Scott's No. 46. 
 
 41. lOpf rose, Scott's No. 40. 
 
 42. 20pf blue, Scott's No. 41. 
 
 4::. 25pf yellow brown, Scott's No. 42. 
 
 44. fiOpf vermilion, Scott's No. 43. 
 
 4.".. ;"JOpf brown, Scott's No. 47. 
 
 46. 1 mark mauve, Scott's No. 44. 
 
 47. 2 mark orange, Scott's No. 45. 
 
 THE NINTH ISSUE. 
 
 Some time during the latter part of 
 the year 1881, the contract for supply- 
 ing the paper for postage stamps, which 
 had up to then been held by the Pasing 
 Mill, was awarded to the Munich- 
 Dachau Paper Manufacturing Company 
 a concern equipped with more modern 
 machinery and able to turn out a better 
 grade of paper. At the time of this 
 change it was also decided to alter the 
 style of watermark. A new dandy-roll 
 was ordered from England and this 
 made a watermark of zig-zag lines run- 
 ning in a vertical direction down the 
 stamps, the lines being spaced about 7 l / 2 
 mm. apart. This paper was white wove 
 and the improved appearance of the 
 stamps showed it was of better quality 
 than that previously used. No altera- 
 tion was made in the colors of the va- 
 rious denominations and the perfora- 
 tion remained the same as before. The 
 first stamps on the new paper were 
 ready for issue about November, 1881, 
 and they were placed on sale as the 
 stocks of the old varieties became ex- 
 hausted. It is probable that all except 
 the 2 marks were in use before the end 
 of the vear. The 2 marks did not ap- 
 pear until 1891. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1881-91. Wmk. vertical zig-zag lines close 
 together. Perf. 11 y 2 . 
 
 48. 3pf green, Scott's No. 48. ' 
 
 49. 5pf mauve, Scott's No. 40. 
 
 50. lOpf carmine, Scott's No. 50. 
 
 THE TENTH ISSUE, 
 
 Although the Imperial currency was 
 issued in 1876 the pfennige values con- 
 tinued to be printed in the small sheets 
 of 60 and these did not altogether fit 
 in with a decimal currency. It was de- 
 cided, therefore, to alter the size of the 
 sheets and in January 1888 some of the 
 values made their appearance in sheets 
 of 100 and before long all the pfennige 
 stamps had appeared thus. The stamps 
 were divided into two panes of fifty 
 (five rows of ten) placed one above the 
 other. An interval about the height of 
 a stamp was left between the panes and 
 across this space two thick horizontal 
 lines were printed. The plates being of 
 a new size the paper had to be cut ac- 
 cordingly and, to avoid unnecessary 
 waste, it was found best to cut the 
 paper so that on the printed stamps the 
 watermarked wavy lines run in a hori- 
 zontal instead of perpendicular direc- 
 tion. Naturally this change in the size 
 of the sheets made the perforating ma- 
 chine, which had been constructed to 
 perforate a pane of thirty stamps at a 
 time, of no use and a new one had to be 
 ordered. This one was also on the har- 
 row principle and perforated an entire 
 pane of fifty stamps at one operation 
 but the punches were smaller and placed 
 closer together so that the gauge is 
 14^ in place of the 11^ found in con- 
 nection with previous issues. No alter- 
 ation in the size of the sheets of the 
 mark values was made so that the water- 
 mark on these is vertical. 
 
 An official notice issued by the Post 
 Office authorities under date December 
 23rd, 1889, foreshadowed several changes 
 of color. It was stated that the 3pf would 
 be issued in brown, the 5pf in green, the 
 25pf in orange and the 50pf in red- 
 brown. The result of these changes 
 was to make a more marked distinc- 
 tion between the colors chosen for the 
 various denominations and it also gave 
 the 5pf its proper Postal Union tint. 
 These new varieties were placed on sale 
 
 17 
 
as the stocks of the old ones were used 
 up. Their actual date of issue is in- 
 definite but all four were probably on 
 sale by March, 1890. 
 
 Early in 1900, the set was enriched by 
 the addition of four new values 2pf, 
 30pf, 4Qpf, and 80pf. They were prob- 
 ably placed on sale on January 1st. In 
 design, watermark, perforation, and 
 size of sheets they correspond exactly 
 to the values previously described. 
 
 About this period it was noticed that 
 paper of a whiter appearance was be- 
 ing used but these are listed as separ- 
 ate varieties in Gibbons' catalogue, the 
 distinction is one of comparatively little 
 importance. Most of the values of this 
 series provide a pleasing array of shades. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1888-1900. Wmk. horizontal zig-zag lines close 
 
 together. Perf. U%. 
 2pf grey, Scott's No. 66. 
 3pf green, Scott's No. 56. 
 3pf brown, Scott's No. 62. 
 5pf mauve, Scott's No. 57. 
 5pf green, Scott's No. 63. 
 lOpf carmine, Scott's No. 58. 
 20pf blue, Scott's No. 59. 
 25pf bistre-brown, Scott's No. 60. 
 25pf orange, Scott's No. 64. 
 30pf olive green, Scott's No. 67. 
 40pf yellow, Scott's No. 68. 
 50pf brown, Scott's No. 61. 
 50pf marone, Scott's No. 65. 
 80pf mauve, Scott's No. 69. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1903. Wmk. vertical zig-zag lines close to- 
 gether. Perf. Iiy 2 . 
 72. 5pf green, Scott's No. 72. 
 
 56. 
 57. 
 58. 
 59. 
 60. 
 61. 
 62. 
 63. 
 64. 
 65. 
 66. 
 67. 
 68. 
 
 THE ELEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 The necessity for stamps of a higher 
 facial value than 2 marks resulted in 
 the issue of 3 and 5 mark stamps on 
 April 1st, 1900. These are exactly simi- 
 lar in design to the 1 and 2 mark values 
 and it is evident that the dies were 
 secondary ones, struck from the matrix 
 of the 1 mark, with the appropriate num- 
 erals inserted in the angles. These 
 stamps were also printed in sheets of 
 fifty and the same perforating machine 
 gauging 11 y 2 was used. The watermark, 
 also, is perpendicular as in the case of 
 the earlier mark stamps. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1900. Wmk. vertical zig-zag lines close to- 
 gether. Perf 11^. 
 
 70. 3 marks, olive-brown, Scott's No. 70. 
 
 71. 5 marks pale green, Scott's No. 71. 
 
 THE TWELFTH ISSUE. 
 
 Early in March, 1903, the 5 pfennige 
 stamp appeared with the watermark 
 vertical instead of horizontal. This is 
 the only one of the small size stamps 
 with the perforation gauging 14^ to ap- 
 pear with the watermark in this position. 
 
 THE THIRTEENTH ISSUE. 
 
 In December, 1910, the four mark 
 values appeared with the watermarked 
 zig-zag lines horizontal instead of verti- 
 cal. For what reason the change was 
 made meaning, of course, that the paper 
 was cut in a different way, is not 
 known but there seems to have been 
 only one printing for in the following 
 year the portrait stamps made their ap- 
 pearance. According to the Illustriertes 
 Priefmarken Journal the quantities 
 printed were as follows : 1 mark, 400,- 
 000 ; 2 marks, 300,000 ; 3 marks, 200,000 ; 
 and 5 marks, 100,000. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1910. Wmk. horizontal zig-zag lines, close to- 
 gether. Perf. 11 */*. 
 
 73. 1 mark, mauve, Scott's No. 73. 
 
 74. 2 marks, orange, Scott's No. 74. 
 
 75. 3 marks, olive-brown, Scott's No. 75. 
 
 76. 5 marks, pale green, Scott's No. 76. 
 
 THE FOURTEENTH ISSUE. 
 
 On March 12th, 1911, Prince Leopold 
 Regent of the kingdom of Bavaria, cele- 
 brated his ninetieth birthday, and the 
 event was marked by the issue of a new 
 series of stamps bearing his portrait. 
 The change was something in the nature 
 of a revolution considering the Arms 
 type had been in use for a period of no 
 less than forty-four years. The Prince 
 was born at Wurzburg on March 12th, 
 1821, and his life and career were bound 
 up with the historic episodes of modern 
 Europe. Professionally Prince Leopold 
 was a soldier but when his nephew, 
 King Otto, succeeded to the throne in 
 1886 he was appointed Regent owing to 
 the mental deficiency of the ruler. 
 Prince Leopold was regarded with the 
 greatest affection by the people and his 
 birthday was observed throughout Ba- 
 varia with the heartiest enthusiasm. 
 The special stamps issued to mark the 
 event show two designs. That for the 
 pfennig denominations shows a profile 
 bareheaded portrait, looking to left, on 
 a solid rectangular background. In the 
 upper left corner of this rectangle 
 figures of value are shown and in the 
 top right angle are the letters "Pf". 
 Above, on a narrow tablet of color, is 
 the date "12 MARZ 1911", and at the 
 base is the name "BAYERN" in 
 colored capitals. The stamps vary in 
 size, the lower values being smaller than 
 those of a higher facial value. The 
 
 18 
 
mark stamps are of extra large size and 
 show a portrait of the aged Regent look- 
 ing to right. In this instance he is 
 shown wearing a hat. On each side of 
 the portrait are ornate columns, resting 
 on corner rectangles of solid color, that 
 on the left bearing the numeral of value, 
 and the one on the right a letter "M". 
 In the centre, at the top, is the date 
 "r.)ll". The portraits are strongly 
 drawn and are the work of the cele- 
 brated German artist, Prof. Fritz von 
 Kaulbachs. The stamps are printed by 
 a process of photo-lithography. They 
 were on sale some few weeks before the 
 actual birthday celebration and after the 
 31st March all previous issues were 
 demonetised. 
 
 The stamps were printed on the paper 
 watermarked with close zig-zag lines 
 which has been in use since 1881. On 
 the values from 3pf to 25pf inclusive, 
 the lines are horizontal while on all 
 others they are vertical. In what size 
 sheets these stamps were printed we do 
 not know (possibly 100 for the pfennig 
 and 50 for the mark values) but it seems 
 probable that a new perforating machine 
 was brought into use. As we have al- 
 ready shown the 14 l / 2 and 11^ machines 
 used from 1888 and 1881 respectively 
 were of the harrow kind and could, 
 therefore, only be used for stamps and 
 sheets of the size for which they were 
 constructed. The values from 3 to 25pf 
 are of the same size as the lower values 
 of the preceding issue and it is evident 
 the 14 l / 2 harrow machine was used for 
 these; the 30pf to 80pf stamps are of 
 the same size as the mark stamps of the 
 Arms design and doubtless the old 11^2 
 harrow machine was utilised for these ; 
 but the mark stamps were too large for 
 either of the existing perforating ma- 
 chines and a new one, possibly a single 
 line machine was used. We are not 
 quite positive on the point as we have 
 only single stamps to refer to but a 
 single-line machine was certainly used 
 for the next issue in which the stamps 
 are of the same large size. 
 
 A 60pf value in the same design as 
 the others was added to the series in 
 October, 1911, Bavaria, in accordance 
 with its usual policy following Ger- 
 many's lead in the issue of new values. 
 The 5pf and^ lOpf values are known in 
 tete-beche pairs these being from sheets 
 printed for binding in book form. The 
 same values may also be found with ad- 
 vertisements attached, these also being 
 from sheets intended for binding into 
 stamp booklets. Most of the values 
 exist in several pronounced shades. 
 
 Prince Leopold died in the closing 
 weeks of 1912 and was succeeded as Re- 
 gent by his son, Prince Ludwig. So far 
 
 this change has had no effect on Ba- 
 varia's postal issues though it is 
 rumoured that a new series is in prepa- 
 ration. 
 
 1911. 
 
 78. 
 79. 
 80. 
 81. 
 
 Wmk. 
 82. 
 83. 
 84. 
 85. 
 86. 
 87. 
 88. 
 89. 
 90. 
 91. 
 92. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Wmk. horizontal zig-zag lines. 
 
 Perf. 
 
 3pf brown on drab, Scott's No. 77. 
 5pf green on green, Scott's No. 78. 
 lOpf carmine on buff, Scott's No. 79. 
 20pf blue on blue, Scott's No. 80. 
 25pf chocolate on buff, Scott's No. 81. 
 vertical zig-zag lines. Perf. 11 l /^. 
 30pf orange on buff, Scott's No. 82. 
 40pf olive on buff, Scott's No. 83. 
 50pf marone on drab, Scott's No. 84. 
 GOpf deep green on buff. 
 80pf violet on drab, Scott's No. 85. 
 1m brown on drab, Scott's No. 86. 
 2m green on green, Scott's No. 87. 
 3m crimson on buff, Scott's No. 88. 
 5m deep blue on buff, Scott's No. 89. 
 10m orange on yellow, Scott's No. 90. 
 20m chocolate on yellow, Scott's No. 91. 
 
 THE FIFTEENTH ISSUE. 
 
 In June, 1911, two stamps were issued 
 for use in the kingdom of Bavaria com- 
 memorative of the twenty-fifth anni- 
 versary of the Regency of Prince Leo- 
 pold. The portrait is somewhat simi- 
 lar to that of the pfennig values of the 
 birthday set this being enclosed by a 
 large wreath held on each side by cupids. 
 The dates "1886-1911" are shown on the 
 wreath and in the lower angles are the 
 figures "5" or "10" to denote the value. 
 The name "BAYERN" is shown on a 
 straight tablet between the figures. Each 
 value is printed in three colors and they 
 are somewhat extraordinary productions. 
 The background is black, the ribbons 
 binding the wreath are yellow, and the 
 rest of the design is green for the opf 
 and red for the lOpf. They have a 
 crude cheap-looking appearance that is 
 
 19 
 
all the more marked on comparison 
 with the delicate workmanship charac- 
 terising the contemporary birthday 
 series. 
 
 The stamps are said to have been in 
 use only a limited time. They were 
 printed on unwatermarked paper and 
 perf. lI l / 2 . These two labels conclude 
 Bavaria's philatelic history to date. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 June, 1911, No. wmk. Perf 
 
 93. 5pf green, yellow and black, Scott's 
 
 No. 92. 
 
 94. lOpf carmine, yellow and black, Scott's 
 
 No. 93. 
 
 THE POSTAGE DUE STAMPS. 
 
 The first postage due stamps for 
 Bavaria were set up from ordinary 
 printer's type; the next issue was 
 printed from plates made by the stereo- 
 type process from "dies" set from type; 
 and since 1876 stamps of the Arms type, 
 printed in grey or greenish-grey, have 
 been overprinted for this purpose. All 
 are distinguished by the peculiar in- 
 scription "Vom Empfanger Zahlbar", 
 meaning "To be paid by the recipient", 
 which is quite different from that found 
 on the postage due stamps of any other 
 country. The first "set" consisted of 
 but one value 3 kreuzer and the issue 
 of this was announced by means of an 
 Official Notice dated September 22nd, 
 1862. This decree is of considerable 
 interest, as it explains in detail the 
 method of using the stamps, so we ap- 
 pend a translation supplied to Gibbons 
 Stamp Weekly by Dr. Erich Stenger: 
 Re the introduction of Postage Due 
 stamps for Unf ranked Local Cor- 
 respondence. 
 
 IN THE NAME OF His MAJESTY 
 THE KING OF BAVARIA! 
 
 On the 1st October of the current 
 year the present system of marking 
 by hand the amount of duty to be 
 paid by the addressee on unfranked 
 local correspondence will cease, and 
 instead special Tax tokens (Postage 
 Due stamps) will come into use, 
 which must be affixed to the letter and 
 which alone give a right to demand a 
 tax on delivery. 
 
 1. All letters to be considered as 
 local correspondence which either: 
 
 (a) are to be delivered in the town 
 of the distributing office itself, or in 
 the Rural post district belonging 
 thereto, or 
 
 (b) are dispatched from a place 
 in the Rural post district to the post 
 town itself, or to another place in 
 the said Rural post district. 
 
 2. The stamps to be used for such 
 unfranked correspondence, instead of 
 marking the amount in writing, bear 
 the value 3kr (the single duty for de- 
 livery in the Local or Rural post dis- 
 trict), printed in black, on white 
 paper, with a red silk thread running 
 through it sideways. 
 
 For correspondence which exceeds 
 the weight payable by a single Tax 
 Stamp, as many Postage Due stamps 
 must be used to make up the amount 
 which pays for that weight according 
 to the tariff. 
 
 3. In the case of letters posted in 
 the post town the Postage Due stamps 
 shall be affixed by the distributing of- 
 ficer, in the case of letters handed to 
 the postman in the Rural post district 
 for delivery, by the postman; in all 
 cases on the side bearing the address, 
 after the manner of postage stamps. 
 Omission to use the stamps not only 
 gives every recipient of local corre- 
 spondence the right to refuse the de- 
 mand for payment, but will also be 
 followed by commensurate penal pro- 
 ceedings against the distributing offi- 
 cer or postman concerned. 
 
 4. The Postage Due stamps will be 
 issued to the post offices from the 
 Royal District Treasury in sheets of 
 ninety stamps, and the same regula- 
 tions hold good for their issue and 
 use as in the case of postage stamps. 
 
 5. For other unpaid correspond- 
 ence which, not being part of the local 
 deliveries, has to be dispatched from 
 the distributing office to another post 
 office, the method of marking the 
 amount of tax by hand remains 
 unaltered. 
 
 MUNICH, September 22nd, 1862. 
 GENERAL DIREKTION 
 DER K. VERKEHRS ANSTALTEN. 
 
 It will thus be seen from the forego- 
 ing notice that the stamps were purely 
 for local use and this system has re- 
 mained practically unaltered to the 
 present day. The stamps were printed 
 in black on white paper, and were is- 
 sued imperforate. The design is sim- 
 ple in the extreme. In the centre is a 
 large numeral "3" and in the rectangu- 
 lar frame around this we find "Bayer. 
 Posttaxe" (Bavarian Post Tax), at the 
 top; "Vom Empfanger Zahlbar", at the 
 
bottom; and "3 kreuzer" reading up- 
 wards at the left, and downwards at 
 the right. All the inscriptions are in 
 Gothic lettering. As we have already 
 stated the design was set up from or- 
 dinary printer's type, the sheet consist- 
 ing of ninety stamps arranged in two 
 panes of forty-five each (five horizontal 
 rows of nine), placed one above the 
 other. A space equal to about half the 
 height of a stamp divides the panes and 
 between the vertical rows lengths of 
 printers' rule are inserted. The paper 
 was the silk-thread variety used for the 
 contemporary postage stamps but in 
 these labels it is horizontal instead of 
 vertical as in the postal issues. This is 
 due to the different arrangement of the 
 stamps the vertical rows of the Postage 
 Dues occupying about the same area as 
 the horizontal rows of the ordinary 
 stamps. 
 
 Naturally, as the plate for this 3kr 
 stamp was set from type minor varie- 
 ties abound. The only one of particular 
 importance occurs on the fourth stamp 
 of the second row of the upper pane. 
 On this the final "r" of "Empfanger" is 
 omitted. This, as the catalogue quota- 
 tions indicate, is an exceedingly scarce 
 variety. Those of our readers who 
 wish to study this issue more deeply 
 cannot do better than refer to the ex- 
 cellent article in Gibbons Stamp Weekly 
 (Vol. XI, pages 492 and 588) by Dr. 
 Erich Stenger. 
 
 We have already shown that the 
 use of the silk thread paper was dis- 
 continued, so far as the postage stamps 
 were concerned, about July, 1870, and 
 in its stead paper watermarked with 
 crossed diagonal lines was used. At 
 the same time perforation was intro- 
 duced. This change affected the Post- 
 age Due stamps in the following year 
 a Royal Proclamation, dated March 30th, 
 1871, announcing that new Ikr and 3kr 
 Postage Due stamps would be issued 
 and that they would be printed in black 
 on watermarked paper and be per- 
 forated like the contemporary postage 
 stamps. Like the stamps of the Arms 
 type they were printed in sheets of six- 
 ty divided into two panes of thirty each 
 (five rows of six) placed side by side. 
 It is evident one original die (probably 
 set up from type) served for both 
 values. The design is similar to that 
 of the first 3kr but with "Bayer" ab- 
 breviated to "Bayr" and with larger 
 lettering. The shape of the large num- 
 eral "3", too, is quite different from that 
 of the type-set variety. The matrix 
 die, consisting of frame only, formed 
 the foundation for the two necessary 
 subsiduary dies in which the large nu- 
 
 merals were inserted. From these suffi- 
 cient casts were taken in type-metal to 
 compose the printing plates. The same 
 perforating machine was used as was 
 employed to perforate the postage 
 stamps. The use of the 3kr value has 
 already been explained. The Ikr value 
 was introduced to denote the sum to 
 be paid by the recipient of certain offi- 
 cial letters which had not been prepaid. 
 While most official correspondence was 
 carried free certain official local cor- 
 respondence was subject to postage but 
 at a reduced fee, and it was for the 
 collection of deficient postage on the 
 latter that the Ikr stamp was necessary. 
 
 The change to the Imperial currency 
 of pfennige and marks in 1876 led to 
 the issue of new Postage Due labels. 
 In the Post-pfnce Notice of December, 
 1875, referring to the new postage 
 stamps the issue of new 3pf, 5pf, and 
 lOpf, Dues is also recorded. The lOpf 
 took the place of the 3kr and was for 
 use on unfranked private letters, while 
 the 3pf and 5pf were intended to indi- 
 cate the amount payable on unfranked 
 dutiable official correspondence. The 
 new stamps were formed by printing 
 the ordinary postage stamps in ^grey 
 and then overprinting them "Vom 
 Empfanger Zahlbar" in two lines in 
 red. They were, of course, like the 
 contemporary postage stamps printed 
 on the paper watermarked with zig-zag 
 lines set horizontally and wide apart. 
 
 In 1883 all three values appeared on 
 the paper watermarked with vertical 
 zig-zag lines close together, which had 
 been introduced for the ordinary 
 stamps about two years before. The 
 lOpf provides three errors in the over- 
 print viz. "Empfang", "Empfanper", 
 and "Zahlhar". 
 
 In 1889, again following the lead of 
 the postage stamps, we find the Postage 
 Due labels perforated 14 V and water- 
 marked horizontal zig-zag lines placed 
 close together. These, as a reference 
 to the history of the contemporary 
 .postage stamps will show, were printed 
 in sheets of 100. The 3pf of this series 
 is known with overprint inverted. In 
 July, 1895, it was reported that a 2pf 
 stamp was to be added to the set but 
 this was not actually issued until some 
 months later. The fear that this value 
 would not be ready in time led to the 
 issue of Bavaria's only provisional. 
 On September 4th a small quantity of 
 the 3pf value was surcharged in red 
 with a "2" in each corner. As this 
 variety is of some rarity its use must 
 have been very limited. Since 1895 
 Bavaria has issued nothing new in the 
 way of Postage Due stamps. 
 
Reference List. 
 
 1862. Type-set. Silkthread in paper. Imperf. 
 
 95. 3kr black, Scott's No. 101. 
 1871. Typographed. Wmk. crossed lines. 
 
 [ypographed 
 Perl: Iiy 2 . 
 
 96. Ikr black, Scott's No. 102. 
 
 97. 3kr black, Scott's No. 103. 
 
 1876. Wmk. horizontal zig-zag lines wide 
 apart. Perf. 11^. 
 
 98. 3pf grey, Scott's No. 104. 
 
 99. 5pf grey, Scott's- No. 105. 
 
 100. lOpf grey, Scott's No. 106. 
 
 1883. Wmk. vertical zig-zag lines close to- 
 gether. Perf. \\y z . 
 
 101. 3pf grey, Scott's No. 107. 
 
 102. 5pf "rey, Scott's No. 108. 
 
 103. lOpf grey, Scott's No. 109. 
 
 1888-95. Wmk. horizontal zig-zag lines close 
 together. Perf. 14^. 
 
 104. "2" in red on 2pf grey, Scott's No. 114. 
 
 105 2pf grey, Scott's No. 110. 
 
 106 3pf grey, Scott's No. 111. 
 
 107 5pf grey, Scott's No. 112. 
 
 108 lOpf grey, Scott's No. 113. 
 
 RAILWAY OFFICIAL STAMPS. 
 
 The only official stamps issued by 
 the Kingdom of Bavaria is an unpre- 
 tentious set issued in 1908 for the use 
 of the Railway Department (Eisen- 
 bahn). This consisted of the con- 
 temporary 3, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pfennig 
 postage stamps overprinted with a large 
 capital "E". The overprint is in green 
 on the lOpf and 50pf, and in red on the 
 other three values. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1908. Wmk. horizontal zig-zag lines close 
 together. Perf. 14^. 
 
 109. 3pf brown, Scott's No. 201. 
 
 110. Tpf green, Scott's No. 202. 
 
 111. lOpf carmine, Scott's No. 203. 
 
 112. 2(>pf ultramarine, Scott's No. 204. 
 
 113. 50pf marone, Scott's No. 205. 
 
 RETURN LETTER STAMPS. 
 
 We cannot conclude this short history 
 of the postage stamps issued by the 
 Kingdom of Bavaria without making 
 some mention of the so-called Return 
 Letter stamps. These labels used to be 
 catalogued, are illustrated in some of 
 the older printed albums, and are fre- 
 
 quently found in collections and, conse- 
 quently, are often a source of mystifi- 
 cation to the tyro. These stamps are 
 not postage stamps in any sense of the 
 term but are labels which only relate 
 to the internal economy of the post- 
 office. We grant, however, that they 
 are at least as collectible as "officially 
 sealed" or the numbered labels used in 
 connection with registered letters in 
 many countries nowadays. 
 
 When letters were unable to be de- 
 livered they were sent to the chief 
 office of the postal district. In 1865 
 there were six of these offices; 
 viz. Augsburg, Bamberg, Miinchen 
 (Munich), Niirnberg, Speyer, and 
 Wiirzburg. The letters were opened to 
 discover the name of the sender and 
 then returned, these return letter labels 
 being used as seals to close the missives 
 with. The labels were all printed in 
 black on white paper and show the 
 Royal Arms within an oval inscribed 
 "COMMISSION FUR RETOUR- 
 BRIEFE" (Returned Letter Depart- 
 ment) and the name of the district 
 chief office. This oval was enclosed in 
 an upright rectangular frame with or- 
 namented spandrels. The labels were 
 printed by lithography in sheets of 84 
 and those for each office differ slightly 
 from the others, while for all, except 
 Bamberg, there were two or three 
 printings showing slight differences of 
 design. In the case of the labels for 
 Niirnberg two types exist on the same 
 sheet. 
 
 (Sommijfion 
 
 fur 
 Hiicf brief e 
 
 In 1869 Regensberg (Ratisbon) was 
 added to the list of head district offices 
 and was furnished with a label reading 
 "Retourbrief ( Kgl. Oberpostamt Re- 
 gensberg)" in three lines within a 
 single-lined oblong. This label was set 
 up from ordinary printer's type. These 
 labels, with various inscriptions, grad- 
 ually superseded the lithographed ones. 
 Most, if not all, were printed in sheets 
 of thirty and being set by hand there 
 are as many varieties as there are 
 stamps on the sheet. Little care was 
 exercised in their production and not 
 only may lettering of different sizes and 
 fonts be found on different stamps but 
 such glaring inaccuracies as "Rotour- 
 brief" for "Retourbrief", and "Oher- 
 postamt" for "Oberpostamt" are by no 
 means infrequent. 
 
BERGEDORF. 
 
 In the early sixties one of the favorite 
 conundrums of the philatelic journals 
 of the period was "Where is JJerge- 
 dorf?" What little information was to 
 be found in gazeteers and similar works 
 of reference was of such a conflicting 
 nature that, but for the tangible evi- 
 dence of the postage stamps, one might 
 be pardoned for doubting its existence ! 
 Even nowadays the student will find 
 little of note regarding Bergedorf in any 
 of the standard works of reference and 
 it is evident that its fame is due entirely 
 to its postage stamps. And though the 
 stamps themselves comprise but one 
 modest issue, which was in use for the 
 short period of six years, Bergedorf has 
 managed to attract plenty of notice. 
 Not only have several admirable articles 
 appeared in the philatelic press from 
 time to time, but the legitimacy of some 
 of its varieties have on more than one 
 occasion been the cause of heated argu- 
 ment. The most recent work on the 
 subject is from the pen of Dr. Georges 
 Brunei, an excellent translation of 
 which will be found in volumes X and 
 XI of the Postage Stamp. 
 
 Though early writers on the subject 
 could find only conflicting statements re- 
 garding the actual whereabouts of this 
 small territory a writer in the Stamp 
 Collectors' Magazine for March, 1863, 
 gives an historical survey of such inter- 
 est that we take the liberty of reproduc- 
 ing his notes in full. 
 
 "In 1387, the Semiramis of the North, 
 wearing already the crowns of Den- 
 mark and Norway, received that of 
 Sweden. Albert, the deposed and im- 
 prisoned king, was recognized only by 
 the island of Gottland and the city of 
 Holmia, the then capital. John of Meck- 
 lenberg, his father-in-law, was besieged 
 in that city; and the magistrates of 
 Rostock and Wismar issued an edict, al- 
 lowing all pirates and predatory 
 brigands, who should attack and capture 
 any sea or land convoy appertaining to 
 the queen's party, free access to their 
 ports, and ready means for disposal of 
 plunder. The numerous predatory bands 
 of that lawless period, glad of any ex- 
 cuse for exercising their profession, 
 plundered the villages, and under the 
 pretext of revictualling (ravitailler} 
 Holmia, called themselves Vitalicns, or 
 victuallers. 
 
 "After this war ceased, the Vitaliens, 
 satisfied with their lucrative calling, 
 were by no means inclined to resign 
 it; and the people of Rostock and Wis- 
 mar, who had made peace with the 
 queen, finding it impossible to lay the 
 
 fiend they had raised, unified with Ham- 
 burg and the other Hanseatic towns, 
 in occasional crusades against their for- 
 mer allies. This desultory hostility con- 
 tinued some years ; and, in 1410, Ham- 
 burg, Lubeck, and Bremen obtained an 
 undertaking from the Counts of Olden- 
 burg, who doubtless had private reasons 
 satisfactory to themselves in the shape 
 of tribute-money for their patronage 
 to withdraw the protection hitherto af- 
 forded the Vitaliens. These latter were 
 by no means disposed to succumb, and 
 allied themselves with other brigands, 
 then known under the designation of 
 choenapans and filibusters. 
 
 "As the cave of Adullam, ages be- 
 fore, afforded refuge to everyone that 
 was distressed, or in debt, or discon- 
 tented, so, among other strongholds of 
 the period under notice, did the castle of 
 Bergedorf, which now makes its appear- 
 ance on the scene. This was peculiarly 
 adapted to the romantic purposes of a 
 robber's den ; possessing a subterranean 
 passage leading from its vaults, with an 
 outlet at a considerable distance in the 
 forest. Thence the marauders issuing, 
 set upon and plundered travelling mer- 
 chants and others; and, if not satisfied 
 with the booty obtained from their per- 
 sons, blindfolded, and bore them off to 
 the dungeons of Bergedorf, till they 
 could procure ransom from their friends. 
 They were supposed to be privately pro- 
 tected by Duke Henry of Saxony under 
 whose jurisdiction their retreat then was 
 for reasons, most probably pretty 
 weighty, best known to himself; as he 
 never exerted his influence to quell the 
 nuisance, notwithstanding repeated peti- 
 tions were addressed him by the authori- 
 ties of the surrounding cities. 
 
 "At length the Burgomasters of Ham- 
 burg and Lubeck, with two thousand 
 foot, and eight hundred horse, and a 
 crowd of volunteer citizens, made a reg- 
 gular attack on the town of Bergedorf; 
 which, yielding after a brief resistance, 
 was pillaged and burnt. The brigands, 
 however, retreated to the castle, which 
 was strong enough to withstand for 
 some days the arquebuses and cannons of 
 that time. On the fifth day the be- 
 siegers collected and fired a quantity of 
 combustibles the stifling smoke of which, 
 compelling the defenders to retire from 
 the walls and windows, enabled them to 
 make an escalade, and the garrison sur- 
 rendered on condition of being allowed 
 to depart with whole skins. In 1430 it 
 was agreed that the Duke of Saxony 
 should abandon forever, to the towns of 
 Lubeck and Hamburg, the castle of Ber- 
 
 23 
 
gedorf, with its appanages; and for more 
 than four hundred years has it remained 
 under the joint protection of those 
 cities, each claiming the alternate nomi- 
 nation of a bailiff, or governor of sena- 
 torial rank at first appointed for four, 
 afterwards for six years and supply- 
 ing an equal number of soldiers to gar- 
 rison the castle." 
 
 Hamburg purchased the exclusive own- 
 ership of Bergedorf on August 8th, 1867, 
 the price paid being 200,000 thalers 
 about $150,000 in United States cur- 
 rency. 
 
 The midget territory of Bergedorf 
 has an area of about 50 square miles 
 and is situated to the south-east of 
 Hamburg. Its boundaries are the rivers 
 Elbe and Bille and the tributaries of the 
 former cut it up into several detached 
 portions. The chief town, Bergedorf, has 
 about 10,000 inhabitants while the par- 
 ish of Geestacht, adjoining, and the vil- 
 lages of Neuengramm, Altengramm, 
 Kirchwarder, and Kurslach muster be- 
 tween them about another 10,000. The 
 villages are known as the Vierlande 
 (four lands) from the fact that each is 
 on an islet. The soil is fertile and mar- 
 ket gardening forms the chief industry. 
 Hamburg forms the principal market 
 for the produce. 
 
 According to some writers the postal 
 history of Bergedorf dates from 1837 
 when, it is said, a Prussian post-office 
 was established. Though the veracity of 
 this statement has been questioned 
 there seems no doubt that a post-office 
 under the joint administration of Lu- 
 beck and Hamburg was established in 
 1847. The two larger cities joined the 
 German-Austrian Postal Union in Jan- 
 uary, 1852, but no immediate provision 
 was made for the issue of postage 
 stamps as stipulated in one of the regu- 
 lations of the Union. In fact it was not 
 until January 1st, 1859, that Hamburg 
 and Lubeck issued stamps and shortly 
 after these labels appeared letters posted 
 in the Bergedorf district were required 
 to be prepaid with Hamburg stamps. Be- 
 fore long Bergedorf began to agitate for 
 stamps of its own and though the Post- 
 master, Herr Paalzow, did his best by 
 both writing to and interviewing the 
 higher officials his efforts were not im- 
 mediately successful. Herr Paalzow's 
 most interesting effort took the form of 
 a lengthy document, dated July 25th, 
 1859, in which he made definite pro- 
 posals for certain values, to be executed 
 in a certain way, with estimate of costs. 
 We make a short extract from this docu- 
 ment : 
 
 In accordance with the tariff of lo- 
 cal postal rates, five denominations of 
 
 stamps would be necessary for Berge- 
 dorf, of the following values: 
 
 (a) */ 2 schilling 
 
 (b) 1 schilling 
 
 (c) \y 2 schilling 
 
 (d) 3 schilling 
 
 (e) 4 schilling 
 
 The cost of manufacture by Ch. 
 Fuchs, of Hamburg, including printing, 
 paper, and gumming, for lithographed 
 stamps, like those introduced at Lu- 
 beck, with the arms of the two towns, 
 would amount : 
 For (a) to 3sch per thousand 
 For (b) to 4sch per thousand 
 For (c) to 4^sch per thousand 
 For (d) to 5sch per thousand 
 For (e) to 7^sch per thousand 
 In addition the stone which would 
 belong to us, once and for all, 20 
 thalers cost price. 
 
 Herr Fuchs agrees, in the final 
 manufacture of the stamps, to submit 
 to any supervision and to be respon- 
 sible for all damage which might hap- 
 pen through the fault or neglect of his 
 firm or his employees. With regard to 
 the sale of stamps, it could eventually 
 be decided that this could be done dur- 
 ing office hours at all the post-offices. 
 on payment of their face value, but 
 that the selling of postage stamps 
 should be absolutely forbidden, in the 
 whole territory of the two free towns, 
 to all private persons. 
 
 With regard to their use, I would 
 suggest that articles sent by mail can 
 be prepaid by means of postage stamps 
 but that for articles addressed to places 
 within the Royal Danish domains, now 
 as before, only the Royal Danish 
 stamps may be used. 
 Herr Paalzow also submitted an en- 
 graving of a design he considered' suit- 
 able. This showed the joint Arms of 
 Lubeck and Hamburg on a central circle 
 with "SCHILLINGE" above, "BERGE- 
 DORF POSTMARKE" below. "LH 
 PA" in the lower angles, and large num- 
 erals in the upper corners. Though this 
 design was not adopted when it was 
 eventually decided to issue stamps there 
 is no doubt it formed the inspiration for 
 the chosen drawing. The essay was ap- 
 parently printed in vertical strips of five 
 in black on paper of various colors. 
 
 In the quotation from Herr Paal- 
 zow's document mention is made of a 
 Danish Post-office. When this was es- 
 tablished is uncertain but it was in ac- 
 tive operation long before Bergedorf was 
 supplied with its own stamps and also 
 continued in business for some time 
 afterwards. This office dealt with all 
 correspondence addressed to Denmark, 
 Luxemberg, Oldenburg and Schleswig- 
 
Holstein, the stamps used being those of 
 Denmark. 
 
 Two years passed and then in June, 
 1861, a convention was held to discuss the 
 matter, the outcome being that Berge- 
 dorf was allowed to issue its own stomps. 
 Whether the designs prepared by Herr 
 Ch. Fuchs were shown at this conven- 
 tion or not is a doubtful point but at 
 any rate his designs were adopted and 
 in October the general public were noti- 
 fied of the forthcoming issue of stamps 
 by means of the following: 
 
 NOTICE To THE PUBLIC. 
 
 From the 1st November of the pres- 
 ent year (1861) all letters posted at 
 the post offices of this town, to be sent 
 to Geestacht, to the office of despatch 
 of the district to Vierland, as well as 
 to Bill, to Oschenwerder, Spadenlemd, 
 and Moorwerder, can be prepaid, 
 either by making payment in cash, or 
 by means of postage stamps. The 
 postage stamps, for the said period, 
 will include the following values: 
 J^sch currency on blue paper, printed 
 
 in black. 
 Isch currency on white paper, printed 
 
 in black. 
 IJ^sch currency on yellow paper, 
 
 printed in black. 
 3sch currency on red paper, printed in 
 
 blue. 
 4sch currency on buff paper, printed 
 
 in black. 
 
 Each postage stamp bears in the 
 centre the postal arms of Lubeck and 
 Hamburg linked together on a wavy 
 ground. The arms are surrounded by 
 a band above which in the upper cor- 
 ners are the letters L H, and in the 
 lower ones the letters P A. In addi- 
 tion, there is in the upper frame of the 
 stamps the word Bergedorf; in the 
 lower frame, the word Postmarke ; the 
 value in figures is in the four corners, 
 and in words at the two sides. The 
 back is covered with the necessary gum 
 for placing them upon the letters. 
 
 Bergedorf, the 17th October, 1861. 
 The Director of Posts, 
 
 ( Signed ) PAALZOW, 
 Director of Imperial Posts, for- 
 merly Postmaster of the Lubeck- 
 Hamburg Office at Bergedorf. 
 The letters "L H P A" shown in the 
 spandrels stand for "Lubeck Hamburg 
 Post Ansaalt (Post Office)." The cur- 
 rency was the same as that of Hamburg 
 and Lubeck, being in schillinge and Ham- 
 burg marks, 16sch being equivalent to 
 a mark of the value of 25c United States 
 currency. The stamps are the most pe- 
 culiar ever issued in one respect they 
 
 gradually increase in size according to 
 the facial values, the lowest denomina- 
 tion measuring 15^x15^ .mm. and the 
 highest one 21^x21 mm. 
 
 The stamps were produced by litho- 
 graphy by Herr Christian Fuchs of 
 Hamburg. One type for each of the 
 five values was drawn on the same lith- 
 ographic stone and from these the 
 transfers necessary to make the print- 
 ing stones were taken. On this "die 
 stone", if we may so call it, the IJ^sch 
 is inscribed "SCHILLINGE" though, 
 as we shall show later, this value was 
 never issued with the value spelled with 
 a final "E." On the same stone an es- 
 say for a 4sch stamp is shown. This 
 has the usual combined Lubeck-Ham- 
 burg Arms in the centre and "L H P 
 A" in the spandrels. The name "BER- 
 GEDORF," however, is placed just be- 
 low the Arms and the border is in- 
 scribed "SCHILLING" on all four 
 sides. Numerals "4" occupy the cor- 
 ners and the whole design is much more 
 delicate than the issued one. This es- 
 say was prepared about 1866 when the 
 authorities proposed to change the de- 
 sign of the 4sch as it was believed this 
 denomination had been forged in Ham- 
 burg. The change of design, however, 
 was abandoned owing to the war which 
 broke out at this time between Prussia 
 and Austria. Proofs from this "die 
 stone" are known in at least eight dif- 
 ferent colors. 
 
 In the official document relating to 
 the issue of the stamps, previously 
 quoted, no mention will be found of the 
 y 2 schilling in black on pale lilac paper, 
 and the 3 schillinge in black on rose 
 colored paper. These two varieties are 
 of a considerable degree of rarity, as a 
 reference to any catalogue quotations 
 will prove, and much controversy has 
 raged as to their status. Writing with 
 regard to them many years ago Mr. 
 Duerst stated: "The genuineness of 
 these two stamps is open to doubt. 
 These colors were not given in the offi- 
 cial decree promulgating the issue of 
 the stamps, and were only described 
 and catalogued after the cessation of 
 the Bergedorf post." 
 
 On the other hand M. Moens was a 
 strenuous believer in the legitimacy of 
 these varieties and as evidence that 
 they were issued published a letter he 
 had received from the Director of Posts 
 himself, viz: 
 
 March 29th, 1878. 
 Mv dear Friend, 
 
 There has been published no official 
 information on the subject of the is- 
 sue, rather by way of trial, of the old 
 Y 2 schilling and 3 schillinge stamps, 
 
with which we were concerned a little 
 time ago, because it was immediately 
 realised that the colours would have 
 to be changed, these colours being 
 difficult to recognize by artificial 
 light. 
 
 The pourparlers and discussions on 
 this point were never exchanged di- 
 rectly between the Bergedorf authori- 
 ties and myself, and were mostly car- 
 ried on verbally, which shows that 
 there can be no documents on this 
 subject. 
 
 With kind regards, 
 
 (Signed) PAALZOW. 
 From this letter one would infer that 
 the stamps were in use for some days 
 at any rate though no cancelled copies 
 are known or have ever been heard of. 
 Evidently M. Mocns misconstrued the 
 meaning of Herr Paalzow's letter for 
 an unbiased study of both sides of the 
 question shows the improbability of any 
 varieties other than those mentioned in 
 the official notice having been used. 
 
 The final quietus as to the right of 
 these varieties to be considered issued 
 stamps was given by Herr Paalzow's 
 son in an interesting article which ap- 
 peared in 1898 in the Virginia Phila- 
 telist. Herr Paalzow, Jr., states most 
 emphatically that the J^sch black on 
 lilac and 3sch black on rose were not is- 
 sued. He explains their existence as 
 follows : a sheet of each value was 
 printed and submitted for approval to 
 the administration. The colors of the 
 1, ~\. l /2, and 4sch were approved and 
 those of the l / 2 and 3sch were rejected. 
 The printer was then ordered to print 
 the ^sch in black on blue paper, and 
 the 3sch in blue on rose paper. Herr 
 Paalzow asserts that his father's letter, 
 written in German, did not convey the 
 meaning construed by M. Moens that 
 they were issued in a postal sense, but 
 rather that they had been made as 
 proofs or experiments. 
 
 These "stamps" are therefore only es- 
 says though we are perfectly willing to 
 concede they are rare essays and real- 
 ly have no right in a catalogue of is- 
 sued postage stamps. 
 
 On January 1st, 1901, all the docu- 
 ments bearing on the dual ownership of 
 Bergedorf by Lubeck and Hamburg and 
 lying in the archives at Lubeck were 
 transferred to Hamburg. While sort- 
 ing the various papers a block of twelve 
 of each of these essays was found with 
 the documents relating to the issue of 
 postage stamps. Beyond, however, prov- 
 ing that they were officially prepared 
 a fact that has never been disputed the 
 discovery of these stamps threw no fur- 
 ther light on their status. 
 
 THE l / 2 SCHILLING. 
 
 The y 2 schilling has the value in- 
 scribed as "EIN HALBER" in the left 
 border and, as we have already stated, 
 measures 15J4 mm. square. This value 
 was printed in black on blue paper and 
 it is the only one in which any color 
 variation is noticeable. The paper chosen 
 was of a pale blue tint but during the 
 process of printing this paper ran out of 
 stock and the additional supply obtained 
 was of a much deeper tint. 
 
 This value was printed in sheets of 
 200 divided into two panes of 100 each 
 and arranged in rather a curious man- 
 ner. From the design on the original 
 "die stone" the workman took twelve 
 transfers which he arranged in a block 
 in two vertical rows of six each. This 
 block was then transferred to the litho- 
 graphic stone sixteen times and the eight 
 additional impressions required to com- 
 plete the sheet of 200 were added to the 
 base as shown in the annexed diagram: 
 
 rH co o r- cirH 
 
 rH CO O .t~ C5 r- I rH CO O t Oi r- It 
 
 rHCOOir-OlrHrHCOOlr OirH 
 
 rHCOOt-CirHrHCOlOt-OirH 
 
 It would hardly be possible to identify 
 each of the twelve varieties composing 
 the transfer block though numbers 1, 2, 
 3 and 10 may be distinguished by small 
 peculiarities. 
 
 26 
 
Much has been made of the so-called 
 secret marks of the stamps of Bergedorf. 
 They are really guide dots made by the 
 lithographer to assist him in the correct 
 drawing of his designs. But though ac- 
 cidental varieties, inasmuch as they were 
 not intended to form a part of the origi- 
 nal designs, they are of considerable 
 importance to philatelists for they are 
 a valuable test in distinguishing the 
 original stamps from the "reprints." 
 
 The mark for the ^sch consists of a 
 small dot in the linked circle under the 
 second E of BERGEDORF. Dr. Brunei 
 states that there is also a small line, 
 shaped like a harpoon, between the wing 
 and leg of the eagle, and that on most 
 copies the link opposite the A of HAL- 
 BER is cut by a small line. 
 
 The total number printed was 200,000 
 (a thousand sheets) and of these about 
 161,000 were sold during the time they 
 were current. The stamps became obso- 
 lete on January 1st, 1868, and a few 
 months later the remainders were of- 
 fered for sale. These were purchased 
 by M. Moens for the sum of one thou- 
 sand francs ($200) and among the lot 
 were approximately 39,000 of the 
 
 
 ment of the sheet was, therefore, as 
 follows : 
 
 THE 1 SCHILLING. 
 
 The value on the 1 schilling was de- 
 noted by the word "EIN" in the left 
 border, and as this word was rather 
 short the spaces on each side were filled 
 with small ornaments. The design 
 measures exactly 16 mm. square. This 
 value was printed in black on white pa- 
 per in sheets of 200. A block of ten 
 transfers was taken from the original 
 die, and arranged in two vertical rows 
 of five. As the corner numerals in the 
 original drawing were considered too 
 thick and clumsy they were removed 
 before making the transfers. The work- 
 man then had to draw in the whole of 
 the forty numerals by hand so that small 
 differences may be found. From this 
 block of transfers the lithographic stone 
 was made, the block being transferred 
 twentv times. The stamps were ar- 
 ranged in two panes of one hundred 
 each placed one above the other and 
 separated by a space of about 2 mm. 
 For some reason best known to himself 
 the workman inverted all the stamps in 
 the lower pane so that each sheet pro- 
 vides ten tete beche pairs. The arrange- 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7878787878 
 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 
 
 OT 6 01 6 01 6 01 6 01 6 
 
 I 8 
 fi 9 
 8 f 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 f 
 
 2 I 2 I 
 
 Ot 6 01 6 
 
 8 I 8 I 
 
 9 Q 9 S 
 
 Q 9 
 8 f 
 Z 
 
 f 8 
 
 2 t 
 
 9 9 
 8 t 8 
 T 2 T 
 01 6 01 6 
 
 8181 
 959Q 
 
 t 8 * 8 
 
 9 S 
 
 t 8 
 
 Z I 
 
 01 6 
 
 8 I 
 
 9 e 
 
 * 8 
 
 Z I 
 
 There are three secret marks for this 
 value; a dot on the small circle below 
 the second E of BERGEDORF, another 
 below the I of EIN, and another above 
 the first L of SCHILLING. A further 
 peculiarity of this value is the fact that 
 the first two letters of POSTMARKE 
 are always joined. Of the ten impressions 
 forming the transfer block numbers 1, 
 2, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 can be identified by 
 small peculiarities. 
 
 Altogether 90,000 of the Isch were 
 printed. Of these 64,000 were sold 
 during the period of their currency, 
 leaving a balance of 26,000 in the re- 
 mainders sold to M. Moens. 
 
 THE \y 2 SCHILLING. 
 
 The value on this stamp was denoted 
 by the inscription "EIN u. EIN 
 HALB." in the left border, the design 
 measuring 17^4 mm. square. In the 
 original design the l^sch is inscribed 
 "SCHILLINGE" and though it seems 
 certain that a stone was prepared from 
 this and a number of sheets printed 
 these stamps were never issued and can 
 only be considered as essays. The 
 spelling was objected to and the litho- 
 grapher had to make a new stone. Dr. 
 Brunei says "At one time he thought 
 of re-drawing the whole stamp, but he 
 soon gave up that idea and contented 
 himself with making up a fresh setting, 
 the final E being simply erased." This 
 can, however, hardly have been the case 
 or there would have been a space be- 
 tween the G and the end of the tablet. 
 
 27 
 
As a matter of fact the word is proper- 
 ly centered in the border and it is evi- 
 dent an impression was taken from the 
 original die, the offending word erased, 
 and SCHILLING drawn in its place. 
 From this secondary "die" the block of 
 transfers used in making the printing 
 stone was laid down. Writing some 
 years ago on the subject Mr. Duerst 
 stated "The first issue contained all 
 with the error SCHILLINGS, and 
 gradually this was altered to SCHIL- 
 LING by entirely erasing the word and 
 inserting SCHILLING. As a conse- 
 quence blocks with both ways of spell- 
 ing can be found as well as whole 
 sheets without the error SCHIL- 
 LINGE." This is manifestly inaccu- 
 rate, for had the alteration been 
 effected in this manner all sorts of 
 varieties in the lettering of SCHIL- 
 LING would exist. 
 
 A block of twelve transfers, ar- 
 ranged in two vertical rows of six each, 
 was used in making the lithographic 
 stone. The sheets consisted of 200 
 stamps in two panes of 100, placed one 
 above the other, and this necessitated 
 an even more curious arrangement than 
 we have already referred to in the case 
 of the y 2 sch. The block of twelve was 
 transferred eight times for each pane 
 and the additional four stamps were 
 added to the ends of the middle rows. 
 The arrangement of each pane was, 
 therefore, as follows : 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 4 
 
 5 6 
 
 7 8 
 
 9 10 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 4 
 
 5 6 
 
 7 8 
 
 9 10 
 
 9 10 9 10 
 
 2 11 12 11 12 11 12 11 12 
 
 312121212 
 
 434343434 
 
 56565656 
 
 78787878 
 
 9 10 9 10 9 10 9 10 
 
 11 12 11 12 11 12 11 12 
 
 The additional stamps were all in- 
 verted in relation to the others so we 
 find eight tete-beche pairs in each sheet. 
 
 The secret marks consist of a dot in 
 the link under the second E of BERGE- 
 DORF, and another in the link over the 
 first L of SCHILLING. Of the twelve 
 impressions forming the transfer block 
 only No. 7 seems to provide a mark by 
 means of which it can be identified. 
 
 Of this denomination 100,000 were 
 printed and as only 32,000 were sold 
 while the issue was in use the re- 
 mainders handed over to M. Moens 
 consisted of no less than 68,000. 
 
 THE 3 SCHILLINGS. 
 
 The 3 schilling, inscribed "DRIE," 
 was printed in blue on rose colored 
 paper, the design measuring 19J4 by 
 19% mm. This value was printed in 
 sheets of 160 in sixteen rows of ten. A 
 block of ten transfers was made from 
 the original design these being arranged 
 in two horizontal rows of five each, 
 thus 
 
 5 
 
 10 
 
 This block was, therefore, transferred 
 sixteen times to complete the stone, 
 there being two vertical rows of these 
 blocks. The upper block of eight trans- 
 fers (80 stamps) was divided from the 
 lower one by a space of about 4 mm. 
 so the sheets are really in two panes 
 placed one above the other. 
 
 The secret marks consist of a dot in 
 the link above the second L of 
 SCHILLINGS, a small dot on the out- 
 er frame under the same letter, an 
 oblique line projecting from the top 
 frame above the second E of BERGE- 
 DORF, and a dot on the frame line 
 under the M of POSTMARKE. 
 
 Altogether 80,000 of these stamps 
 were printed of which about 37,000 were 
 sold during the period of their cur- 
 rency and the balance of 43,000 was in- 
 cluded in the parcel of remainders pur- 
 chased by M. Moens. 
 
 THE 4 SCHILLINGE. 
 
 The value on the 4sch was expressed 
 by the word "VIER," the design 
 measuring 21^ by 21 mm. These 
 stamps were printed in black on brown 
 paper in sheets of eighty arranged in 
 
 QBERCEDORFC 
 
 28 
 
ten rows of eight. The transfer block 
 used in making the lithographic stone 
 consisted of eight impressions in two 
 horizontal rows of four each These 
 were arranged in the sheet as follows: 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 There was a space of 5 mm. between 
 the fifth and sixth rows dividing the 
 stamps into two panes of forty each 
 As this division comes in the center of 
 the two middle blocks of transfers it is 
 possible that in these two rows the 
 group was broken and the two rows 
 placed horizontally so that the types 
 would be 
 
 2 3 
 2 3 
 
 This, however, could only be proved 
 by finding a mark of identification on 
 one or more of the impressions in the 
 group of transfers. 
 
 The secret marks for this value con- 
 sist of a projection of the vertical line 
 on the left of the P of POSTMARKS 
 through the lower frame, and an irreg- 
 ularity in the wavy lines of the back- 
 ground above and to the left of the 
 tower. One of these lines does not 
 continue downwards like the others, but 
 turns back close to the tower thus 
 showing a break. 
 
 Altogether 80,000 of the 4sch stamps 
 were printed, 30,000 being sold while the 
 issue was current and the balance of 
 50,000 going to M. Moens with the rest 
 of the remainders. 
 
 Although there were considerably 
 more of the l^sch in the remainders 
 than 3sch or 4sch yet the two latter 
 values are priced a little less in the 
 catalogues. 
 
 Owing to the number of remainders 
 genuine originals are still obtainable 
 in unused condition at quite low prices. 
 Used, however, the stamps are all very 
 scarce. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1861. Lithographed. Imperf. 
 
 1 ^sch black on blue, Scott's No. 3 or 3a. 
 
 2. Isch black on white, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 3. l l / 2 black on ydlow, Scott's No. 5. 
 
 4. 3sch blue on rose, Scott s No. b. 
 
 5. 4sch black on brown, Scott s No. 7. 
 
 OFFICIAL IMITATIONS. 
 
 In detailing the various values we 
 have given the total quantities printed 
 and an important point to bear in mind 
 is that all these were printed at the 
 same time, that is, there was only one 
 printing of each value. This was due 
 to the fact that only one lithographic 
 stone was purchased and as soon as 
 the supply of one value was printed 
 the stone was cleaned and the impres- 
 sions for another denomination were 
 transferred. It will thus be under- 
 stood that reprints do not exist, the so- 
 called "reprints" being nothing better 
 than imitations printed from new stones 
 though the original "dies" were cer- 
 tainly used. Of the many imitations 
 made only two were made by the Ber- 
 gedorf authorities themselves. In May 
 1867 M. Moens sent an order for twelve 
 sheets of each of the ^sch and 3sch 
 values in the colors of the rare essays. 
 As the group of transfers used in laying 
 down the original stone was non-exist- 
 ent fresh ones had to be made The 
 i^sch was transferred in blocks oi 
 eight and the 3sch in blocks of sixteen. 
 The sheets were of the same size as the 
 originals so that the total supply of 
 these imitations was 2,400 of the ^scn 
 and 1,920 of the 3sch. The impression 
 of the ^sch is less sharp than that of 
 the originals and the cross stroke of the 
 H of SCHILLING is either very in- 
 distinct or missing altogether. The 
 imitations of the 3sch may be at once 
 distinguished by the presence of two 
 small dots on the center of the b ol 
 POSTMARKS, dots which do not 
 show in the genuine labels. 
 
 PRIVATE IMITATIONS. 
 
 When M. Moens purchased the re- 
 mainders the "die stone" also became 
 his property and he caused new stones 
 to be made from these from which he 
 made printings on four different occa- 
 sions. Although these are usually des- 
 ignated as reprints they are nothing 
 better than unofficial imitations for, as 
 we have already shown, the original 
 stones were not available. It appears 
 that Moens had disposed of the entire 
 stock of remainders by 1872 and as the 
 demand was still good he decided to 
 make imitations. Further supplies were 
 made in 1874, 1887, and 1888. We 
 think it hardly necessary to follow L>r. 
 Brunei's extensive survey of the man- 
 ner in which the stones were made up 
 for the various printings; specialists 
 who are interested should refer to the 
 
 29 
 
article in the "Postage Stamp" men- 
 tioned in our introductory notes. It 
 will suffice for our purpose to point 
 out the little peculiarities by which these 
 imitations can be told from the genuine 
 stamps. To start with the 1^2 schilling 
 was never imitated for, as the original 
 design on the "die stone" bore the spell- 
 ing "SCHILLINGE" all the imita- 
 tions show the same "error." Speak- 
 ing generally the impressions of all 
 values are less sharp than those of the 
 originals and the shades of the papers 
 are not the same. 
 
 The first imitations of the ^sch, 
 made in 1872, measure 15 by 15^ mm. 
 The H of SCHILLING is always minus 
 the cross bar and one (sometimes 
 both) of the A's in the inscription are 
 also without the cross stroke. In the 
 second supply, made in 1887, the labels 
 measure 15J/2 mm. square. None of 
 the letters A have bars and the bar on 
 the H is either missing or very indis- 
 tinct. 
 
 In the first edition of the Isch (1872) 
 the numerals in the corners are quite 
 different from those on the originals 
 and generally have erifs at foot. They 
 measure 16 mm. square like the origi- 
 nals. In the second imitation (1887) 
 the numerals are all much too thick 
 being 1 mm. wide instead of the ^ mm. 
 of the originals. The size of the label 
 is 16J/2 by 1634 mm. and none of the 
 letters A are provided with a cross 
 bar. In the third supply (1888) the cor- 
 ner numerals are thin but this imita- 
 tion can " be at once identified by the 
 background which has almost entirely 
 worn away. 
 
 The first imitation of the 3sch (1872) 
 measures 19% by 19^ mm. and can be 
 at once distinguished by the absence of 
 shading on the head of the eagle. The 
 
 second issue (1887) can be identified by 
 the same characteristic and the size of 
 the labels is also different the measure- 
 ments being 19% by 20 mm. The up- 
 per part of the shield is solid and the 
 lines of the background are hardly 
 visible. The third issue (1888) may 
 also be distinguished from the originals 
 by the worn background and the ab- 
 sence of shading on the eagle's head. 
 
 The first imitation of the 4sch, made 
 in 1872, can be told by the presence of 
 a short line slanting upwards in the 
 circle opposite the I of VIER. The 
 wavy lines of the background, too, are 
 regular by the top of the tower and the 
 labels measure 21 by 20% mm. A sec- 
 ond supply was printed in 1874 these 
 being distinguished by a vertical line 
 on the head of the eagle and numerous 
 breaks in the wavy lines of the back- 
 ground. In the third supply, made in 
 1887, the oblique line by the I of VIER 
 again appears. The letters of BERGE- 
 DORF are very irregular and the back- 
 ground is very rough. These imitations 
 measure 21% by 21 y 2 mm. 
 
 Moens also possessed the original 
 obliterating stamp so that he was able 
 to oblige with "used" imitations if de- 
 sired. In 1895 this obliterator together 
 with the "die stone" was sold to the 
 Berlin Post Office Museum so that 
 fear of any further imitations is ob- 
 viated. 
 
 A number of counterfeits have also 
 been made from time to time some of 
 these dating from so long ago as 1864. 
 A comparison of any doubtful speci- 
 mens with the "secret marks" of the 
 originals and the foregoing description 
 of the imitations should enable any 
 collector to decide for himself what 
 they are. 
 
BREMEN. 
 
 The town of Bremen owes its origin 
 to a bishopric founded in 788 by Charle- 
 magne. Tiring of the episcopal yoke it 
 joined the Hanseatic league in the thir- 
 teenth century, this league being a con- 
 federation of German towns founded 
 for mutual protection and for the pro- 
 motion of commercial advantages. 
 Bremen seems to have been a somewhat 
 troublesome member of the league for 
 it was several times expelled and read- 
 mitted. By the sixteenth century it 
 was in a highly prosperous condition 
 and despite numerous vicissitudes since 
 it has retained its prosperity. Bremen 
 is situated at the mouth of the Weser 
 and embraces within its boundaries two 
 other towns Bremerhaven and Vege- 
 sack. Its modern commercial prosperi- 
 ty dates from the founding of Bremer- 
 haven in 1830, this port being only sec- 
 ond to Hamburg. It is one of the ship- 
 owning ports of Germany and has a 
 mercantile fleet of over 600 vessels 
 (with a tonnage in excess of 700,000) 
 including the fleet of the North Ger- 
 man Lloyd, whose headquarters are 
 here. Its most striking edifice is the 
 cathedral, dating from the llth century, 
 and the town hall is also an imposing 
 structure. It has many important in- 
 dustries and at the present time its 
 population numbers about 170,000. 
 
 The town of Bremen is the capital of 
 the free state of that name, a state hav- 
 ing an area of 99 square miles and a popu- 
 lation of about 230,000. It sends one 
 representative to the Imperial Diet and 
 has one vote in the Imperial Council. 
 The state forms a democratic republic 
 governed by a senate of sixteen elected 
 members (the excutive) presided over 
 by two burgomasters elected for four 
 years, and an assembly of 150 citizens 
 (the legislative). In 1810 it was an- 
 nexed by France, but three years later 
 recovered its independence and joined 
 the Germanic Confederation, subsequent- 
 ly the North German Confederation, and 
 finally was merged in the German 
 Empire. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 The philatelic history of Bremen is 
 short and uneventful. Its few stamps 
 have, seemingly, never been so exten- 
 sively written of as, for instance, those 
 of Bergedorf though they are full of in- 
 terest and much still remains to be dis- 
 covered regarding the make-up of the 
 sheets, the dates of issue of the many 
 
 pronounced shades, etc. Though the 
 second in importance of the three Han- 
 seatic towns of Hamburg, Bremen, and 
 Lubeck, Bremen was the first to employ 
 postage stamps. Its first stamp was 
 issued on April 10th, 1855 and was pure- 
 ly for local use. In 1856 a 5gr stamp 
 was issued for use on letters to Ham- 
 burg; in 1860 a 7gr stamp appeared this 
 being intended for prepayment of the 
 rate to Lubeck and Mecklenburg- 
 Schwerin; and in the following year a 
 5sgr value was issued for prepayment of 
 the ship-rate on letters to England. 
 Shortly afterwards a lOgr label made 
 its appearance, this being to prepay the 
 single letter rate to Holland. This 
 value was rouletted and in the follow- 
 ing year new supplies of the denomina- 
 tions already referred to were also 
 issued in this condition instead of im- 
 perf. as previously. In 1863 a reduction 
 in the local rate made a 2gr stamp 
 necessary and while no new values ap- 
 peared all were issued in 1867 perfo- 
 rated. On January 1st, 1868, Bremen 
 joined the North German Confedera- 
 tion and its special stamps were retired 
 in favor of the set for general use with- 
 in the Confederation. It will be noted 
 from foregoing notes that all the stamps 
 of Bremen were issued for local use or 
 for some special purpose. What we 
 may term outside correspondence was 
 forwarded through post-offices estab- 
 lished in the town by Hanover, Prussia, 
 and Thurn and Taxis, the stamps of 
 those offices being used. 
 
 The different currencies in use in 
 Germany at that date must have caused 
 considerable confusion, and that of Bre- 
 men appears to have been distinct from 
 all the others. Though the reichsthaler, 
 or < thaler, was the standard coin over 
 part of Northern Germany, it was split 
 up into 72 grote in Bremen, and into 24 
 gutegroschen of 12 pfennige each in 
 Brunswick and Hanover. Eleven grote 
 was considered equivalent to 5 silber- 
 groschen of Prussia so that the stamp of 
 lowest denomination, the 2 grote, was 
 worth a little less than 1 silbergroschen. 
 The reichsthaler was worth about 78c at 
 that period so that 1 grote was equiva- 
 lent to a fraction over Ic. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 The first stamp was issued on April 
 10th, 1855, its facial value being 3 grote 
 and it was intended for franking letters 
 within the town, including Bremerhaven 
 and Vegesack. The stamps were litho- 
 
 31 
 
graphed in Bremen, the design showing 
 the Arms (a key) on a shield sur- 
 mounted by a crown, with "STADT 
 POST AMT." (town post administra- 
 tion) above, and "BREMEN" below. On 
 each side of the shield is a large numeral 
 "3", in shaded figures within an oval, 
 richly ornamented with scroll work, and 
 in each of the angles is a small un- 
 colored "3" on a solid colored ground. 
 The key is emblematic of the indepen- 
 dence of the once free city for as Mr. 
 Overy Taylor wrote in the Stamp Col- 
 lector's Magazine (vol. IX p. 164) : "The 
 Bremen burgesses kept the key of their 
 own door, instead of giving it into the 
 custody of some neighbouring potentate, 
 and knew how to maintain their inde- 
 pendence long after other equally im- 
 portant towns had succumbed." 
 
 The stamps were printed in black on 
 dull greyish-blue paper of moderate 
 thickness, gummed with a white gum 
 thinly applied. The paper is laid and 
 the laid lines may be found running 
 both horizontally or vertically, the lat- 
 ter being a little the rarer unused and 
 much rarer used. 
 
 This 3 grote stamp was, as we have 
 already stated, produced by lithography. 
 Three drawings were made of the de- 
 sign each differing in small particulars 
 from the others. These three types ap- 
 pear side by side repeated throughout 
 the sheet, which consisted of twelve hori- 
 zontal rows of six stamps each as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 1 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 3 
 
 The face value of an entire sheet was, 
 therefore, exactly three reichsthalers. 
 There are a number of small differences 
 distinguishing the three types but the 
 following should suffice to identify them : 
 
 Type I. The central loop of the orna- 
 ment below "BREMEN" has a single 
 line drawn vertically through it. 
 
 Type II. Two vertical lines are 
 drawn through the loop. 
 
 Type III. Three vertical lines now 
 appear and the loop is open instead of 
 closed as in the other two types. 
 
 All three types are found with and 
 without a broken line under the inscrip- 
 tion "STADT POST AMT." These 
 stamps, in common with all others issued 
 subsequently in Bremen, were manufac- 
 tured by the Hunkel Lithographic Com- 
 pany, of Bremen. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1855. Lithographed. Laid paper. Imperf. 
 1. 3gr black on blue, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 The next stamp to appear was the 5 
 grote, which was created to prepay the 
 single letter rate to Hamburg. This 
 value was issued on April 4th, 1856, and 
 was also lithographed. The single let- 
 ter weight at that time was one loth 
 or ounce so that the charge (over 5c) 
 seems high for sending a letter to such 
 a nearby city; and all the more so when 
 it is considered that the Thurn and 
 Taxis office only charged 3 grote for 
 carrying a letter from Bremen to 
 Munich over six times the distance. 
 
 The design shows the Arms on a 
 shield in the centre surmounted by a 
 crown, with "France Marke" (frank 
 stamp) on a scroll above and the value 
 "fiinf Grote" on a scroll below. On each 
 side of the shield is a numeral "5" in an 
 oval frame, with scroll ornaments. The 
 whole is on a rectangular ground of zig- 
 zag lines running horizontally, the rec- 
 tangle having indented angles in which 
 are small ornaments. There were two 
 drawings of the design, differing in 
 small particulars, and the transfers were 
 applied to the lithographic stone in pairs. 
 The size of the sheet is, however, a mat- 
 ter regarding which we can find no in- 
 formation. The two types may be most 
 
readily distinguished by the disposition 
 of the zig-zag lines of the background. 
 In type I the lines immediately to the 
 left of the word "fiinf" are V shaped, 
 and there are eleven zig-zags at the bot- 
 tom of the design with about half of 
 
 another at each end. In type II the 
 lines to the left of "fiinf" slope down- 
 wards and there are exactly 11^4 zig- 
 zags at the foot of the design. There 
 are thin vertical and horizontal dividing 
 lines between all the stamps on a sheet 
 an4 in each corner, outside the design, 
 in a line with the middle of the three 
 projections, is a small dot. 
 
 Both types exist with the second word 
 of the upper inscription reading "Mar- 
 ken" but these varieties, prepared in er- 
 ror, were never issued. They are quite 
 common for a large quantity was in- 
 cluded with the remainders sold in 1868. 
 Reference List. 
 
 1856. Lithographed. Imperf. 
 
 2. ogr black on rose, Scott's No. 2. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 It was not until July 10th, 1860, that 
 another value was issued. This was the 
 7 grote issued for defraying the rate 
 of postage to Lubeck and Mecklenburg- 
 Schwerin. Correspondence in this di- 
 rection could not have been very large 
 for the 7gr used is a very scarce variety. 
 The design is very similar to that of the 
 5gr with the value at base expressed as 
 "Sieben Grote." There is but one type 
 of this value and, like the 5gr, there are 
 dividing lines between the stamps on 
 the sheet. A small mark, evidently 
 quite accidental in origin though it was 
 at one time dignified by the term "secret- 
 dot," appears on all the genuine stamps. 
 This is a small colored dot which ap- 
 pears just below the center of the up- 
 right stroke of the "k" of "Marke." 
 Reference List. 
 
 I860. Lithographed. Imperf. 
 
 3. 7gr black on yellow, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 On December 13th, 1861, a stamp of 
 5sgr was issued to prepay the ship rate 
 to Great Britain. In design, color, and 
 workmanship this is certainly the best 
 of all the Bremen issues. In the center 
 is the usual key (but without the crown) 
 
 on an oval of solid color with a richly 
 ornamented border. The rectangular 
 frame, which is also very ornate, con- 
 tains the name "BREMEN" at the top, 
 and the value "5 Sgr" at the base be- 
 tween small circles containing the 
 
 Roman number "V". There is only one 
 type of this stamp. Why the value was 
 expressed as 5 silbergroschen instead of 
 11 grote it is difficult to say. The sil- 
 bergroschen was not a Bremen coin 
 but the term may have been used because 
 this was the Prussian and Hanoverian 
 rate to England. This value is found in 
 several distinct shades of green and, un- 
 used, is commonest on thick paper. 
 Reference List. 
 
 1861. Lithographed. Imperf. 
 
 4. 5sgr green, Scott's Nos. 4 or 4a. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 On the same day that the 5sgr stamp 
 was issued a 10 grote stamp was placed 
 in circulation for prepayment of the 
 single letter rate to the Netherlands. 
 This stamp was lithographed in black on 
 white wove paper, the design showing 
 the "key" on a vertically lined oval with- 
 in a double framing, the inner one resem- 
 bling engine turned work, and the outer 
 one, containing the inscriptions, being 
 composed of lines crossing each other 
 
 diagonally, the frame making an irregu- 
 larly shaped oval. The inscriptions con- 
 sist of "BREMEN" in the upper part 
 and "ZEHN GROTE" in the lower. 
 In each of the four angles are the 
 numerals "10" on small flat ovals of 
 solid color. It is interesting to note 
 that in all genuine specimens there is an 
 error of engraving in the upper left 
 corner, the lines of the ground of the 
 outer frame extending over the exterior 
 white lines of the frame. It is curious 
 that this stamp is not known imperfor- 
 
 33 
 
ate, though issued on the same day as 
 the 5sgr, but was rouletted in the style 
 known as perces en scie, which made 
 incisions something like the teeth of a 
 saw in shape, gauging 16. There was 
 only one type for this value and the 
 stamps had dividing lines between them 
 on the sheet. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1861. Lithographed. Perces en scie 16. 
 5. lOgr black, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 THE SIXTH ISSUE. 
 
 In 1862 the 3gr, 5gr and 5sgr were issued 
 with the perces en scie roulettes but the 
 7gr, for which there was only a small 
 demand, is not known in that condition. 
 The 3gr, like the imperf. variety is 
 found on laid paper while the other two 
 values are on wove paper. The same 
 types of the 3gr and 5gr exist for 
 the original stones were used. 
 Reference List. 
 
 1862. Lithographed. Wove or laid (3gr) 
 paper. Perces en scie 16. 
 
 6. 3gr black on blue, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 7. ogr black on rose, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 S. 5sgr green, Scott's No. 8 or No. 8a. 
 
 THE SEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 On April 29th, 1863, a new value, 2 
 grote, was issued this being for the 
 single letter rate between Bremen and 
 Vegesack. The design shows the 
 
 usual '"key" in the centre within a 
 pearled oval which in turn is sur- 
 rounded by a broad engine-turned 
 oval band. This band is inscribed 
 "BREMEN" at top and "ZWEI 
 GROTE" at foot. The large oval is 
 enclosed by a rectangular frame 
 inscribed "STADT" at left, "POST" at 
 top, and "AMT" at right. In each of 
 the corners the numeral "2" is shown 
 on a small shield and the spandrels are 
 filled with ornamentation. This value 
 was lithographed in orange varying a 
 good deal in shade and, like the 10 
 grote, was never issued in imperforate 
 condition. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1863. Lithographed. Wove paper. Perces en 
 
 scie 16. 
 t>. 2gr orange, Scott's No. 5 or No. 5a. 
 
 THE EIGHTH ISSUE. 
 
 The two grote was the last stamp to 
 be issued and no further changes were 
 made until 1867 when all six values 
 were placed in circulation perforated 13, 
 the perforation evidently being the work 
 of a single lined machine. The 3gr is 
 on laid paper as before, all the others 
 being on wove. The dividing lines were 
 removed from the stone of the 7gr and 
 though the lines remained on the other 
 values they did not always print dis- 
 tinctly. Most of the values of this set 
 are considerably rarer used than unused 
 for not only did they have a very short 
 life, but, as we shall show later, a 
 number of remainders came on the mar- 
 ket in 1868. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1867. Lithographed. Wove or laid (3gr) 
 paper. Perf. 13. 
 
 10. 2gr orange, Scott's No. 11 or lla. 
 
 11. 3gr black on blue, Scott's No. 10. 
 
 12. 5gr black on rose, Scott's No. 12. 
 
 13. 7gr black on yellow, Scott's No. 13. 
 
 14. lOgr black, Scott's No. 14. 
 
 15. 5sgr green, Scott's No. 15 or No. 15a. 
 
 At the end of 1867 the post-office of 
 Bremen ceased to exist as a separate 
 administration, and from January 1st 
 1868 formed part of the North German 
 Confederation. The remaining stamps 
 in stock, comprising a large quantity of 
 the perforated stamps, some of the 5gr 
 and 5sgr imperforate, and a few lOgr 
 rouletted were subsequently sold. The 
 only item I can trace bearing on the 
 disposal of the remainders is a para- 
 
 fraph in the Monthly Journal for 
 une, 1903, viz: 
 
 About the same date (December, 
 1868) Mr. Van Rinsum, of Amster- 
 dam, passing through Bremen, pur- 
 chased the whole stock of stamps 
 there, for cash down, at the high price 
 of 5 thalers ! At least that is what 
 I have been told. We may suppose 
 that this was not such a bad bargain 
 for Mr. Van Rinsum. 
 Before concluding this short sketch of 
 the postal issues of Bremen mention 
 should be made of two labels which 
 sometimes turn up in old collections and 
 are apt to prove puzzling to the tyro. 
 One of these is a 1 grote stamp bearing 
 a large figure "1" in the middle sur- 
 rounded by rays and bearing a small 
 circle in its center on which is the usual 
 Bremen "key." Surmounting this is the 
 word "Umsatzsteuer." This is simply a 
 
fiscal stamp and, of course, has no place 
 in a collection of postage stamps. 
 
 The other variety is circular in shape 
 and has scalloped edges. The design 
 consists of three concentric circles with 
 the Arms in the centre surrounded by 
 the inscription "STADT POST AMT 
 BREMEN." It is printed in black on 
 blue or pink paper. Though at one 
 
 time considered an official postage stamp 
 its postal use has never been proved and 
 a writer in the "Stamp Collector's Maga- 
 zine" (vol. IV, p. 173) stated that "the 
 only official documents I find them on 
 are Bremen 'letter bills/ and even then 
 they are not upon the covers, but upon 
 the 'bills' themselves. What their use 
 is I cannot say." 
 
 BRUNSWICK. 
 
 Brunswick, or Braunschweig to give 
 it its Teutonic name, is a sovereign 
 duchy of the German Empire situated 
 between Hanover, Saxony, and West- 
 phalia. It has an area of 1424 square 
 miles and a population a little in excess 
 of half a million. The duchy has two 
 votes in the Imperial Council and sends 
 three representatives to the Imperial 
 Diet. Originally Brunswick formed a 
 part of the duchy of Saxony, but in 
 1235 the independent duchy of Bruns- 
 wick was created. Subsequently, along 
 with Hanover, Luneburg, Celle and 
 other territories, it was transferred and 
 reconveyed several times as the various 
 Brunswick dynasties were founded and 
 died out. The duchy suffered severely 
 during the Seven Years War. It was 
 occupied by the French in 1806, an- 
 nexed to the kingdom of Westphalia in 
 the following year, and restored to its 
 duke in 1813. The direct Guelf line 
 became extinct in 1884, on the death 
 of the childless Duke William, and since 
 1885 the duchy has been governed by 
 a regent. 
 
 The town of Brunswick, capital of 
 the duchy, is of ancient origin, its cath- 
 edral, for instance, dating from 1172. 
 Here is found the tomb of Henry the 
 Lion, Duke of Saxony, whose de- 
 scendants created the independent duchy. 
 
 The currency was the same as that 
 of Hanover being the reichsthaler, 
 worth about 78c, divided into 24 gute- 
 groschen of 12 pfennige, or the thaler, 
 worth about 72c, divided into 30 silber- 
 groschen of 10 pfennige. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 While its neighbours. Hanover and 
 Prussia, issued stamps in 1850, Bruns- 
 wick did not follow suit until January 
 1st, 1852, when a series of three values 
 was issued. All three values are of 
 similar design, the centerpiece showing 
 the horse of Brunswick galloping to the 
 left, with a ducal coronet above, the 
 whole being on a transverse oval with 
 
 ground of vertical lines. On each side 
 are small upright uncolored ovals con- 
 taining the numerals of value, and above 
 and below are scrolls the upper one 
 containing the name, "BRAUN- 
 SCHWEIG," and the lower one the 
 value, "EIN (ZWEI or DRIE) SILB. 
 GR." The whole is enclosed within 
 a double-lined rectangular frame, one 
 line being thick and the other thin. 
 
 The stamps were designed and en- 
 graved by Herr K. Petersen, and 
 printed bv Herr J. H. Meyer, in Bruns- 
 wick. That separate dies were en- 
 graved for each of the three values is 
 proved by slight differences in the de- 
 signs, especially noticeable in the num- 
 ber and arrangement of the stones be- 
 low the horse. They were printed on 
 a fairly thick white wove paper and 
 the gum used was either reddish-brown 
 or white with a brownish tinge similar 
 to that used for the stamps of Hanover. 
 They were issued imperforate. Accord- 
 ing to Mr. Ehrenbach (London Phi- 
 latelist vol. Ill, p. 162) the stamps were 
 printed in sheets of 120 arranged in 
 twelve horizontal rows of ten each, the 
 stamps being about 2 mm. apart. Mr. 
 Westoby states that the plates were com- 
 posed of type-metal casts, which may 
 account for the existence of the three 
 "types" of the Isgr differentiated by 
 Mr. Ehrenbach as follows : 
 
 Type I. With no dots on the figures 
 of value. 
 
 Type II. With a dot on the figure 
 at right. 
 
 Type III. With a dot on the figure at 
 'left. 
 
 Mr. Ehrenbach further states that 
 there is an error of lettering in type I 
 
 35 
 
with the word "SILBG" reading "SIL. 
 3." The stamps were only in use about 
 fourteen months and unused specimens, 
 with original gum, are among the rarest 
 of German stamps. Indeed, many au- 
 thorities consider the Isgr unused as 
 the rarest European stamp. 
 
 When the stamps were first placed 
 on sale considerable interest was evinced 
 in their issue by the public. It is said 
 that a huge crowd awaited the opening 
 of the chief post-office in the town of 
 Brunswick. At first only strips of ten 
 stamps were sold to purchasers but this 
 order was rescinded in 1853. Unfor- 
 tunately no official documents are 
 known to exist having any bearing on 
 the history of these stamps as one of 
 the Postmasters-General, who had a 
 terrible aversion to the accumulation 
 of papers and records, had ordered 
 everything to be burned. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1852. Typographed. Imperf. 
 
 1. Isgr rose, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 2. 2sgr blue, Scott's No. 2. 
 
 3. 3sgr vermilion. Scott's No. 3. 
 
 shade as there were several printings 
 during the period the stamps were cur- 
 rent. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1853. Typographed. Wmk. Posthorn. Imperf. 
 
 4. ISPT black on orange, Scott's Nos. 4 or 5. 
 
 5. 2sgr black on blue, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 6. 3sgr black on rose, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 Two low values were added to the 
 series on March 1st, 1856, 3 pfennig^ 
 54ggr, and4pfennig=%ggr. The former 
 had "54" in the ovals at the sides and 
 "DRIE PFENNIG" in the scroll below ; 
 while the latter had "%" in the ovals 
 and was inscribed "VIER SILBR. GR." 
 These stamps were also printed on the 
 watermarked paper the %sgr being on 
 brown, and the %sgr on white. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1856. Typographed. Wmk. Posthorn. Imperf. 
 
 7. l Aggr (3pf) black on brown, Scott's No. 8. 
 
 8. Xggr (4pf) black, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 On March 1st, 1853, the stamps ap- 
 peared printed in black on colored paper, 
 the Isgr being on yellow, the 2sgr on 
 blue, and the 3sgr on rose. The stamps 
 of the first issue were not called in or 
 demonetised and this fact probably ac- 
 counts for the scarcity of unused speci- 
 mens. The paper employed for the sec- 
 ond issue was hand-made, of coarse 
 texture, and was watermarked. The 
 watermark consisted of a posthorn, 
 turned to the left, within a rectangular 
 
 frame though occasionally, owing to the 
 paper being inserted wrong way into 
 the printing press, the device may be 
 found turned to the right. Every post- 
 horn of the 120 contained in a sheet 
 differs in size and shape from the others 
 the "bits" for the dandy-roll having 
 been made by hand. Mr. Meyer was 
 again entrusted with the printing of the 
 stamps, under the control of the ad- 
 ministration, and Mr. Westoby tells us 
 he used an ordinary printing press for 
 the purpose. The paper varies in 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 The 54ggr was only in use for eleven 
 months (the total quantity printed being 
 271,040) when it was replaced by a new 
 stamp of unusual design. This was a 
 large stamp, 24 mm. square, capable of 
 being divided into four, each of the 
 divisions representing 3 pfennig, and 
 the entire stamp being equivalent to 1 
 gutegroschen. The central portion of 
 the stamp was divided into four squares 
 each containing a transverse oval in- 
 scribed "54" surmounted by a crown 
 with "Gutegr." below. Above the up- 
 per quarters and below the lower ones 
 is "Postmarke," and at the side of 
 each square is "3 Pfennige" in italic 
 type. The whole is enclosed by a thick 
 single-lined frame. This, it is inter- 
 esting to note, is the only Brunswick 
 stamp failing to show the galloping 
 horse. The stamps were printed in 
 black on brown watermarked paper but 
 as the paper was intended for stamps 
 of smaller size the posthorns appear 
 very irregularly. The stamps were 
 printed in sheets of 100 in ten rows 
 of ten. 
 
 A large quantity of this value was 
 printed in brown on white paper in 1866 
 but for some reason or other they were 
 never issued. The variety is quite com- 
 mon, however, for the entire lot was 
 sold with the remainders in 1868, when 
 the post-office of Brunswick was ab- 
 sorbed by that of the North German 
 Confederation. 
 
 36 
 
Reference List. 
 
 1857. Typographed. Wmk. Posthorn. Imperf. 
 0. 4/4ggr black on brown, Scott's No. 10. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 The 3sgr resumed its original color 
 of rose on white paper in September, 
 1862, though, as the watermarked paper 
 was used, it cannot be confused with 
 the rare stamp of 1852. 
 
 On January 1st, 1863, another value 
 was added to the series by the issue of 
 a stamp of ^sgr, printed in black _on 
 green watermarked paper. The design 
 is similar to that of the other values 
 but the value in numerals on the small 
 ovals at the sides is in uncolored figures 
 on a ground of solid color. The value 
 in words on the lower scroll is expressed 
 as "FUNF PFENNIG." 
 
 Reference List. 
 1862-63. Typographed. Wmk. Posthorn. Imperf. 
 
 10. J^sgr black on green, Scott's No. 11. 
 sgr rose, Scott's No. 12. 
 
 11. 
 
 THE SIXTH ISSUE. 
 
 Up to 1864 none of the stamps had 
 been issued other than imperforate ; but 
 in July of that year the Isgr was changed 
 in color, being printed in yellow on 
 white paper, and the opportunity was 
 taken of experimenting with a roulette. 
 The rouletting was done in line and 
 had a gauge of 12. Whether the cuts 
 were made by a rouletting wheel or on 
 the printing press with ordinary notched 
 rule does not appear to be known. The 
 roulette is always very indistinct owing 
 to the thickness of the paper. It was 
 not particularly satisfactory and in the 
 following month other stamps appeared 
 with the rouletted cuts arranged in a 
 series of short curves giving a scallop 
 effect to the edges of severed stamps. 
 This is the style known as perces en arc 
 and it had a gauge of 16^2 to 17^2. This 
 rouletting, Mr. Westoby tells us, was 
 done by the printer, Meyer, in the press 
 by means of thin brass printer's rule. 
 The %ggr black on white, J^sgr black 
 on green, Isgr black on yellow, Isgr 
 yellow on white, 2sgr black on blue, and 
 
 3sgr rose on white were all issued with 
 this roulette, some of them being ex- 
 tremely rare. The ^2 sgr black on green, 
 Isgr black on yellow, and 3sgr rose on 
 white are also known rouletted in line 
 but there seems considerable doubt as 
 to whether these varieties were issued 
 officially. The ^sgr is also known perf. 
 12 but this is known to be an unofficial 
 production. To a note regarding this 
 Mr. Westoby adds "nor is there any 
 doubt that some rouletted specimens 
 have been manufactured by the purvey- 
 ors of varieties." 
 
 In the list below we only include those 
 varieties regarding which there are no 
 doubts as to their official origin. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1864. Wmk. Posthorn. Rouletted 12. 
 12. Isgr yellow, Scott's No. 19. 
 Perces en arc 16*4 to 1754. 
 i^ggr black, Scott's No. 13. 
 J^sgr black on green, Scott's No. 14. _ 
 Isgr black on yellow, Scott's No. 15. 
 Isgr yellow, Scott's No. 17. 
 2sgr black on blue, Scott's No. 16. 
 3sgr rose, Scott's No. 18. 
 
 13. 
 14. 
 15. 
 16. 
 
 17. 
 18. 
 
 THE SEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 In October, 1865, stamps of a new de- 
 sign were introduced. The colors were 
 also changed so as to make them more 
 in conformity with those adopted by 
 the Thurn and Taxis post-office and the 
 German States. The dies, which were 
 engraved on steel at Berlin, were com- 
 mon to adhesives and a series of enve- 
 lopes. The design consists of the usual 
 galloping horse surmounted by a ducal 
 crown, this being in white on an oval 
 of solid color. Around this is an oval 
 band on which the name "BRAUN- 
 SCHWEIG" appears at the top and 
 "GROSCHEN" at the base on an en- 
 gine-turned ground. In the center of 
 the band at each side of the horse is a 
 disc for the numerals of value. Four 
 values were issued, %gr, Igr, 2gr and 
 Sgr all being embossed in color on 
 plain white wove machine made paper. 
 They were rouletted perces en arc like 
 the set they superseded. The stamps 
 were printed in sheets of 100 arranged 
 in ten rows of ten. 
 
 Mr. Westoby gives an excellent ac- 
 count of the method employed in the 
 manufacture of these stamps and other 
 embossed stamps of a similar nature is- 
 sued about the same time for Lubeck, 
 Prussia, and Oldenburg viz : 
 
 The matrix dies were, with scarcely 
 any exception, engraved by Schilling, 
 the engraver to the Irrlperial Printing 
 Works. The central design alone was 
 first engraved on a block of steel in 
 
intaglio, from which a mechanical 
 workman made a punch in steel; and 
 if four values were required, he, with 
 the aid of the punch, sank the central 
 design on four steel dies, on which 
 the engraver subsequently added the 
 border and the proper inscriptions. 
 Were envelopes alone wanted, the pro- 
 cess was complete; but when adhesive 
 stamps were required a further process 
 was necessary, as plates had to be 
 constructed. The embossed adhesive 
 stamps were generally printed in 
 sheets of 100 or 150, arranged in 
 rows of ten. Fifty rectangular im- 
 pressions in lead of the size of the 
 stamp were struck from each die in a 
 fly-press, and these were clamped to- 
 gether in a chase in five rows of ten. 
 From each of these, two or three 
 electrotypes were made, which formed 
 the printing plate of 100 or 150 stamps. 
 The vertical and horizontal rows were 
 numbered consecutively in each mar- 
 gin in movable type figures, and the 
 plate was ready for printing. The 
 process appears complicated, but it 
 was not a very expensive one where 
 the stamps were not required in large 
 quantities. 
 
 Proofs of the new stamps were dis- 
 tributed in January, 1865, and it was 
 stated they would be ready for issue 
 on April 1st, but, as we have already 
 stated, they did not actually appear until 
 October. 
 
 There are several shades of all ex- 
 cept the lowest value, and all are known 
 imperforate. These were never issued 
 but are from sheets which were found 
 among the remainders. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1865. 
 
 No wmk. Perces en arc 
 
 19. 
 20. 
 21. 
 22. 
 
 Embossed. 
 
 16^ to 17%. 
 
 H&r black, Scott's No. 20. 
 Igr rose, Scott's No. 21. 
 2gr blue, Scott's No. 22. 
 3gr bistre, Scott's No. 23. 
 
 At the end of 1867 the postal adminis- 
 tration of Brunswick was merged in 
 that of the North German Confederation 
 and ceased to exist as an independent 
 establishment after December 31st, 1867. 
 
 The remainders of the 1865 issue were 
 sold in 1868. They were not offered in 
 one lot but could be purchased by the 
 100 sheets at about 2 thalers by anyone 
 interested. As a matter of fact most of 
 them were purchased by one man, a Ger- 
 man dealer, and that there must have 
 been a large stock of some values is ob- 
 vious from the low prices at which they 
 are priced in present day catalogues. 
 
 HAMBURG. 
 
 Hamburg, a seaport town in Ger- 
 many, is the capital of the independent 
 state of the same name and the most 
 important seaport on the continent of 
 Europe. It is situated on the right 
 bank of the river Elbe, 75 miles above 
 its outflow into the North Sea, and it 
 is 178 miles by rail from Berlin. 
 
 On the site now occupied by this im- 
 portant city there were but a few 
 scattered fishermen's cottages before the 
 time of Charlemagne. Then a few 
 merchants settled in the vicinity and by 
 808 the place had attained sufficient im- 
 portance for Charlemagne to erect a 
 fortified castle to protect his subjects 
 from the depredations of the Normans 
 and Danes. This castle, or "burg," 
 took its name from the neighbouring 
 forest of Hamme, and the original 
 spelling of Hammeburg was, later, cor- 
 rupted to Hamburg. About the middle 
 of the ninth century the town, under 
 Archbishop Ansgar, became the dis- 
 seminator of Christianity throughout 
 
 northern Europe. After frequent pil- 
 lages and burnings from Northmen, 
 Danes, and Slavs the town began to be 
 frequented as a trade centre and by 
 the end of the twelfth century it was 
 not only prosperous but, though under 
 the domination of the Duke of Hoi- 
 stein, practically independent. Towards 
 the middle of the thirteenth century 
 Hamburg was united to Bremen (to 
 which the archiepiscopal see was trans- 
 ferred in 1223) and Lubeck in the 
 formation of the Hanseatic league. 
 This league or Hansa (from the old 
 Teutonic word Aan.fitt=partnership) 
 was an association of trading towns 
 which had considerable political power 
 until the sixteenth century. Most of 
 the important seaports from London to 
 Novgorod, in Russia, belonged to the 
 league and their ships carried one com- 
 mon flag that of the Hansa. In 1619 
 the Bank of Hamburg was founded and 
 this imparted an enormous impulse to 
 its commercial importance, and about 
 
the same time a number of English 
 merchant adventurers and numerous 
 Jews expelled from Spain and Portu- 
 gal settled in the town. In the early 
 years of the nineteenth century it ex- 
 perienced hard times being occupied by 
 the Danes in 1801 and by the French in 
 1806. The latter, under Devout, treated 
 the inhabitants very harshly and also 
 seized the treasure of the Bank amount- 
 ing to about seven million marks. A 
 return to its old prosperity began with 
 the fall of Napoleon and even the de- 
 structive fire of 1842, which burned 
 nearly half the town, failed to have 
 any serious drawback on its progress. 
 In consequence of this disastrous fire 
 Hamburg is a very modern town in 
 appearance and most of its important 
 public buildings and institutions date 
 only from 1842. Among the more note- 
 worthy of these are the churches of 
 St. Michael, St. Peter, and St. Nicholas, 
 the town hall, marine office or See- 
 u'arte, the museums of fine art, arts 
 and crafts, botany, and natural history, 
 the commercial and municipal libraries 
 (the latter of considerable value), the 
 hygenic institute, and a fine hospital. 
 
 Hamburg occupies a distinguished 
 place in the history of German litera- 
 ture and drama, having been the home 
 of Lessing, Heine, Hageborn, Klop- 
 stock, Voss, Reimarus, Claudius, and 
 Schroeder. 
 
 During the last century its popula- 
 tion has increased tenfold. from 
 106,983 in 1811 to over a million at the 
 present time it is thus the second 
 largest city in the German Empire. 
 
 During the second half of the nine- 
 teenth century Hamburg's trade de- 
 veloped in an extraordinary manner, 
 this increasing from about a hundred 
 and fifty million dollars in 1851 to over 
 twelve hundred million dollars in 1904. 
 But this only represented its sea trade 
 and in addition its rail and river borne 
 trade with the interior of Germany in- 
 creased to a proportionate extent dur- 
 ing the same period. As further 
 evidence of its prosperity we find that 
 while in 1871 it owned 448 seagoing 
 vessels with an aggregate tonnage of 
 214,280, in 1904 the port possessed 1009 
 seagoing vessels with a total tonnage of 
 1,256,640. It is the headquarters of the 
 famous Hamburg-American line which 
 owns one of the finest fleets of pas- 
 senger steamships in the world. 
 
 The greater part of the harbour con- 
 stitutes a free port, which was con- 
 structed in 1883-8 at an approximate 
 cost of thirty-five million dollars. Its 
 total area is 2570 acres, of which 1750 
 acres are land surface. The port is 
 
 one of the chief points of embarkation 
 for emigrants from the middle and east 
 of Europe, the greater number of which 
 proceed to the United States. 
 
 The industry of Hamburg is a. long 
 way inferior to its commerce, yet the 
 town possesses large tobacco, chemical, 
 india-rubber, and furniture factories, 
 engineering works, shipbuilding yards, 
 printing offices, breweries, distilleries, 
 etc. 
 
 The State of Hamburg has an area of 
 160 square miles and a population just 
 about equalling that of its capital, i. e. 
 900,000. Over ninety per cent, of its in- 
 habitants are Evangelical Protestants. 
 The State retains its ancient independ- 
 ence, the legislative power being vested 
 in a Senate of eighteen members and a 
 House of Burgesses numbering 160 
 members. The executive power is almost 
 entirely in the hands of the Senate. 
 The State has one vote in the Federal 
 Council of the Empire and sends three 
 members to the Imperial Diet. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 Of the three Free and Hanseatic 
 towns Bremen was the first to issue 
 postage stamps, its first labels being on 
 sale in 1855, and it was not until Janu- 
 ary 1st, 1859, that Hamburg and Lubeck 
 joined the ranks of stamp issuing towns 
 and states. The stamps of Hamburg 
 had a somewhat restricted use, being 
 only used on local letters for the city 
 and its suburbs, and for franking cor- 
 respondence to the neighbouring states 
 and to the Netherlands, while they were 
 also available on "ship-letters" sent to 
 Great Britain. This seeming reluctance 
 to issue postage stamps, considering the 
 commercial importance of the port, was 
 probably due to the fact that Thurn and 
 Taxis, Prussia, Denmark, Sweden and 
 Norway, Hanover and Mecklenburg, all 
 had offices in the city and it was through 
 these that the general continental letters 
 were forwarded. The Thurn and Taxis 
 office seems to have had the major por- 
 tion of the postal trade and practically 
 all foreign letters went through this 
 agency. The first set of stamps con- 
 sisted of seven values ^, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 
 and 9 schilling and in 1864 these were 
 augmented by the addition of 1*4 and 
 2^sch stamps, all of these being im- 
 perforate. In September, 1864, several 
 of the values appeared perforated and 
 by April of the following year all had 
 been issued in this condition. In Feb- 
 ruary, 1865, the color of the 7sch was 
 changed from orange to lilac, pre- 
 sumably to prevent confusion with the 
 
9sch. In 1866 a l^sch stamp was 
 issued, and at the same time the design 
 of the IJ^sch label was altered. The 
 North German Confederation came into 
 being on January 1st, 1868, and Ham- 
 burg, having joined this, ceased to issue 
 its own distinctive stamps. 
 
 The currency was in marks and 
 schillings, a Hamburg mark, equal to 
 about 28c, being divided into 16 schil- 
 ling, and this continued until the unifi- 
 cation of German currency in 1875 i. e., 
 seven years after Hamburg's stamps had 
 been superseded. 
 
 For a proper appreciation of these 
 stamps a knowledge of the postal tariffs 
 obtaining at the time of their use is 
 necessary, and in this connection the 
 following extract from Mr. R. R. 
 Thiele's excellent article, "The Why and 
 Wherefore of Various Stamps," which 
 appeared in the Philatelic Record for 
 July, 1906, is particularly interesting: 
 The l / 2 schilling stamp was intended 
 to cover the rate on printed matter 
 per lot (= ounce) to Ritzebuttel (a 
 suburb of Hamburg), to Bremen, Lu- 
 beck, and the Grand Duchy of Olden- 
 burg. The 1 schilling was the letter 
 rate on local letters and to Bergedorf, 
 also the rate on printed matter to 
 Heligoland, to the Netherlands, and 
 to Great Britain. The 2 schilling was 
 for the single letter rate to the out- 
 lying towns on Hamburg territory, to 
 the Vierlande, to Ritzebuttel and Lu- 
 beck. The 3 schilling was intended 
 for single letters to Bremen and the 
 larger part of Oldenburg, while the 
 4 schilling covered the letter rate to 
 Heligoland and to certain towns in 
 Oldenburg. The 7 schilling, orange, 
 was for letters to the larger part of 
 the Netherlands, and after July 1st, 
 1859, to Great Britain and Ireland. 
 The 9 schilling at first served the 
 letter rate to Great Britain and Ire- 
 land; after the reduction to 7sch it 
 served in combinations for various 
 foreign rates. 
 
 The Danish war brought the issue 
 of a new value. The Danish post 
 office at Hamburg had always handled 
 the correspondence to Schleswig- 
 Hplstein. When the war broke out, 
 this office was cut off from the mother 
 country and the Hamburg authorities 
 took charge of it. The Danish rate 
 to Schleswig-Holstein was 4 skilling ; 
 for a few days after February 21st, 
 1864, the date of taking possession, 
 the office continued to use the Danish 
 stamps of that value. But new stamps 
 of the value of 1% schilling courant, 
 the equivalent of 4 skilling Danish, 
 were ordered immediately and issued 
 
 for the first time on February 29th. 
 This value, then, served for the letter 
 rate to Schleswig-Holstein and to 
 Denmark. Denmark immediately re- 
 taliated by raising the letter rate from 
 Denmark to Hamburg to 8 skilling ; 
 Hamburg followed suit by issuing the 
 2 l / 2 schilling, green, on April 2nd, 
 
 1864, to serve the letter rate to Den- 
 mark, 2 l / 2 schilling courant equaling 8 
 rigsbankskilling ; the rate to Schles- 
 wig-Holstein remained at 1^4 schilling, 
 but the rate to Altona was lowered to 
 l / 2 schilling on September 7th, 1864, 
 and the l /2 schilling also served on 
 printed matter to the Duchies from 
 March 1st, 1865. On January 1st, 
 
 1865, the rate on letters within the 
 city of Hamburg was reduced to l /2 
 schilling, so that the l / 2 schilling in its 
 perforated state is comparatively com- 
 mon. This is also the reason why the 
 North German Confederation after- 
 wards issued a special stamp of the 
 value of l /2 schilling for Hamburg. 
 The l /2 schilling rate was extended to 
 the adjacent territory on March 1st, 
 
 1866, and to Bergedorf and the Vier- 
 lande on June 15th, 1866. 
 
 From January 1st, 1865, all the 
 stamps of Hamburg served a large 
 variety of foreign rates, as on that 
 date an arrangement went into effect 
 whereby all letters within Hamburg, 
 no matter for what office they were 
 intended, were collected from all let- 
 ter-boxes by the municipal post office 
 and then turned over to the foreign 
 offices. All such letters dropped into 
 the boxes would be prepaid either by 
 the respective foreign stamps or by 
 Hamburg stamps: in the latter case 
 the postoffices made settlement with 
 each other on the basis of the for- 
 eign rates. The municipal post office 
 in some cases made a little profit 
 here, as its stamps did not always 
 correspond to the foreign rates, and in 
 such cases the next higher stamp had 
 to be used. For instance, the 1 
 silbergroschen rate to the German- 
 Austrian Postal Union corresponded 
 to 1 1/3 schilling courant; as there 
 was no such stamp, 1^ schilling's 
 worth of stamps had to be affixed. 
 The 2 silbergroschen rate answered to 
 22/3 schilling courant; for this a 3 
 schilling stamp had to be used, the 
 municipal post office pocketing the 
 difference. The 4 schilling stamp, of 
 course, exactly corresponded to the 3 
 silbergroschen rate. 
 
 About this time some changes in 
 rates took place. The money-order 
 system was introduced on March 1st, 
 1866, and the 2 schilling stamp was 
 
 40 
 
thereafter also used for money orders 
 to Schleswig-Holstein up to 62 mark 
 courant. From May 14th, 1866, the 
 same stamp was permitted to be used 
 for the registration fee for Hamburg 
 and territory, which theretofore was 
 paid in cash; for July 1st, 1866, the 
 letter rate to Heligoland was lowered 
 to 2 schilling. The 3 schilling stamp 
 . . . was used from July 1st, 186G, 
 for the registration fee to Heligoland 
 and from November 1st, 1866, for the 
 registration fee to the Netherlands. 
 On November 1st, 1866, the letter rate 
 to the entire Netherlands was reduced 
 to 4 schilling. 
 
 The letter rate to Lubeck was re- 
 duced to 1^ schilling on October 1st, 
 1865, and the printed matter rate to 
 the Netherlands to the same on July 
 1st, 1865 ; hence a stamp of that value 
 became desirable, and was issued on 
 April 1st, 1866. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 The first postage stamps for Hamburg 
 were placed on sale on January 1st, 1859, 
 the set consisting of seven different val- 
 ues. The design, which is the same for 
 all denominations, consisted of the Arms 
 of Hamburg, partially covered by large 
 open numerals denoting the value, as a 
 centerpiece. The Arms are composed 
 of a castle with three towers, the cen- 
 tral one being surmounted by a dome 
 and the others by battlements. Above 
 the middle tower is a cross, while large 
 stars are shown above the side turrets. 
 On a ribbon scroll at the top is "HAM- 
 BURG," and on a similar scroll at the 
 base is "POSTMARKE," i. e. "post 
 stamp." On the left, reading upwards, 
 the value is shown in words, and on the 
 right "Schilling" appears. As the in- 
 scriptions on the left hand side varied in 
 length, according to the value which had 
 to be expressed, small ornaments were 
 introduced to fill the vacant spaces be- 
 fore and after the shorter words. 
 
 There was a separate die for each 
 value, and these were engraved by a 
 gentleman rejoicing in the euphonious 
 
 name of Johann Friedrich Rex Ziesen- 
 ist. He may also have been responsible 
 for the design but regarding this there 
 appears to be no record. From each die 
 ninety-six casts were taken in ordinary 
 type metal, and these, arranged in 
 twelve horizontal rows of eight, formed 
 the printing plates. There was a space 
 of 3^2 mm. between the vertical rows 
 and of 1^ mm. between the horizontal 
 rows. A line of printer's rule was 
 inserted between each of the vertical 
 rows, and as these were the same height 
 as the cliches they show at the sides of 
 the stamps. Each horizontal row was 
 numbered in the margin at each end, and 
 at the top of each sheet the inscription 
 "Hamburgische Postmarken" were 
 shown. The plates were made and the 
 stamps printed by Th. G. Meissner, 
 printer to the State of Hamburg. 
 
 Whether by accident or design we 
 cannot say but on all stamps engraved 
 by Ziesenist there are so-called "secret 
 marks." As these are of considerable 
 value in distinguishing originals from 
 the many forgeries that exist, we give a 
 list of these as follows: 
 
 Y-2. schilling. There is a small dash in 
 the space between the base of the right 
 hand tower and the line above "Schil- 
 ling." 
 
 i schilling. The serif at the foot of 
 the "T" of "POSTMARKE" ends with 
 a dot at the left hand side. 
 
 <? schilling. There is a tiny dot under 
 the first "1" of "Schilling," and, in clear- 
 ly printed specimens, a small dash above 
 the "ng" of the same word. 
 
 j schilling. There is a dot on the left 
 side of the "H" of "HAMBURG" near 
 the top of the letter, and, in most cases, 
 another dot is shown under the "r" of 
 "Drie." 
 
 4 schilling. There is a dot between 
 the letters "Sc" of "Schilling" 
 
 / schilling. There is a dot in the 
 space at the right of the Arms opposite 
 the top of the "S" of "Schilling." 
 
 9 schilling. There is a tiny dot after 
 the "P" of "POSTMARKE" level with 
 the bottom of that letter. 
 
 In an article by M. Georges Brunei, 
 translated in the Postage Stamp, Vol. 
 VIII, numerous other little peculiarities 
 are detailed but as most of these only 
 show on certain stamps they evidently 
 did not appear on the original die but 
 were caused in making the type-metal 
 casts. 
 
 The stamps were all printed on white 
 wove paper, each sheet being water- 
 marked with twelve horizontal undula- 
 ting lines (each undulation being about 
 
 41 
 
15 mm. deep) bounded by a single line 
 frame. It was intended that these lines 
 should correspond with the twelve rows 
 of stamps, but owing to some sheets not 
 being carefully "fed" into the printing 
 press an outside row was occasionally 
 printed on the plain portion of the paper, 
 and these stamps were thus entirely 
 without watermark. Other varieties, 
 caused by irregular feeding of the paper, 
 show vertical line watermark. 
 
 The stamps of this issue were not 
 perforated, and they were gummed with 
 a brown gum which gives some speci- 
 mens the appearance of having been 
 printed on toned paper. The remainders 
 of these stamps were all without gum, 
 the issued stamps, with the original 
 brown gum, being at least twice as 
 scarce as the remainders. With the 
 solitary exception of the 7sch the 
 stamps are all rarer used than unused. 
 Fairly distinct shades of the 4, 7, and 
 9sch may be found but the others differ 
 hardly at all. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1st, 1859. Watermarked 
 
 lines. Imperf. 
 ^sch black, Scott's No. 1. 
 Isch brown, Scott's No. 2. 
 2sch red, Scott's No. 5. 
 3sch blue, Scott's No. 9. 
 4sch green, Scott's No. 10. 
 7sch orange, Scott's No. 11. 
 
 Jan. 
 
 undulating 
 
 9sch yellow, Scott's No. 32. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 In 1864, Hamburg occupied the Dan- 
 ish post-office in that city, owing to the 
 war between Prussia and Austria and 
 Denmark, as explained in our introduc- 
 tory notes, and a stamp of l^sch was 
 wanted immediately. This was issued 
 on February 29th but while it was being 
 prepared the ^sch was bisected and 
 the halves used in making up the l^sch 
 rate. Though no decree seems to have 
 been issued authorising this bisection 
 the authorities appear to have permitted 
 it and undoubtedly bona-fide "splits"- 
 used on original covers are known. A 
 month after the issue of the 
 
 label the retaliatory tactics pursued by 
 Hamburg and Denmark resulted in the 
 issue of a 2^sch stamp. Both of these 
 values were produced by lithography, 
 presumably owing to the fact that they 
 were wanted in a hurry. 
 
 The central design on the 1% sch is 
 very similar to that of the series of 1859 
 but with a netted background. The 
 name "HAMBURG" is arched at the 
 top. "POSTMARKS" is on a straight 
 label which extends right across the 
 foot of the stamp and the value is 
 shown in words on the side tablets. 
 In each of the upper angles an uncol- 
 ored* Maltese cross is shown on a 
 ground of solid color. 
 
 There was a space of 3 mm. between 
 the stamps of both the vertical and 
 horizontal rows, and lines were ruled in 
 these in both directions corresponding 
 with the vertical lines appearing in the 
 preceding series. There were no fig- 
 ures at the ends of the horizontal rows 
 and no marginal inscription was shown 
 at the top of the sheet. According to 
 the late Mr. W. A. S. Westoby "it 
 would seem that later on in the same 
 year another transfer was made, as the 
 stamps are found closer together on the 
 sheet, being Z l / 2 mm. apart, vertically 
 and horizontally, with lines between and 
 numerals opposite each vertical and 
 horizontal row." Impressions from this 
 second plate, we are told, may be recog- 
 nised by their indistinct and blurred 
 appearance and the fact that the color 
 is always a deep red-lilac. 
 
 Basing his remarks on the wonderful 
 study of these stamps made by Mr. 
 Vicenz in 1907, M. Brunei takes us much 
 deeper into the subject. We learn that 
 the stamps were printed in sheets of 192 
 stamps arranged in two panes of ninety- 
 six each, placed side by side. In mak- 
 ing up the lithographic stone the litho- 
 grapher took twelve transfers from his 
 original drawing making a block of 
 three horizontal rows of four. This 
 block was then re-transferred to the 
 stone sixteen times. Each of the twelve 
 stamps in the transfer block differs in 
 minute particulars from the others giv- 
 ing twelve types and these were ar- 
 ranged on the stone as follows : 
 
1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 ! 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 ,"> 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 g 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 i 
 
 a 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 !) 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 10 11 12 9 10 11 12 
 
 Those of our readers who wish to 
 study the peculiarities distinguishing 
 the types should refer to M. Brunei's 
 article in the Postage Stamp. 
 
 Mr. Westoby's supposition that there 
 was a second stone was amply proved 
 by Mr. Vicenz. This was also com- 
 posed of sixteen transfers of a block of 
 twelve but, as the original transfer 
 block had been destroyed, a new one 
 had to be made, consequently the types 
 differ from those of the first stone. 
 
 The design of the 2 l / 2 schilling was 
 similar as regards the centerpiece, but 
 all the inscriptions were on straight tab- 
 lets, and in the corners were Maltese 
 crosses enclosed in small squares. The 
 stamps were arranged about 2 l / 2 mm. 
 apart, both vertically and horizontally, 
 and they show dividing lines as in the 
 l^sch. There were numerals opposite 
 the ends of each vertical and horizontal 
 
 M. Brunei tells us that there were 
 also two stones for this value, each be- 
 ing composed of two panes of 96 stamps 
 and each of these stones, like the l^sch 
 being composed of transfers of twelve 
 types, all differing in small particulars. 
 Those of our readers interested cannot 
 do better than study M. Brunei's article 
 already referred to. 
 
 Both values were printed on white 
 wove paper watermarked with undulat- 
 ing lines as shown in the typographed 
 stamps. They were issued imperforate 
 and with gum of a much paler tinge 
 than that employed for the preceding 
 series. 
 
 The stamps were lithographed by the 
 firm of C. Adler, of Hamburg and the 
 designs were apparently drawn by one 
 of the employees of the firm. Mr. R. 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 9 
 
 10 
 
 11 
 
 12 
 
 R. Thiele tells us that "the original 
 stone is still in existence, on which the 
 drawing of the Insert may be seen in 
 close proximity to the letterhead of a 
 wholesale liquor dealer." (Philatelic 
 Record, Vol. XXXI, page 118.) The 
 lJ4 scn may be found in numerous 
 shades ranging from deep red-lilac to 
 grey. There was also a small printing 
 in blue. The 2^sch on the other hand, 
 hardly varies in tint at all. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1864. Lithographed. Wmk. undulating lines. 
 Imperf. 
 
 8. 114 sch red-lilac, Scott's No. 3 or ?,a. 
 
 9. I%sch grey, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 10. 1% sch blue, Scott's No. 5. 
 
 11. 2^ sch green, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 Between September, 1864, and April, 
 1865, all the values included in the 
 two series already described appeared 
 perforated 13^, the perforation being 
 done by single line or guillotine ma- 
 chines. 
 
 In February, 1865, the color of the 
 7sch was changed from yellow to 
 mauve, probably to prevent confusion 
 with the 9sch. Wherever fresh print- 
 ings were made the stamps were manu- 
 factured by the same processes as be- 
 fore, i. e., lithography for the l%sch 
 and 2Hsch values, and typography for 
 the other denominations. The same 
 plates and stones were used and the 
 typographed stamps were printed by 
 Meissner and the lithographed ones by 
 Adler as before. 
 
 All values were printed on the paper 
 watermarked with undulating lines, and, 
 as in the previous issues, specimens 
 from the outer rows of the sheets are 
 occasionally found without watermark. 
 The ^sch, Isch and 2sch hardly vary 
 in shade at all, but most of the other 
 values exist in quite an array of tints. 
 
 The 3sch in the ultramarine shade 
 and the 7sch in mauve are both known 
 imperforate but it seems highly improb- 
 able that either was ever issued for use 
 
 43 
 
in this state. The J^sch, 3sch, and 7sch 
 values are known imperforate vertically 
 and the 9sch may be found imperforate 
 horizontally. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1864-5. Wmk. Undulating lines. Perf. 13^. 
 
 12. ^sch black, Scott's No. 13. 
 
 (a) Imperf. vertically. 
 
 13. Isch brown, Scott's No. 14. 
 
 14. l^sch mauve, Scott's No. 15, 15a or 
 
 15b. 
 
 15. 2sch red, Scott's No. 16. 
 
 16. 2^sch green, Scott's No. 17 or 17a. 
 
 17. 3sch blue, Scott's No. 18 or 19. 
 
 (a) Imperf. 
 
 (b) Imperf. vertically. 
 la 4sch green, Scott's No. 20. 
 
 19. 7sch orange, Scott's No. 21. 
 
 (a) Imperf. vertically. 
 
 20. 7sch mauve, Scott's No. 22. 
 
 (a) Imperf. 
 
 21. 9sch yellow, Scott's No. 23. 
 
 (a) Imperf. horizontally. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 Although the letter rate to Lubeck 
 was reduced to l^sch on October 1st, 
 1865, and the printed matter rate to the 
 Netherlands was fixed at the same fig- 
 ure on July 1st, 1865, it was not until 
 April, 1866, that the postal authorities 
 troubled to issue a stamp of this value. 
 
 In this month a series of envelopes 
 with embossed stamps of the values of 
 l / 2 , 1%, l l / 2 , 2, 3, 4 and 7sch was issued, 
 these being manufactured in Berlin by 
 the Prussian State Printing Office. The 
 die for the l^sch envelope stamp was 
 made use of in the construction of a 
 plate for printing the adhesive stamp 
 of corresponding value. The plate con- 
 sisted of one hundred impressions ar- 
 ranged in ten horizontal rows of ten, 
 and the stamps were embossed in color 
 on plain white wove paper. These 
 stamps were rouletted 10 instead of be- 
 ing perforated. 
 
 .HAMBURG 
 
 POSTMARKED 
 
 The central portion of the design is 
 very similar to that of the stamps of 
 the preceding issues, and shows the 
 numerals and Arms on a ground of 
 solid color within an octagonal frame. 
 Around this the usual inscriptions are 
 placed in the same order as before, and 
 these are separated at the corners by 
 six-rayed stars or asterisks, each having 
 an uncplored circle in the centre. The 
 whole is enclosed in a double-lined oc- 
 tagonal frame. 
 
 In the following June the litho- 
 graphed IJ^sch stamp was superseded 
 by an embossed label of similar value. 
 This was also manufactured by the 
 Prussian State Printing Office and, as in 
 the case of the l^sch the plate was 
 constructed from the die for the l^sch 
 envelope stamp. The plate was of simi- 
 lar size containing one hundred impres- 
 sions in ten rows of ten. The design 
 is very similar to that of the l^sch the 
 inscriptions being on an octagonal bor- 
 der separated by stars; but the stamp 
 was converted into a complete rectangle 
 by adding a number of diagonal 
 parallel lines to each of the four corners. 
 This stamp was likewise embossed 
 in color on white wove unwatermarked 
 paper and rouletted 10. 
 
 Mr. Brunei points out that the genu- 
 ine stamps exhibit the following pecul- 
 iarities : 
 
 (a). The figures "1" are formed of 
 ernbossed cross-hatching which runs 
 diagonally from top to bottom and 
 from right to left. 
 
 (b). In the 1J4 schilling, under the 
 "1," the second line (forming the 
 background of stonework of the tow- 
 ers; is broken. 
 
 (c). In the \ l / 2 schilling the first 
 and second "i" of the indication of 
 value (at left) are joined to the bot- 
 tom of the following "n" (more visi- 
 ble in the case of the first than of the 
 second), likewise the letters of the 
 last word "halb." 
 
 (d). The "K" of "POSTMARKS" 
 has the base smaller than the upper 
 part. 
 
 These values show practically no 
 variation of shade. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1866. Embossed. No wmk. Rouletted 10. 
 
 22. l^sch mauve, Scott's No. 25 or 25a. 
 
 23. l^sch rose, Scott's No. 26. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 In June, 1867, one more change took 
 place in the stamps of Hamburg before 
 the special issues were finally sup- 
 pressed in favor of the general issue 
 for the North German Confederation. 
 A further supply of 2^sch stamps was 
 required, and as these could not be sat- 
 isfactorily produced from Mr. Adler's 
 lithographic stone, typography was re- 
 sorted to and the old type of 1859 was 
 rehabilitated. 
 
 44 
 
These stamps were manufactured by 
 Th. G. Meissner, of Hamburg and it is 
 probable the die was engraved by J. F. 
 R. Ziesenist, who was responsible for 
 the other dies of the same type. The 
 "secret mark" on this value corresponds 
 with that found on the 2sch of the 1859 
 series that is, there is a small colored 
 dot under the first "1" of "Schilling." 
 
 The stamps were printed on the paper 
 watermarked with undulating lines, and 
 they were perforated by the 13*/2 ma- 
 chine. There are a number of distinct 
 shades, and the variety is known im- 
 perforate and also imperforate horizon- 
 tally. 
 
 Compared with the other typographed 
 stamps this value was produced in a 
 very inferior manner, this being due, 
 probably, to the fact that it had to be 
 manufactured in somewhat of a hurry. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1867. Typographed. Wmk. Undulating lines. 
 
 1M. 2^sch green. Scott's No. 24. 
 
 (a) Imperf. 
 
 (b) Imperf. horizontally. 
 
 THE UNOFFICIAL REPRINTS. 
 
 In 1868, shortly after the stamps 
 were replaced by the issue for the North 
 German Confederation, the remainders 
 were offered for sale and found a pur- 
 chaser in the late Mr. J. Goldner, a 
 well-known stamp dealer of Hamburg. 
 How many stamps were included in this 
 lot is a matter regarding which no in- 
 formation has been published that we 
 know of. It would appear that these 
 remainders were all specially printed 
 for sale if we can place any reliance on 
 a statement that when the stamps were 
 demonetised "only one sheet of the 154 
 and 2*/ 2 schilling remained over, some 
 imperforate sheets of the second issue 
 of the 1^4 schilling, and some defective 
 sheets." If this were the case then the 
 fact that the remainders had no gum 
 is easily accounted for. 
 
 Having very few of the lithographed 
 V/4 and 2^sch Mr. Goldner ap- 
 proached the lithographer, Mr. C. 
 Adler, and finding the original draw- 
 ings were available commissioned him 
 to make new stones of these values. 
 
 Though the design was the same as the 
 originals the stones were laid down in 
 a different fashion. For the lJ4sch a 
 block of sixteen transfers was made (in 
 four rows of four) and this was re- 
 transferred to the stone six times mak- 
 ing sheets of 96 stamps. 1 These types 
 all show little peculiarities differing 
 from the issued stamps, these being de- 
 tailed in full in Mr. Brunei's article in 
 the "Postage Stamp," already alluded 
 to. The "plate" for the 2^sch also 
 consisted of 96 stamps but in this in- 
 stance the transfers were applied in 
 blocks of four. 
 
 These reprints appear to have been 
 made in 1872. At first unwatermarked 
 paper was used and then a quantity of 
 the original watermarked paper being 
 discovered this was used. These "re- 
 iprints" are known imperforate, perf. 
 ll l /2, and perf. 13^. Those on unwater- 
 marked paper or perf. 11^ can easily 
 be distinguished for there were no 
 originals of this sort; and those on 
 watermarked paper, perf. 13^, may be 
 told by the roughness of the perfora- 
 tions compared with the originals. 
 Though the official perforating ma- 
 chines were used the pins had become 
 worn causing the "rough" effect. 
 
 About the same period reprints, or 
 rather imitations, of the 1J4 and l^sch 
 stamps of 1866 were made. These were 
 printed on white wove unwatermarked 
 paper and are found rouletted 8J^ as 
 well as the 10 of the originals. The 
 "reprint" of the l%sch is from a re- 
 touched die and it differs from the 
 originals in having the small circles in 
 the center of the four rosettes, which 
 separate the inscriptions, filled in with 
 color. There is also no line in the up- 
 per part of the "g" of "Schilling." The 
 l^sch was reprinted from the envelope 
 die, and has a longer line in the upper 
 part of the "g" of "Schilling," while the 
 corner stars also have solid centers. 
 The paper is thicker and the color of 
 the impression does not show through 
 as in the case of the originals. Both 
 "reprints" exist with forged postmarks. 
 
 CONCLUDING NOTES. 
 
 The few reprints, as we have already 
 pointed out, were made privately some 
 years after the stamps had become obso- 
 lete, and these should present no diffi- 
 culties to the collector. Forgeries of 
 most of the values are very common, 
 but as most of these are very roughly 
 executed they should hardly deceive the 
 collector exercising ordinary care. 
 
As the majority of Hamburg stamps 
 are rarer used than unused, genuine 
 stamps with counterfeit postmarks are 
 by no means uncommon. A very usual 
 form of cancellation consists of a circle 
 containing the name of the town and 
 the date, and readers should take note 
 of the fact that such marks with a star 
 or floret before and after the name 
 "HAMBURG" are undoubtedly bad. 
 
 Equally common is a postmark com- 
 posed of four parallel lines, either thick 
 or thin, 20 mm. long and about 5mm. 
 apart. The forgeries of this usually 
 have the lines too short, more than 
 four, irregularly spaced, or thickened at 
 the ends. There is also a cancellation 
 composed of four wavy lines, but the 
 use of this seems to have been confined 
 to the first issue only, and it is rarely 
 met with. 
 
 HANOVER. 
 
 Hanover, or Hannover, as our Teu- 
 tonic friends spell it, was formerly a 
 kingdom of Northern Germany, but 
 since 1866 it has formed a province- of 
 Prussia. It stretches eastwards from 
 the Netherlands to the Elbe, and from 
 the North Sea southwards to Hesse- 
 Nassau, and includes the former duchy 
 of East Friesland, the Liineburg Heath 
 (55 miles long), part of the Harz Moun- 
 tains, and outliers of the' Weser Moun- 
 tains. Its total area is 14,833 square 
 miles and it has a population well in ex- 
 cess of two and a half millions. Ex- 
 cept in the South, where the Harz 
 Mountains attain a height of 3037 feet, 
 the surface belongs to the great North 
 German plain, with immense stretches 
 of moor and heath. Large areas of the 
 moorlands have been drained and re- 
 claimed within recent years. Hanover 
 is watered by the Elbe, Weser, Ems and 
 their tributaries, and the soil near the 
 rivers is very fertile. One sixth of the 
 total area is covered with forest. 
 
 The people of the north-eastern and 
 central provinces are mostly Saxons; 
 those on the coast are of Friscian origin ; 
 those on the west of the Ems, Dutch; 
 and those in the southern provinces, 
 Thuringians and Franconians. Platt- 
 Deutsch, or Low German, is commonly 
 spoken in the rural districts, but High 
 German is the language of the educated 
 classes, and is spoken with -more purity 
 than in any other part of the Empire. 
 
 Cattle are bred and grazed on the 
 marshes next the North Sea. Ironware 
 and steel goods, textiles, sugar, machin- 
 ery, gutta-percha and india-rubber, 
 chemicals, scientific instruments, beer 
 and spirits, are the more important pro- 
 ducts of Hanover's manufacturing in- 
 dustry, while Geeseemunde is one of the 
 most important fishing ports in Ger- 
 many. Coal, iron, zinc, lead, copper and 
 salt are mined in the Harz Mountains. 
 
 The second elector of Hanover became 
 George I of England in 1714, and from 
 
 that date until 1837 the Hanoverian 
 electors sat on the English throne. 
 When Queen Victoria ascended the 
 throne Hanover passed to her uncle 
 the Duke of Cumberland. On his death 
 (November 18th, 1851) his son, the 
 blind George V, succeeded to the king- 
 dom, and he, siding with Austria in 
 1866, took up arms against Prussia, was 
 defeated, driven from his throne, 'and 
 Hanover was annexed to Prussia. 
 
 The capital of the province bears the 
 same name, Hanover, and is situated on 
 a sub-tributary of the Weser, 78 miles 
 south-east of Bremen, and 158 miles 
 west of Berlin. It consists of the old 
 town, with narrow streets and mediaeval 
 houses, and the handsome modern town 
 which lies on the north, east, and south- 
 east of the older portion. During the 
 last quarter of the nineteenth century 
 the town grew at an enormous rate, and 
 at the present time its population ex- 
 ceeds a quarter of a million. The old 
 town possesses several fourteenth, fif- 
 teenth, and seventeenth century build- 
 ings, such as the former royal palace, 
 the town hall (1439), the chancellery of 
 justice, and the house of Leibnitz, now 
 converted into an industrial art museum. 
 Intermingled with these are a number 
 of quite new structures (1876 to 1911), 
 such as the magnificent railway station; 
 the royal library (containing 200,000 
 volumes and 4,000 MSS) ; the royal 
 playhouse, one of the largest theatres 
 in Germany; the museum, with natural 
 history and art collections; the Kestner 
 Museum, with antiquities and 120,000 en- 
 gravings ; the post office; and 'the 
 Reichsbank. Hanover has a famous 
 polytechnic, housed in the Welf (Guelph) 
 Castle, and attended by over 1,500 stu- 
 dents. Close by is the Heddenhausen 
 Castle (1698) the favorite residence of 
 Kings George I, II, and V, whose beau- 
 tiful grounds are open to the public. 
 The Duke of Celle chose Hanover for 
 his residence in 1636, and it has re- 
 mained the capital city from that date. 
 
Hanover is the headquarters of the 
 10th German Army Corps, and is an 
 important centre of the North German 
 railway system. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 The philatelic history of Hanover 
 dates from 1850 the .year before the 
 death of King Ernest (Duke of Cum- 
 berland) when a single stamp bearing 
 the face value of one gutengroschen was 
 issued. In 1851 Hanover joined the 
 German-Austrian Postal Union, and a 
 series of stamps was issued on July 21st 
 of that year for defraying the rates of 
 postage within the Union. In 1856 
 colored papers were dispensed with and 
 the stamps were overprinted with a 
 colored network instead. In 1859 the 
 stamps with values expressed in frac- 
 tions of a thaler were superseded by a 
 new series bearing the portrait of King 
 George V. and with values denoted in 
 groschen. Until 1864 all the stamps 
 were imperforate, but in that year five 
 values were issued with a roulette (per- 
 ccs en arc) gauging 16, and in 1866, on 
 the annexation of Hanover by Prussia, 
 the whole of the stamps, with the ex- 
 ception of a few sheets, were burned. 
 
 The currency was the thaler, divided 
 at first into twenty-four gutengroschen 
 of twelve pfennig each, and. after 1858. 
 into thirty groschen of ten pfennig each. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 The first issue consisted of a single 
 stamp, bearing the facial value of one 
 gutengroschen, which was placed on 
 sale on December 1st, 1850. The design 
 shows a large open numeral "1", in- 
 scribed "GUTEXGR.", in a shield with 
 an arabesque ground. This is sur- 
 mounted by the Anglo-Hanoverian arms 
 
 
 on a rather minute scale. According to 
 an article in the Philatelic Record, these 
 arms are, with a slight difference, the 
 same as those borne by George III and 
 succeeding British sovereigns of the 
 Hanoverian House, from 1801 until 
 William IV's death in 1837. These arms 
 are, quarterly : one and four, England ; 
 
 two, Scotland; three, Ireland; with, on 
 an escutcheon of pretence, Brunswick, 
 Luneberg, and Westphalia, and over all, 
 (in the centre), the golden crown of 
 Charlemagne, the mark of the dignity of 
 arch-treasurer of the Holy Roman Em- 
 pire, which belonged to the house of 
 Brunswick. The supporters are the lion 
 and unicorn, and beneath is the motto 
 "SUSCIPERE ET FINIRE," meaning 
 "To undertake and to finish." There is 
 a scroll at the foot, with the ends run- 
 ning up by the sides of the shield, on 
 which is "HANNOVER" at the top, 
 "FRANCO" at the left, "EIN. GGR." 
 at the right, and numerals in each of 
 the lower angles. The period after 
 "EIN" was evidently inserted in error, 
 for it is quite unnecessary and is not re- 
 peated on any of the other values is- 
 sued in succeeding years. 
 
 The die was engraved by Herr 
 Fickenscher, a Hanoverian engraver, 
 and the plate was made and the stamps 
 printed by hand presses at the type 
 foundry and printing works of Senator 
 Culemann, in Hanover. The form con- 
 sisted of 120 casts, taken in type-metal 
 from the original die, which were ar- 
 ranged in twelve horizontal rows of ten. 
 As is usual with stamps manufactured 
 by this process, there are plenty of 
 minor varieties, consisting chiefly of 
 breaks and flaws in the frame and other 
 lines, and defective letters. The letter- 
 ing of the motto, in particular, is full 
 of defects, and a perfect inscription is 
 the exception rather than otherwise. 
 
 The stamp was printed in black on 
 colored paper, manufactured by Osna- 
 bruck, which was watermarked with 
 rectangles of about the same size as the 
 stamps. Like all the other stamps is- 
 sued prior to 1864, this Iggr was im- 
 perforate. 
 
 A peculiarity of this and other Han- 
 overian stamps is the red gum which 
 was used until about 1864. In the "Ad- 
 tiesive Postage Stamps of Europe" the 
 late Mr. W. A. S. Westoby made the 
 following comments regarding this 
 colored gum: "What was the real rea- 
 son for employing colored gum does not 
 appear, but tradition says it was useful 
 in the cases of stamps becoming de- 
 tached from letters, as the red stain 
 showed that the letters had been 
 stamped, and had lost the stamps during 
 transit. This explanation seems rather 
 lame, for even if it were of any use 
 when there was only one stamp, it 
 could be of none where there were sev- 
 eral." However, the fact that the gum 
 was colored is of considerable impor- 
 tance to stamp collectors, for it forms 
 the best test in distinguishing originals 
 from reprints. 
 
 47 
 
To a certain extent this stamp was ex- 
 perimental, for it could not be used on 
 foreign correspondence, but prepaid the 
 single letter rate within the kingdom it- 
 self, and also to Bremen, Hamburg, 
 Bremerhaven, Ritzebiittel, and Vegesack 
 in each of which towns the Hanoverian 
 authorities maintained a post office. 
 
 At this period the thaler was worth 
 about 78c so the facial value of this 
 stamp in United States currency was 
 about 3c. 
 
 Reference List. 
 December, 1850. Wmk. a Rectangle. Imperf. 
 
 1. Iggr black on grey blue, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 Presumably the experiment of issuing 
 postage stamps soon proved quite sat- 
 isfactory, for in 1851 Hanover joined 
 the German-Austrian Postal Union, and 
 on July 21st, three new stamps were is- 
 sued with values expressed in fractions 
 of a thaler. The stamps were all of 
 similar design, closely resembling that 
 of the Iggr but having the groundwork 
 of the shield in solid color. The l/30th 
 was inscribed "EIN SGR." (i. e. Isgr) 
 in that portion of the scroll by the right- 
 hand side of the shield, and the l/15th 
 and l/10th were inscribed "ZWEI 
 SGR." and "DREI SGR." respectively, 
 while at the bases the numerals "1", "2", 
 or "3" appeared, to correspond with 
 these inscriptions. 
 
 It appears that all the states com- 
 prised in the German-Austrian Postal 
 Union at first tacitly and then formally 
 agreed to use similar colors for stamps 
 of similar values (an arrangement after- 
 wards adopted by the Universal Postal 
 Union for certain values) so red, blue, 
 and orange were the colors selected for 
 the 1/30, 1/15 and 1/10 thaler stamps. 
 The rates within the Union for which 
 these particular values were required 
 were as follows : r 
 
 Up to 10 German miles, Isgr (l/30th). 
 
 Over 10 and under 20 German miles 
 2sgr 
 
 Over 20 German miles 3sgr (l/10th). 
 
 As blue was the color chosen for the 
 l/15th the color of the paper for the 
 Iggr was changed to grey-green. 
 
 The dies for the three new values 
 were engraved by Herr Fickenscher, 
 while the plates were made and the 
 stamps printed at Senator Culemann's 
 works as was the case with the first 
 stamp issued. Though we can trace no 
 positive information on the point it is 
 extremely probable that the plates were 
 uniform in size and were composed of 
 120 type metal casts clamped together in 
 twelve horizontal rows of ten. There 
 are numerous minor varieties in all 
 three values caused by slight imperfec- 
 tions in making the casts. These con- 
 sist of flaws, broken lines, and defective 
 letters and they are so numerous that 
 it would probably be far from an im- 
 possibility for an enthusiastic specialist 
 to plate these stamps. 
 
 All three values were printed in black 
 on hand-made colored wove paper which 
 was watermarked with a device consist- 
 
 ing of two branches of oak, crossed at 
 the stems, and curving upwards in the 
 form of an oval. The watermark was 
 so arranged that one complete device 
 was apportioned to each stamp. The 
 papers vary but little in shade with the 
 exception of that for the l/30th which 
 was changed in color from salmon to 
 crimson in 1855. Some philatelists con- 
 sider the order of these papers should 
 be reversed and that the crimson was 
 the earlier shade; but judging from used 
 dated copies, there seems to be no 
 ground for this supposition. 
 
 The Iggr in its new shade was also 
 printed on the paper watermarked with 
 oak leaves though the same plate was 
 used as before. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1851. Wmk. crossed branches of oak. Imperf. 
 
 2. Iggr black on grey-green, Scott's No. 2 
 
 or 2a. 
 
 3. l/30th black on salmon, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 4. l/30th black on crimson, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 5. l/15th black on blue, Scott's No. 5. 
 
 6. l/10th black on yellow, Scott's No. 6 or 
 
THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 On April 15th, 1853, a new stamp bear- 
 ing the facial value of 3 pfennig was 
 issued for use on newspapers and other 
 printed matter. The design consists of 
 an upright vertically lined oval contain- 
 ing a large numeral "3" with "PFEX- 
 NIGET curved below, "HANNOVER" in 
 a straight line above, and a crown at 
 the top. Above the upper part of the 
 oval is a cartouche with scroll ends 
 inscribed "EIN DRITTEL SILBER- 
 GROSCHEN," i. e. ^sgr, or less than 
 Ic in United States currency. The whole 
 is enclosed within a single lined rec- 
 tangle. 
 
 pattern is horizontal. At first a fairly 
 close mesh was used, but this was not 
 considered satisfactory as it gave the 
 stamps a blurred or blotchy appearance. 
 Although all values were overprinted 
 with this fine mesh only the l/10th was 
 actually placed in use. The other 
 values are, therefore, simply essays or 
 
 This stamp was also engraved by 
 Herr Fickenscher. and typographed at 
 Senator Culemann's establishment. Al- 
 though produced by the same process as 
 that employed for the preceding issues, 
 this value does not provide many minor 
 varieties. The only ones we have no- 
 ticed consist of small colored dots or 
 lines in one or other of the angles. 
 
 This value was printed on white wove 
 paper watermarked in a similar manner 
 to that of the 1851 series. The gum is 
 red and this variety is always imper- 
 forate. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1853. Wmk. crossed branches of oak. 
 7. opf pale rose, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 Imperf. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 Many objections were raised to the 
 use of colored papers for the Hanover- 
 ian stamps, and in 1855 it was decided 
 to try the experiment of printing the 
 stamps on white paper that had prev- 
 iously been covered with a colored net- 
 work of fine lines. This was done by 
 means of stereotype plates, the network 
 covering the whole of the sheets and hav- 
 ing an ornamental border on the margins. 
 The network was so arranged that the 
 
 stamps prepared for use and never is- 
 sued. The l/10th with the fine mesh is 
 said to have been placed on sale late in 
 1855 and the other values with the 
 larger network were issued on January 
 1st, 1856. The color of the network 
 corresponded with the color of the paper 
 which had been used previously for the 
 several values. The 3pf was printed in 
 rose as before, and in this case the mesh 
 was black or grey. The l/10th with the 
 larger network was issued directly, the 
 supply with small mesh was exhausted 
 and, unused, this is perhaps the rarest 
 individual Hanoverian variety. 
 
 The stamps were all printed on un- 
 watermarked paper. They were imper- 
 forate and had red gum like the preced- 
 ing issues. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1855-56. No watermark. Imperf. 
 
 (a) Fine network. 
 
 8. l/10th black with orange network, 
 
 Scott's No. 15 or l"a. 
 
 (b) Coarse network. 
 
 9. 3pf rose with black network, Scott s 
 
 No. 8 or 9. 
 
 10. Iggr black with green network, Scott s 
 
 No. 10. 
 
 11. l/30th black with rose network, Scott s 
 
 No. 11. 
 
 12. l/15th black with blue network, Scott's 
 
 No. 12. 
 
 13. l/10th black with orange network, 
 
 Scott's No. 13 or 13a. 
 
THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 The currency was revised on October 
 1st, 1858, the thaler, which had previous- 
 ly been divided into 24 gutengroschen of 
 12 pfennig each, being now composed 
 of 30 silbergroschen of 10 pfennig each. 
 At the same time the 1 gutengroschen 
 was withdrawn from circulation and the 
 rate of postage for inland single letters 
 was altered to 1 groschen. 
 
 A few months later, February 15th, 
 1859, to be exact, a series of stamps 
 with values conforming to the new cur- 
 rency appeared in place of those with 
 values expressed in fractions of a thaler. 
 
 The new stamps were of the values 
 of 1, 2, and 3 groschen and the design 
 shows a profile portrait of King George 
 V, with head to left, on a ground of 
 solid color enclosed in a circle of pearls. 
 Above the medallion is the value "1 (2 
 or 3) GROSCHEN" and below is 
 "HANNOVER." The whole is enclosed 
 within a rectangular frame, the ground 
 between the portrait and frame being 
 composed of fine vertical lines. There 
 are tiny ornaments in each of the 
 corners. 
 
 across the pearled circle below and to 
 the left of the "O" of "Groschen." 
 
 At the same time the 3pf, in the de- 
 sign already described, was issued with- 
 out the colored network. This stamp, 
 and also the Igr and 2gr, may be found 
 in a number of different shades. 
 
 On March 1st, 1861, a 10 groschen 
 stamp was added to the set. This bore 
 a similar portrait of the King but the 
 numerals of value are much larger than 
 those of the previously issued stamps of 
 similar type. This denomination was 
 only on sale at the chief post-offices and 
 was intended for use on heavy packages 
 and registered letters. Judging by its 
 present rarity its use must .have been 
 very restricted. 
 
 On November 10th, 1861, the color of 
 the 3gr was changed from yellow to 
 brown, in order to make the color of 
 this value conform to that which had 
 been adopted by the other members of 
 the German-Austrian Postal Union for 
 this particular denomination. 
 
 All the stamps of this series were 
 printed on plain white wove, unwater- 
 marked, paper and they were issued im- 
 perforate. The gum, which up to this 
 time had been red, was changed to 
 rose, varying considerably in depth of 
 tone. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1859-61. Rose gum. No wmk. Imperf. 
 
 14. 3pf rose, Scott's No. 16. 
 
 15. Igr rose, Scott's Nos. 10, 19a, or 19b. 
 
 16. 2gr blue, Scott's No. 20 or 21. 
 
 17. 3gr yellow, Scott's No. 22 or 22a. 
 
 18. ?>gr brown, Scott's No. 23. 
 
 19. lOgr olive-green, Scott's No. 24. 
 
 One original die served for all three 
 values so far as the portrait was con- 
 cerned this being engraved by Herr 
 Brehmer, engraver to the Mint, from a 
 photograph ; while the plates were made 
 and stamps printed at Senator Cule- 
 mann's printing works. The plates, 
 like those for the stamps of the preced- 
 ing issues, were composed of 120 type- 
 metal casts arranged in twelve horizon- 
 tal rows of ten. The head was the same 
 for all three values, as we have already 
 pointed out, but the frames for the 
 three necessary subsiduary dies were 
 separately engraved, as may easily be 
 proved if the lettering of the inscrip- 
 tions is carefully examined. It is in- 
 teresting to note that in the case of the 
 1 groschen all the pearls of the circle 
 are quite distinct ; in the 2gr several 
 of those at top of the circle run into 
 one another, and there is always a large 
 colored dot between the letters "SC" 
 of "GROSCHEN"; while in the 3gr 
 there is always a small colored line 
 
 THE SIXTH ISSUE. 
 
 A new stamp having the facial value 
 of y 2 groschen was issued on April 1st, 
 1860. The design of this is quite dif- 
 ferent from that of any of the other 
 values and consists of a posthorn sur- 
 mounted by a crown, with "HAN- 
 NOVER" in thick block capitals at the 
 top, and " l / 2 Groschen" at the base. The 
 
 HANNOVER 
 
 j Groschen 
 
 whole is enclosed within a rectangular 
 frame with indented corners, outside 
 each of which is a small colored dot. 
 
 50 
 
The die was, presumably, engraved 
 by Herr Brehmer, and the stamps were 
 printed typographically by Senator 
 Culemann. As is so frequently the case 
 with electrotyped stamps, this value 
 shows many small defects in the shape 
 of broken lines and letters, and the ap- 
 pearance of tiny dots in various parts 
 of the design. 
 
 This stamp was printed on white, 
 wove, umvatermarked paper, and was is- 
 sued with rose gum, imperforate. A 
 later printing appeared with white gum. 
 Reference List. 
 
 I860. No wmk. Imperf. 
 
 20. ^gr rose gum, Scott's No. 18a. 
 
 21. l / 2 gr white gum, Scott's No. 18. 
 
 THE SEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 On December 1st, 1863, the color of 
 the 3pf stamp was altered in color from 
 rose to green, and at the same time the 
 inscription on the scroll was changed 
 from "EIN DRITTEL SILBERGRO- 
 SCHEN" to "DREI ZEHNTEL SIL- 
 BERGROSCHEN." The former, mean- 
 ing ^sgr, was hardly the correct equiv- 
 alent of 3 pfennig, as expressed in the 
 centre of the stamp, while the modified 
 inscription, meaning three-tenths sgr, 
 was exactly right. 
 
 Apparently the original die was al- 
 tered by Herr Brehmer, and the stamps 
 were printed by Senator Culemann as 
 before. 
 
 The paper was white wove and un- 
 watermarked, the gum was of a rose 
 color, and the stamp was issued imper- 
 forate. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1863. Rose gum. No wmk. Imperf. 
 
 --. 3pf green, Scott's No. 17. 
 
 THE EIGHTH ISSUE. 
 
 In 1864 perforation was introduced, 
 the system adopted being a form of 
 roulette known as perces en arc. The 
 cuts were curved and close together, 
 and gauged 16. The stamps so treated 
 were the 3pf of the seventh issue, and 
 
 l / 2 gr of the sixth issue and the 1, 2 and 
 Sgr of the fifth issue. The lOgr had up 
 to this date been in so little demand 
 that none of them were rouletted. 
 
 The stamps were the same as before 
 in all other respects, but before the end 
 of 1864 the color of the gum was 
 changed to yellowish or white and so 
 continued until .late in 1866, when, Han- 
 over having been absorbed by Prussia 
 as explained in our introductory notes, 
 the stamps were no longer available 
 for postal purposes. The 2gr with rose 
 gum is not known rouletted. 
 Reference List. 
 
 1864. No. wmk. Rose on white gum. Perces 
 en arc. 16. 
 
 23. 3pf green, Scott's No. 25 or 25a. 
 
 24. Y 2 gr black, Scott's No. 26 or 26a. 
 
 25. Igr rose, Scott's No. 27 or 27a. 
 
 26. 2gr blue, Scott's No. 28. 
 
 27. Sgr brown, Scott's No. 29 or 29a. 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 The Iggr of 1850 was reprinted in 
 1864 but as the reprints are on unwater- 
 marked greyish paper they should be 
 easily identified. 
 
 The l/10th of 1851 was reprinted in 
 1889 but this can also be distinguished 
 with ease as the paper was unwater- 
 marked and the gum white. 
 
 All five values of the 1855-56 issue 
 were reprinted in 1864 and here the best 
 test is the gum, which is yellowish 
 white. The network on the reprints 
 only extends over blocks of four stamps. 
 The l/10th was again reprinted in 1889 
 on similar paper and with white gum. 
 On this reprint the network was applied 
 stamp by stamp. The 3pf of 1889 was 
 reprinted in 1889 though this is not a 
 true reprint but rather an "official imi- 
 tation." A new plate was made from 
 a retouched die in which the ribbon 
 ends of the scroll point downwards in- 
 stead of outwards. The 3gr of the 
 same issue was reprinted in 1891 in both 
 colors but these reprints can be at once 
 identified by the white gum. The /^gr 
 was reprinted in 1883, the paper being 
 yellowish and the gum white. The only 
 value of the rouletted series to be re- 
 printed was the 3gr but as the gauge 
 is 13 1 /2. instead of 16 it is not likely to 
 prove misleading. 
 
LUBECK. 
 
 The free city of Lubeck, the smallest 
 of the three Hanseatic towns, is situated 
 on the Trave about ten miles from its 
 mouth. The town, then known as 
 Lubeca, was probably founded as early 
 as 1060 and, though small, it was rich 
 and consequently excited the cupidity of 
 some of its larger neighbours. In 1138 
 it was entirely devastated by the Rugians 
 but was rebuilt in 1143 by Adolf II, 
 Count of Holstein. It was ceded to the 
 dukes of Saxony in 1158 and under 
 Henry the Lion it attained considerable 
 prosperity. Duke Henry gave it a civil 
 and commercial code (the law of Lu- 
 beck) which, later, formed the basis of 
 the law of all the Hanseatic towns. 
 Lubeck was captured by the Danes in 
 1201 and on their expulsion in 1226 it 
 was made a free and imperial city, and 
 it became the leader of the Hanseatic 
 league formed in 1241. It was then at 
 the height of its prosperity but the dis- 
 solution of the Hansa dealt it a blow 
 from which it has never recovered. The 
 last Assembly of the Hansa met in Lu- 
 beck in 1669 and thence forth it de- 
 clined in importance. It was annexed 
 by France in 1810 and became the capi- 
 tal of the Department of Les Benches 
 de 1'Elbe, but it regained its liberty in 
 1813 after the battle of Leipzig. In 
 August 1866, it joined the North Ger- 
 man Confederation, and in 1870 became 
 one of the states of the new Empire. 
 It has a population of over 90,000. 
 
 Lubeck, like many other Continental 
 towns, presents a curious mixture of an- 
 cient and modern architecture. Opposite 
 the railway station, on the main 
 approach to the city, is the famous Hol- 
 stenthor, a 15th centruy brick-built gate- 
 way, which was renovated in 1870. Of 
 its numerous churches the Marienkirche 
 founded in 1170, contains valuable 
 works of art. Its dome, enlarged dur- 
 ing the 13th century, has an altar paint- 
 ing by Hans Memling. Another ancient 
 edifice is the town hall (1250) which is 
 built of black glazed bricks in the style 
 of the Renaissance oeriod. 
 
 Lubeck has achieved some little re- 
 turn to its former prosperity since it 
 joined the Customs Union in 1868. The 
 principal shipping trade is with Den- 
 mark, Sweden, Russia, and Finland, 
 chiefly in chemicals, machinery, linen 
 goods, preserved food, and cigars. 
 
 Lubeck is the capital of the small 
 state of the same name, which has an 
 area of 115 square miles and a popula- 
 tion of a little over 100,000. The coun- 
 try is fertile and well wooded and pro- 
 
 duces rye, wheat, barley, oats, hay, po- 
 tatoes, and large quantities of fruit. By 
 its constitution, revised in 1875, the state 
 is governed by a senate composed of 14 
 life members, and a council of 120 citi- 
 zens. Lubeck is represented in the Reichs- 
 tag by one delegate. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 Lubeck issued its first postage stamps 
 on January 1st, 1859, at the same time as 
 Hamburg, and the currency was also 
 the same, viz., the Hamburg mark of 
 16 schilling equal to about 28c in United 
 States money. 
 
 The first set consisted of five values 
 all of similar design which were printed 
 on watermarked paper. Two years 
 later the ^sch and Isch were issued 
 on unwatermarked paper and in 1863 an 
 entirely new design was introduced. On 
 April 1st, 1864, a l^sch stamp was is- 
 sued and a reduction in one of the post- 
 al rates in 1865 resulted in the issue of 
 a l^sch stamp. In 1867 the color of 
 the Isch value was slightly changed and 
 this completed the separate postal exist- 
 ence of Lubeck for, having joined the 
 North German Confederation, the 
 stamps of that Confederation were used 
 on and after January 1st, 1868. 
 
 The status of these stamps was similar 
 to those of Hamburg, save that none 
 of the values singly were able to frank 
 a letter beyond the confines of Germany. 
 In the "Why and Wherefore of Various 
 Stamps," published in the Philatelic 
 Record in 1906, Mr. R. R. Thiele gives 
 some interesting and valuable informa- 
 tion regarding the postal rates, etc., 
 which we cannot do better than repro- 
 duce in his own words : 
 
 The first issue did not make its ap- 
 pearance until 1859. At that time Lue- 
 beck had three post offices : that of 
 the city itself, one of Thurn and 
 Taxis, and one of Denmark. The 
 two latter had been using stamps for 
 several years and the force of public 
 opinion finally prevailed upon the 
 postal authorities of the Free City to 
 issue stamps also. The values of the 
 first issue were selected for the rates 
 most in use. The one-half schilling 
 stamp representd the rate on city let- 
 ters for local delivery, and also on lo- 
 cal printed matter. The one schilling 
 stamp was intended for the other city 
 (there is only one, Travemuende) 
 
 52 
 
and villages within the territory of the 
 Free City, as well as those post-offices 
 in the neighbouring Duchy of Meck- 
 lenburg-Schwerin which lay within 
 three German miles of Luebeck. Two 
 schillings was the rate to Hamburg 
 and Bergedorf, hence the stamp of 
 this value. To most of the post-offices 
 within the two Duchies of Mecklen- 
 burg-Schwerin and Mecklenburg-Stre- 
 litz the single letter rate was two and 
 one-half schillings, and hence a stamp 
 of this value was found necessary. 
 Finally the four schilling stamp repre- 
 sented the single rate on letters des- 
 tined to points in the territory of the 
 German-Austria postal union more 
 than twenty German miles from Lue- 
 beck (about ninety statute miles). 
 The rate to certain offices in Mecklen- 
 burg-Schwerin was one and one-half 
 schilling and that to other offices be- 
 tween ten and twenty German miles 
 distant was three schillings, but for 
 some reason stamps of these values 
 were not issued. 
 
 In 1862 or 1863 the postal authori- 
 ties received word from London that 
 the stamps of Luebeck had been coun- 
 terfeited there. This was, perhaps, 
 not very difficult, considering their 
 lithographic production. At all events 
 the authorities decided to discontinue 
 their lithographed stamps and to make 
 use of steel engraving in the future. 
 They, therefore, ordered the next set, 
 that of 1863, from the Royal Prussian 
 Printing Establishment at Berlin. It 
 is related that the price of the die and 
 plates nearly gave the Luebeckers a 
 fit, but that the expense, to their great 
 joy, was soon counter balanced by the 
 orders of the stamp collectors of the 
 time, who bought large numbers of 
 the pretty labels. The values repre- 
 sent the same rates as before. 
 
 In 1864 the war with Denmark broke 
 out and the Duchies of Schleswig and 
 Holstein were occupied by the Feder- 
 al troops. Correspondence for these 
 two Duchies from Luebeck had for- 
 merly been handled by the Danish 
 office at Luebeck, but this office was 
 now closed because of the war and the 
 city post office took charge of all mail 
 for the duchies. The Danish rate had 
 been four skillings, equivalent to one 
 and one-fourth schillings in Luebeck 
 currency ; hence the department- is- 
 sued a new stamp of the latter value. 
 As it had to be provided in a hurry 
 it was not engraved and printed in 
 Berlin like the set then current, but 
 was lithographed by Rahtgens at Lue- 
 beck. In 1866 the rate was raised to 
 one and one-half schilling and the one 
 
 and one-fourth schilling stamp was 
 then discontinued. 
 
 As above mentioned the rate to 
 Hamburg and Bergedorf was two 
 schillings. In 1865 this rate was low- 
 ered to one and one-half schillings 
 and a stamp of this value was issued. 
 It was again printed at Berlin, but it 
 was not ready on the date when the 
 reduced rate went into effect and the 
 official notice, with charming simplicity, 
 points out that the postage might, 
 nevertheless, be made up by means of 
 the one schilling and the half schill- 
 ing stamps. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 Lubeck issued its first series of ad- 
 hesive postage stamps on January 1st, 
 1859, the values being ^, 1, 2, 2,y 2 and 
 4 schilling. Their use was entirely op- 
 tional but when used the public were 
 requested to affix them to the left upper 
 corner of the face of the letter and this 
 continued to be the recognised mode of 
 affixing the stamps until 1864. Official 
 proof of this is found in the stamped 
 envelopes those issued in 1863 shew 
 the stamp in the upper left hand corner, 
 while those issued in 1864 have the label 
 in the right upper angle. 
 
 The design is the same for all five 
 values and shows the Arms of Lubeck 
 on a field d'or (represented heraldically 
 by a dotted ground) within three 
 scrolls arranged in the form of an in- 
 verted horseshoe. The lower of these 
 scrolls contains the word "POST- 
 MARKE," the one at left contains the 
 value in words, and that on the right 
 is inscribed with the word "SCHILL- 
 ING." In a straight line at the top is 
 "LUBECK" while in each of the 
 angles the value is shown in white 
 figures on a ground of solid color. The 
 spaces between the corners are linked 
 up by ornamental lines and the whole 
 is enclosed within a single line rectangu- 
 lar frame. 
 
 Who was responsible for the design 
 does not seem to be known but the 
 
stamps were manufactured by H. G. 
 Rahtgens, a printer engaged in business 
 in Lubeck. The method employed was 
 lithography and minute differences in the 
 designs for each value show that a 
 special die or drawing was made for 
 each. From the original design in each 
 case one hundred transfers were taken 
 and arranged on the lithographic stone 
 in ten horizontal rows of ten. 
 
 In making up the stone for the 2 
 schilling two transfers of the 2J^sch 
 were accidentally inserted in the bottom 
 row. The mistake was discovered be- 
 fore any of the stamps were printed and 
 to remedy it the lithographer removed 
 the numerals "2%" from each of the 
 four corners of the offending labels and 
 drew in the correct figures "2." He, 
 however, omitted to alter the inscription 
 showing the value in words so that 
 these two stamps, printed in the cor- 
 rect color for the 2sch and showing the 
 correct value "2" in the corners are, 
 nevertheless, wrongly inscribed 2^sch 
 as shown by the lettering "ZWEI EIN 
 HALB." The errors occurred on the 
 sixth and seventh stamps of the lower 
 row. 
 
 As a safeguard against forgery the 
 designer of these stamps introduced se- 
 cret dots into his work. The center of 
 the small ornament at the foot of the 
 design consists of a short horizontal 
 line on all the ^sch stamps a tiny dot 
 appears above this line; on the Isch the 
 dot is below the line; on the 2sch there 
 are two dots below the line, one at each 
 end; on the 2^sch there are two dots 
 below and one above, in the center; 
 while on the 4sch there are four 
 dots below the line. In the case of 
 the 2sch error the dots are as in the 
 2^2sch. In addition to these dots there 
 are numerous small peculiarities distinc- 
 tive to each value. In an article, trans- 
 lated in the Postage Stamp, M. Georges 
 Brunei gives a lengthy list of these little 
 marks but for all practical purposes 
 the following tests, described in The 
 Philatelist so long ago as 1871 are 
 ample : 
 
 J^sch. Eagle's right beak does not 
 go against the wing. The bird does 
 not touch the label in any place. 
 There is no period after SCHILLING. 
 The lines by which the figures are 
 divided are very fine, and the figures 
 themselves are small. 
 
 Isch. Eagle very much like the one 
 on the y 2 sch but the right hand end 
 is more flattened and, consequently, 
 shapeless. EIN is in letters of the 
 same size as those used in the words 
 following it. 
 
 2sch. Eagle's left beak touches the 
 wing, and the right one nearly so; 
 
 there are no dots between the heads 
 and wings. Over the U is a diaeresis 
 of very small solid dots. 
 
 2^sch. Eagle's left claw is at some 
 little distance from the inscribed ri- 
 band. No period after any of the 
 words. All the fractional figures are 
 very small, and the strokes dividing 
 them very indistinct. The topmost of 
 the three dashes under the upright 
 stroke upon the left hand is merely a 
 dot. 
 
 4sch. The third segment of the 
 eagle's right wing touches the riband. 
 There are either four or five dots (but 
 only three are clearly formed) in the 
 hollow between the beak and the 
 wing, and those not together, but dis- 
 persed. P of POSTMARKE almost 
 touches the fold of the band. 
 The paper upon which these stamps 
 were printed was not specially requisi- 
 tioned but was obtained from Matz, a 
 stationer in the town, who had on hand 
 a stock of thin fancy paper water- 
 marked throughout with small flowers 
 of myosotis. It was paper really in- 
 tended to be made up into boxes of 
 fancy note-paper. The stamps were is- 
 sued imperforate and the sheets were 
 gummed with yellowish gum according 
 as they were required for use. M. 
 Brunei states that the stamps were dis- 
 tributed to the postmasters ungummed 
 and these latter aflfixed the gum before 
 selling them to the public. Such a pro- 
 ceeding appears highly improbable for 
 the postmasters would not be likely to 
 have facilities at hand for gumming 
 sheets of stamps. The statement has no 
 foundation in fact but there seems little 
 doubt that Rahtgens only gummed the 
 sheets as they were required. Indeed, 
 in an article in the Philatelic Record 
 translated from the German we read 
 "I learned from a member of the Raht- 
 gens firm that they had not delivered 
 all the stamps at one time, and gummed. 
 On the contrary they were in the habit 
 of remitting small quantities to the 
 authorities, as the stamps became 
 needed, and they only kept in stock a 
 small number of sheets gummed in ad- 
 vance." This accounts for the fact that 
 the remainders of these stamps were 
 all ungummed. 
 
 Although the sheets were only 
 gummed as required it would appear 
 that the whole of the stamps originally 
 ordered were printed at the same time 
 the total supply printed being 
 
 400 sheets = 40,000 stamps. 
 Isch 200 sheets = 20,000 stamps. 
 2sch 1366 sheets = 138,600 stamps. 
 SJ^sch 500 sheets = 50,000 stamps. 
 4sch 1499 sheets 149,900 stamps. 
 
As there were two errors in each of 
 the sheets of the 2sch the total number 
 of normal stamps was 135,820 while 
 there were 2,772 errors. 
 
 Variations in shade are not very 
 prominent though the green of the 4sch 
 differs a little. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1859. Wmk. Myosotis Flowers. Imperf. 
 
 1. ^sch slate lilac, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 2. Isch orange, Scott's No. 2. 
 ::. L'sch brown, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 (a) Variety lettered ZWEI EIN HALB. 
 4. 2'^sch rose, Scott's No. 4. 
 ii. 4sch green, Scott's No. 5 or No. 5a-. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 The quantites printed of the */ 2 and 
 Isch would appear to be ridiculously 
 small but they lasted nearly two years. 
 A further printing was made in 1861 
 consisting of 1100 sheets (110,000 
 stamps; of the ^sch and 499 sheets 
 (49,900 stamps) of the Isch. As no 
 more of the fancy paper watermarked 
 with myosotis flowers was available or- 
 dinary umvatermarked white wove 
 paper was used. The same stones were 
 used and with the exception of the 
 paper the stamps are exactly like those 
 of the preceding issue. These two va- 
 rieties are said to have been issued in 
 September, 1861. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1861. No wmk. Imperf. 
 
 6. ^sch dull lilac, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 7. Isch orange, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 Both these starhps are very much 
 rarer used than unused and about twice 
 as rare with gum as without. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 In consequence, it is said, of the 
 stamps being extensively counterfeited 
 it was decided to issue a new series 
 and the order for these was placed with 
 the Royal Prussian Printing Establish- 
 ment at Berlin. As it was determined 
 
 of the series they replaced the design 
 being alike for all five. In the center 
 are the Arms of Lubeck on an upright 
 oval of solid ground, around which is 
 an engine-turned band inscribed "LUE- 
 BECK" in its upper portion and 
 "SCHILLING" at the base, while the 
 numerals denoting the values are shown 
 on uncolored discs at the sides. The 
 stamps were embossed in color on plain 
 white wove paper in sheets of 100 (10 
 rows of 10) and, as in the case of most 
 other embossed stamps produced at this 
 establishment, the rows were numbered 
 in the margins. The stamps were rou- 
 letted 11^ in line. 
 
 These new stamps were first placed 
 on sale on July 1st, 1863, when the 
 preceding set ceased to be issued, 
 though their use was permitted until the 
 end of the year as a convenience to the 
 general public. The quantities printed 
 were as follows : 
 
 ^sch 1,200 sheets = 120,000 stamps. 
 
 Isch 800 sheets = 80,000 stamps. 
 
 2sch 1,200 sheets = 120,000 stamps. 
 
 2^sch 500 sheets = 50,000 stamps. 
 
 4sch 800 sheets = 80,000 stamps. 
 
 This parcel was dispatched from Ber- 
 lin in June, 1863, and no more of the 2, 
 2^, and 4sch were printed. A further 
 supply of 240 sheets of the ^sch (24,000 
 stamps) was printed in October, 1865, 
 and a second supply of the 1 schilling, 
 consisting of 200 sheets (20,000 stamps) 
 was printed in May, 1867. This latter 
 differs from the others in having a 
 gauge of ten for the roulette. The color 
 was also different from the Isch issued 
 in 1863, the shade being orange instead 
 of the previous orange-vermilion. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1863-67. Embossed. No wmk. Rouletted 11%. 
 
 8. J^sch green, Scott's No. 8. 
 
 9. Isch orange-vermilion, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 10. Isch orange, Roul. 10, Scott's No. 9a. 
 
 11. 2sch rose, Scott's No. 10. 
 
 12. 2j4sch ultramarine, Scott's No. 11. 
 
 13. 4sch bistre, Scott's No. 12. 
 
 to issue a series of envelopes as well as 
 adhesives the same dies were utilised for 
 both, and these were engraved by Schill- 
 ing. The values are the same as those 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 Until 1864 Denmark had maintained 
 a post-office in Lubeck but when, owing 
 to the war, the duchies of Schleswig, 
 Holstein, and Lauenberg were detached 
 from Denmark this office was aban- 
 doned. Mail for the duchies was then 
 handled by the city Post the rate on 
 single letters being fixed at IJ^sch. As 
 there was no stamp of that value or a 
 ^sch by means of which the rate might 
 be made up in conjunction with a Isch 
 stamp had to be issued and as 
 
 55 
 
the demand for this- was somewhat ur- 
 gent it was decided to produce it locally 
 by lithography rather than wait for a 
 supply from Berlin. H. G. Rahtgens, 
 who produced the first series, was en- 
 trusted with the manufacture of this 
 l^sch label. The design is a palpable 
 copy of the embossed stamps and shows 
 the Arms of Lubeck on a dotted ground 
 within an upright oval band inscribed in 
 a similar manner to the stamps of the 
 1863 series. The stamps were litho- 
 graphed in sheets of 100 and there were 
 two printings. The first of .these took 
 place in March, 1864, when 525 sheets 
 (52,500 stamps) were printed and the 
 second was made in November of the 
 same year when 517 sheets, or 51,700 
 stamps were prepared. They were is- 
 sued imperforate and a number of dif- 
 ferent shades may be found. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1864. No wmk. Imperf. 
 1(4. I'^sch brown, Scott's No. 14. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 On October 1st, 1865, the postage be- 
 tween Lubeck and Travemund on the 
 one side, and Hamburg, Bergedorf and 
 Geestacht on the other was reduced to 
 \ l /2 schilling, and a stamp to provide for 
 the new rate was ordered from Berlin 
 together with an envelope of similar 
 value. The first supply of 202 sheets 
 (20,200 stamps) was sent in November, 
 1865. and a second supply of 200 sheets 
 (20,000 stamps) was despatched in May, 
 1867, these being printed in a brighter 
 tint. The design is similar to that of 
 1863 except that the inscribed band is 
 octagonal instead of oval while the rec- 
 tangular form is obtained by the filling 
 of the angles with engine-turning. 
 These were rouletted 11^ in line like 
 the emission of 1863. 
 
 This was the last special stamp issued 
 by the Lubeck administration (though 
 there was a later printing of the Isch 
 as we have already shown) before its 
 absorption by the North German Con- 
 federation on January 1st, 1868. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1867. Embossed. No wmk. Roul. 11 J A. 
 15. IJ^sch mauve, Scott's No 13. 
 
 THE REMAINDERS. 
 
 At the time the Lubeck Post-office 
 went out of business as a distinctive 
 stamp issuing establishment quite a con- 
 siderable number of stamps remained on 
 hand and these were sold in December, 
 1868, to M. Ch. Pelletreau, of Paris, for 
 about $450.00. The lot comprised the 
 following : 
 
 1859. y 2 sch 72,500 stamps. 
 Isch 29,500 stamps, 
 2sch 79,500 stamps. 
 26,500 stamps. 
 4sch 107,500 stamps. 
 
 1863. l / 2 sch 23,968 stamps. 
 
 Isch 7,228 stamps. 
 2sch 50,828 stamps. 
 28,951 stamps. 
 4sch 17,851 stamps. 
 
 1864. l*4sch 30,652 stamps. 
 
 1865. l^sch 97,071 stamps. 
 
 Those of the first issue were all with- 
 out gum and the two lowest values were 
 the varieties on unwatermarked paper. 
 Of the 2sch, 1590 were the errors in- 
 scribed "Zwei ein HALB." 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 In 1871 Herr Kirchner, a soldier who 
 had been wounded in the Franco-Ger- 
 man war, obtained the permission of 
 the authorities to make reprints of all 
 the stamps of Lubeck excepting the 
 lJ4sch of 1864 for which, apparently, 
 no die had been made, or; if made, had 
 been lost. These reprints were made 
 for Herr Kirchner by H. G. Rahtgens 
 who charged the modest sum of $7.50 
 for the work. Of the 1859 issue 250 
 of each value were reprinted with an 
 additional 250 of the Isch on thick 
 paper. As the original stones were not 
 available new ones had to be made and 
 
these were small ones of 25 impressions 
 in five rows of five. These varieties 
 are, therefore, not true reprints but imi- 
 tations made with official sanction. The 
 paper is thin (with the exception of the 
 extra lot of Isch already referred to) 
 and unwatermarked, the gum smooth 
 and evenly applied, instead of thick and 
 yellowish as in the originals, and the 
 colors are also different. As these re- 
 prints are far rarer than the original 
 
 stamps they are not likely to worry the 
 average collector. 
 
 At the same time reprints of the 1863 
 issue were made and also of the l^sch 
 of 1865. There were only 250 of these 
 likewise, but as they were neither em- 
 bossed nor rouletted, and printed in 
 colors widely differing from the origi- 
 nals their identification should be a 
 simple matter. These are, of course, as 
 rare as the reprints of the 1859 set. 
 
 MECKLENBURG-SCHWERIN. 
 
 Mecklenburg-Schwerin is a grand- 
 duchy of the German Empire lying 
 south of the Baltic Sea. The surface is 
 generally flat but diversified by the 
 Baltic ridge of the North German plain. 
 Its area, including that of its sister 
 duchy, Mecklenburg- Strelitz, is 6,266 
 square miles and the combined popula- 
 tion of both is not far in excess of 800,- 
 000. Agriculture, the most important 
 industry in the duchy, has reached a 
 high state of development. Sugar and 
 starch factories, breweries and distil- 
 leries, and the making of machinery and 
 bricks are the other industries of mo- 
 ment. Salt and gypsium are extracted. 
 The capitol of Mecklenburg-Schwerin is 
 Schwerin. The town of next importance 
 is Rostock at which a well-known uni- 
 versity is established. The population 
 of the towns and land-owning classes 
 are of lower Saxon descent, while the 
 rural population are mostly of Slav de- 
 scent. The current language is Platt- 
 Deutsch or Low German. The duchy 
 dates from 1710, while the title of grand 
 duke dates from 1815. During the time 
 its postage stamps were in use the reign- 
 ing Grand Duke was Frederick Francis 
 II. Alecklenburg-Schwerin has two 
 votes in the Imperial Federal Council 
 and sends six members to the Imperial 
 Diet. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 The grand-duchy of Mecklenburg- 
 Schwerin did not issue its first postage 
 stamps until July 1st, 1856, though it ap- 
 pears to have joined the German-Aus- 
 trian Postal Union some years previous- 
 ly and to have been desirous of issuing 
 stamps. Its currency, however, seems 
 to have been a stumbling block for be- 
 ing in thalers and schillinge some diffi- 
 culty was experienced in arriving at 
 equivalents acceptable to the other mem- 
 
 bers of the Union. The thaler, equal to 
 about ?2c in United States currency, was 
 divided into 48 schillinge, while the 
 thaler of the Postal Union (also worth 
 about 72c) was equal to 30 North Ger- 
 man silber-groschen. After some dis- 
 cussion it was agreed that 1 silbergro- 
 schen should be represented by 1^4 
 schillinge, 2 silbergroschen by 3^4 schit- 
 linge, and 3 silbergroschen by 5 schil- 
 linge. 
 
 The letter rates within the boundaries 
 of the duchy were 1 schilling up to three 
 German miles, 1 schilling 6 pfennige (or 
 \ l / 2 schilling) from three to six miles, 
 and 3 schillinge for distances over six 
 miles. The rate on printed matter 
 weighing under 1 loth was l / 2 schilling, 
 regardless of distance, and for heavier 
 packages the rate was one-fourth that 
 charged for letters. The rates for let- 
 ters sent to other countries within the 
 Postal Union were 1 schilling for dis- 
 tances up to 10 miles, 3*4 schilling for 
 distances of 10 to 20 miles, and 5 schil- 
 ling for distances over 20 miles. These 
 rates would have necessitated quite a 
 number of different denominations but 
 the difficulty was surmounted by the in- 
 genious expedient of issuing a divisible 
 1 schilling stamp (so constructed that it 
 could be cut up into four parts of Y 
 schilling each) and 3 and 5 schillinge 
 values. In 1864 the 4/4 schilling stamp 
 was issued rouletted and almost immedi- 
 ately after it was changed somewhat in 
 design. At the same time the color of 
 the 5sch was changed from blue to 
 bistre. In September, 1865, the 3sch ap- 
 peared rouletted. 
 
 In 1863 the postal rates were revised 
 as regards inland letters the new sched- 
 ule being 1 schilling for distances up to 
 five miles, 2 schilling from five to ten 
 miles, and 3 schilling above ten miles. 
 For printed matter distance was disre- 
 garded and the rates were fixed by 
 weight at y 2 schilling up to 1 loth, 1 
 schilling from 1 to 4 loth, and 2 schilling 
 from 4 loth to eight ounces. It will' 
 
thus be seen that there was considerable 
 necessity for a 2 schilling stamp but a 
 label of this value was not issued until 
 October, 1866. In the following year it 
 underwent a change of color and on 
 January 1st, 1868, the separate series of 
 stamps for Mecklenburg- Schwerin was 
 dispensed with on the formation of the 
 North German Confederation. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 The first stamps, as we have already 
 stated, were issued on July 1st, 1856. 
 They were printed at the Prussian State 
 Printing Office, in Berlin, on white wove 
 paper and were issued imperforate. The 
 design of the 1 schilling consisted of 
 four small stamps of Y\ schilling each 
 in two rows of two, the combined four 
 being about 21 mm. square. The design 
 on each of these four quarters shows a 
 bull's head (or that of a buffalo accord- 
 ing to some writers) the Arms of Meck- 
 lenburg, on a dotted ground, heraldically 
 representing a field d'or. This was en- 
 closed by a square frame inscribed 
 "SCHILLING" at the base and "MECK- 
 LENB. SCHWERIN FRIEMARKE" 
 on the other three sides, the numerals 
 of value being in the angles. The 3 and 
 5 schillinge are alike in design and 
 show a bull's head on a dotted ground 
 within a shield, surmounted by a grand 
 ducal coronet on an uncolored ground. 
 Around this centerpiece is a square 
 frame being inscriptions similar to those 
 on the lowest denomination except that 
 the word at base is "SCHILLINGE." 
 The numerals in the angles are, of 
 course, "3" and "5" respectively. 
 
 The sheets consisted of 120 stamps 
 arranged in twelve rows of ten. Ac- 
 cording to the late Mr. W. A. S. Westo- 
 by "the 480 electrotypes for the J4 schil- 
 ling were arranged in groups of four in 
 two rows of two, 1}4 mm. distance from 
 each other, and 1^4 mm. between each 
 group." Other writers state that the 
 small electrotypes were placed an equal 
 distance apart horizontally and vertical- 
 ly so that each was virtually a separate 
 54 schilling stamp. The electrotypes for 
 the 3 and 5 schillinge values were spaced 
 about 2 mm. apart. The rows were 
 numbered in the margins at each side 
 from 1 to 12 respectively. Three de- 
 liveries of these stamps were made by 
 the Prussian State Printing Office viz. : 
 Date. Sheets. Value. Stamps 
 
 June 9, 1856. 6,300 4/4sch 756,000 
 
 June 9, 1856. 1,800 3sch 216,000 
 
 June 9, 1856. 600 5sch 72,000 
 
 Nov. 26, 1856. 200 3sch 24,000 
 
 Dec. 16, 1856. 1,650 3sch 198,000 
 
 It will be noted that the total supply 
 of the 5sch consisted of only 72,000 
 stamps so that it is rather surprising its 
 catalogue value is not higher. The only 
 denomination that varies in shade is the 
 2sch which is found in yellow and 
 orange-yellow. 
 
 3LSCHJLLIKGE 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1856. Typographed. Imperf. 
 
 1. 4/4sch red, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 2. 3sch yellow, Scott's No. 2 or No. 2a. 
 
 3. osch blue, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 On June 12th, 1864, a supply of 500 
 sheets (60,000 stamps) of the 4/4sch 
 stamp was ordered from Berlin and de- 
 livered early in July. The printers took 
 it upon themselves to roulette the stamps 
 in this supply and as the innovation was 
 approved by the Mecklenburg authorities 
 all further supplies of stamps were is- 
 sued with roulette separation. This 
 rouletting necessitated a new arrange- 
 ment of the little electrotypes. The 
 groups of four were arranged with a 
 space of 3mm. between them, which al- 
 lowed of a rouletting in line between 
 each group. The paper on which this 
 supply of stamps was printed was of a 
 different texture from that used in 1856, 
 having a smoother surface and being 
 softer with a more pronounced mesh. 
 Notwithstanding the fact that there were 
 nearly as many of these stamps printed 
 as of the 5sch blue this is the rarest of 
 all Mecklenburg stamps as a glance at 
 the catalogue will show. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 July, 1864. Typographed. Rouletted 
 4. 4/4sch red, Scott's No. 4. 
 
THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 A notice issued by the Post Office un- 
 der date September 30th, 1864, informed 
 the public that as soon as the stock of 
 5sch blue was exhausted a new issue 
 would be made printed in brown, and 
 that the dotted ground in the 4/4 schil- 
 ling stamps had been suppressed. The 
 actual date of issue of these two new 
 varieties does not seem to be known for, 
 though the official circular referred to 
 above is dated Sept. 30th, a delivery of 
 the osch bistre was made on July 15th, 
 1864, while the first lot of the 4/4sch was 
 delivered on August 10th. These stamps 
 were printed in sheets of 100 in ten 
 rows of ten instead of 120 as formerly. 
 The dates and quantities of the different 
 supplies were as follows : 
 
 Date. Sheets. Value. Stamps 
 
 July 15, 1864. 100 5sch 10,000 
 
 Aug. 10, 1864. 4,000 4/4sch 400,000 
 March 20, 1865. 150 5sch 15,000 
 Oct. 20, 1865. 150 5sch 15,000 
 
 Jan. 9, 1866. 5,000 4/4sch 500,000 
 
 Jan. 26, 1867. 60 5sch 6,000 
 
 Feb. 23, 1867. 2,000 4/4sch 200,000 
 June 11, 1867. 100 5sch 10,000 
 
 Aug. 24, 1867. 1,200 4/4sch 120,000 
 
 It will thus be seen that altogether 
 1.. "jo, ooo 4/4sch stamps were printed and 
 56,000 of the 5sch. 
 
 The 5sch is known on a distinctly 
 thick paper and as this is little rarer than 
 the normal variety it would seem that 
 more than one of the supplies mentioned 
 above were on this paper. Both values 
 may be found in quite a number of 
 shades. The specialist can sub-divide 
 the ordinary paper into two varieties 
 one having a close texture like that used 
 in 1856 and the other having a coarse 
 web like that used for the issue of the 
 rouletted 4/4sch original type, made in 
 1864. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1864. Typographed. Rouletted 11%. 
 .">. 4/4sch red, Scott's No. 5. 
 *;. Hsch bistre, Scott's No. 6 or No. 6a. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 In September, 1865, the 3 schillinge ap- 
 peared rouletted ll 1 /? like the other 
 values. The original plate of 1856 was 
 used so that the stamps have smaller 
 margins than those of the 5sch of the 
 last issue which were printed in sheets 
 of 100. A supply consisting of 800 
 sheets, or 96,000 stamps was delivered 
 on August 16th. There was little room 
 for the roulette lines, the size of the 
 
 completed stamps being 23mm. square. 
 When a new supply was required in 1867 
 the plate was reconstructed so that it 
 contained 100 stamps like that of the 
 4/4sch and 5sch. These were so spaced 
 that the stamps now measure a trifle 
 more than 24 mm. square. Two print- 
 ings, each of 20,000 stamps, were made 
 and these were delivered on July llth 
 and August 24th, 1867, respectively. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1865. Typographed. Rouletted 11%. 
 
 7. 3sch yellow, Scott's No. 8 or No. 8a. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 Although, as we have shown in our 
 introductory notes, there was consider- 
 able need for a 2 schillinge stamp the 
 first supply of this value was not issued 
 until October, 1866. In design it is simi- 
 lar to the 3sch and 5sch but with, of 
 course, the numerals "2" in the angles. 
 The plate consisted of the 100 electro- 
 types then usual and the first supply con- 
 sisted of 500 sheets, or 50,000 stamps. 
 These were printed in purple and the 
 supply lasted until September, 1867, 
 when another batch of 200 sheets (20,000 
 stamps) was ready for issue. This sec- 
 ond lot provides two shades grey-lilac 
 and bluish lilac. One of the electrotypes 
 was slightly damaged, the ball of the "2" 
 in the upper right hand corner being 
 knocked off providing a minor variety. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1866-67. Typographed. Rouletted 11%. 
 8. 2sch lilac, Scott's No. 7 or 7a. 
 
 REMAINDERS. 
 
 Mecklenburg-Schwerin having joined 
 the North German Confederation its 
 special stamps were superseded on Janu- 
 ary 1st, 1868, by the general issue for the 
 Confederation. Late in the same year 
 or early in 1869 the remainders were 
 purchased from the Post Office by Mr. 
 G. Schnelle, of Schwerin. These con- 
 sisted of the following: 
 2sch lilac, 15,000 stamps 
 
 3sch yellow, 18,800 stamps 
 
 5sch bistre, 3,000 stamps 
 
 4/4sch red, '36,500 stamps 
 
 Isch red, 
 2sch lilac, 
 3sch yellow, 
 5sch bistre, 
 
 Envelopes. 
 
 26,400 
 
 25,000 
 
 18,700 
 
 2.400 
 
The price paid for the lot was $75.00 
 and the purchaser offered them whole- 
 sale at the following rates : 
 
 Isch (4/4) red, $2.40 per 100. 
 
 2sch lilac, $2.40 per 100. 
 
 3sch yellow, $2.40 per 100. 
 
 From another list of the same period 
 we take the following retail prices which 
 are interesting compared with those now 
 obtaining : 
 
 1856, 4/4sch red, imperf., unused 12c. 
 3856, 4/4sch red, imperf., used 4c. 
 1856, 4/4sch red, rouletted, unused 50c. 
 1856, 4/4sch red, rouletted, used 50c. 
 1856, 3sch yellow, imperf. 2c. 
 1856, 5sch blue, used, 12c. 
 1864, 4/4sch red, 2c. 
 1864, 5sch brown, 6c. 
 There are no reprints of any of the 
 Mecklenburg-Schwerin stamps. 
 
 MECKLENBURG-STRELITZ. 
 
 The grand-duchy of Mecklenburg- 
 Strelitz adjoins that of Mecklenburg 
 Schwerin. Its industries, people, and 
 geographical formation are similar to 
 that of its sister duchy, while its capital 
 is Neu-Strelitz. It has but one vote in 
 the Imperial Federal Council and sends 
 only one member to the Imperial Diet. 
 The existing duchy dates from 1701, 
 the title of grand-duke being acquired 
 in 1815. At the time its postage stamps 
 were issued its ruler was the Grand 
 Duke Frederick William, then a child 
 four years of age. 
 
 the confines of the duchy was charged 
 at the rate of % silbergroschen per loth, 
 while for other places within the Ger- 
 man-Austrian Postal Union the rate 
 was Yz silbergroschen. The computa- 
 tion of the postal charges must have 
 been difficult at times for some of the 
 rates were expressed in schillinge and 
 some in silbergroschen and, as we have 
 shown in the case of Mecklenburg- 
 Schwerin, the two currencies were 
 somewhat difficult to reconcile. The 
 stamps had but a short life for on Jan- 
 uary 1st, 1868, they were superseded by 
 the general issue for the North German 
 Confederation. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 Until October, 1864, the postal affairs 
 of the tiny Grand-duchy of Mecklen- 
 burg-Strelitz were managed by the 
 Thurn and Taxis administration. It 
 then, if somewhat tardy in making up 
 its mind to do so, decided to issue 
 stamps of its own and the order for these 
 was given to the Prussian State Print- 
 ing Office at Berlin. The currency was a 
 mixed one, as both that of the thaler 
 of its sister grand-duchy divided into 
 48 schillinge was in use, and that in 
 which it was divided into 30 silber- 
 groschen. A series of six different 
 stamps was issued five of these having 
 the values denoted in silbergroschen 
 while the other had its value expressed 
 as 1 schilling. The latter was intended 
 for local letters only while the other 
 denominations took the place of the 
 similar values which had been used 
 under the Thurn and Taxis adminis- 
 tration. 
 
 The rates of postage on single letters 
 were as follows: Up to 10 miles, 1 
 silbergroschen ; From 10 to 20 miles, 2 
 silbergroschen ; Over 20 miles, 3 silber- 
 groschen. Local, or "drop", letters were 
 1 schilling, the registration fee was 2 
 schilling, and special delivery cost 3 
 silbergroschen. Printed matter within 
 
 THE STAMPS. 
 
 The stamps were first issued on Octo- 
 ber 1st, 1864, and of the six values com- 
 prised in the set three were of one de- 
 sign and three of another. The central 
 design on the Y sgr, Ys sgr and 1 schil- 
 ling consists of a rectangle of solid 
 color on which the Arms of Mecklen- 
 burg, a bull's head on a shield sur- 
 mounted by a grand-ducal coronet, are 
 embossed in white. On the frame the 
 inscriptions are shown in colored let- 
 ters on an engine turned ground, while 
 in each of the four corners the numer- 
 als of value are shown in white on 
 square blocks of solid color. The in- 
 scriptions are "MECKLENB." on the 
 left, "STRELITZ" on- the right, "EIN 
 VIERTEL" or "EIN DTITTEL" on 
 the top for the J^sgr and Hsgr respec- 
 tively, and "SILB. GR." at the bottom 
 for these two values. On the 1 schilling 
 the top frame shows "EIN" and the 
 bottom one "SCHILLING". On the 
 other three values the centre is similar 
 but is on a solid oval ground. The 
 frame around this is octagonal in shape 
 with inscriptions on an engine turned 
 ground. These are "MECKLENB. 
 STRELITZ" at the top and the value in 
 
 en 
 
words at the bottom. In the centre, at 
 each side, numerals of value are shown 
 on small uncolored ovals. 
 
 The stamps were all embossed in color 
 on plain white wove unwatermarkcd 
 paper at the Prussian State Printing 
 Office. They were printed in sheets of 
 100, ten rows of ten, with the side mar- 
 gins numbered 1 to 10 corresponding 
 with the horizontal rows. All were 
 rouletted ll l / 2 . 
 
 How many were printed or how many 
 different printings took place we have 
 been unable to discover but the totals 
 were roughly as follows : 
 
 %sgr and ^sgr about 60,000 of each. 
 
 1 schilling at least 20,000. 
 
 Isgr and 3 sgr about 100,000 of each. 
 
 2sgr about 50,000. 
 
 All values except the 1 schilling and 
 3sgr exist in fairly pronounced shades. 
 Of the l /4 silbergroschen 100 sheets 
 (10,000 stamps) were printed in orange- 
 
 yellow. This was the first supply and 
 those printed subsequently were in 
 orange-red. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Oct. 1st, 1864. Embossed. Rouletted 11^. 
 
 1. J^sgr orange, Scott's No. 1 or No. la. 
 
 2. V$sgr green, Scott's No. 2. 
 .",. Isch violet, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 4. Isgr rose, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 5. 2sgr blue, Scott's No. 5. 
 
 6. 3sgr bistre, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 REMAINDERS. 
 
 The grand-duchy having joined the 
 North German Confederation, a notice 
 dated December 17th, 1867, announced 
 that on and after January 1st, 1868, the 
 stamps of the Confederation would be 
 substituted for those of Mecklenburg- 
 Strelitz. The remainders were sold in 
 1868 to a merchant in Neu-Strelitz but 
 no details appear to have been published 
 regarding the numbers in the lot or the 
 price paid for them. All the stamps 
 of Mecklenburg-Strelitz are consider- 
 ably rarer used than unused and speci- 
 mens with forged cancellations are, 
 therefore, by no means uncommon. 
 
 None of the stamps of this grand- 
 duchy have ever been reprinted. 
 
 OLDENBURG. 
 
 Oldenburg is a sovereign grand-duchy 
 of the German Empire consisting of 
 three divisions. The first and largest of 
 these is the grand-duchy proper which 
 adjoins the North Sea and has an area 
 of 2,075 square miles. The second part 
 consists of the principality of Lubeck, 
 which is situated north of the state of the 
 same name, with an area of 210 square 
 miles. The third and smallest portion is 
 known as the principality of Birkenfeld. 
 This is situated on the River Saar in the 
 south of the Rhine Provinces and has an 
 area of 194 square miles. The total pop- 
 ulation of the three portions is a little 
 over 400,000. The grand-duchy proper 
 consists of marsh and geest (high heath 
 and moor) land. The breeding of horses, 
 cattle, and sheep and the keeping of bees, 
 are considerable industries. Brickmak- 
 ing, cork and turf cutting, brewing and 
 distilling, and tobacco manufacture are 
 also carried on. Lubeck possesses more 
 pleasing features than the grand-duchy 
 and is blessed with fruitful soil. Birken- 
 feld is covered with forests to the extent 
 of 40% of its surface. Here the cutting 
 
 of gems (agates) and manufacture of 
 imitation jewelery are thriving industries. 
 The grand-duchy has one vote in the Im- 
 perial Federal Council and sends three 
 representatives to the Imperial Diet. Its 
 capital, having a population of about 30,- 
 000, bears the same name and is chiefly 
 famous for its grand-ducal palace. 
 
 The house of Oldenburg is one of con- 
 siderable antiquity and traces its descent 
 direct from the famous Saxon leader, 
 Witikind, who successfully resisted the 
 doughty Charlemagne more than eleven 
 hundred years ago. Though Witikind 
 eventually submitted it was on highly 
 favorable terms and he took the title of 
 Duke of Saxony. Two of his descend- 
 ants became the heroes of the nursery 
 tales of Germany. One was Count Otto, 
 to whom a fairy is said to have presented 
 the silver-gilt horn still exhibted in the 
 museum of Copenhagen, and known as 
 the "Horn of Oldenburg." It is this horn 
 which figures on the stamps of Denmark. 
 Hanover, etc. 
 
 Count Frederic, another off-shoot, 
 bravely proved the innocence of a 
 
 61 
 
maligned father by undergoing the ordeal 
 of single combat with a fierce lion, which 
 he slew in the presence of the assembled 
 diet of Gostar, presided over by the 
 Emperor, Henry IV. From this young 
 hero's heirs springs the ducal house of 
 Oldenburg and his prowess is fittingly 
 commemorated by the inclusion of a lion 
 rampant on the ducal coat-of-anns. 
 Christian, the Warlike, his great-grand- 
 son, built a castle near the ancient city of 
 Oldenburg in 1180 and -thereafter took 
 for his title Count of Oldenburg. In 
 1570, Anthony, the reigning Count, willed 
 a transfer of his dominions to the king 
 of Denmark and the Dukes of Schleswig- 
 Holstein, in the case of the extinction of 
 his male posterity. 
 
 In 1667 the country actually fell into 
 the possession of Denmark, then repre- 
 sented by the house of Holstein Gottorp, 
 the elder branch of the Oldenburg family. 
 On the accession of that branch to the 
 Russian throne Denmark received Old- 
 enburg in exchange for the Schleswig- 
 Holstein family possessions. The grand- 
 duke Paul of Russia, in whom the Old- 
 enburg states were invested, solemnly 
 assigned them, according to convention, 
 to his cousin Frederic Augustus, repre- 
 sentative of the younger branch of Got- 
 torp and at that time bishop of Lubeck. 
 The emperor of Germany confirmed this 
 settlement (1777), and raised the terri- 
 tory to the rank of a duchy. In 1803 the 
 bishopric of Lubeck was added to the 
 duchy and, after the fall of Napoleon in 
 1815, the principality of Birkenfeld was 
 amalgamated therewith. In 1829 the .ter- 
 ritory was made a grand-duchy. 
 
 ITS POSTAL HISTORY. 
 
 The postal service of Oldenburg was 
 originally in the hands of the Counts of 
 Thurn and Taxis, but when it was an- 
 nexed to the French crown in 1811 that 
 service was put an end to. When the 
 duchy was restored by the Congress of 
 Vienna in 1815, after the fall of Napo- 
 leon, it provided a postal administration 
 of its own. In 1851 it joined the Ger- 
 man-Austrian Postal Union and, as one 
 of the rules of the Union required the 
 adoption of postage stamps by the con- 
 tracting states, Oldenburg immediately 
 made preparation for the issue of suit- 
 able labels. The postal rates required 
 three values 1, 2, and 3 silbergroschen 
 respectively, and these were somewhat 
 difficult to express owing to the fact that 
 the currency, like that of Bremen, con- 
 sisted of a thaler of 72 grote, each of 
 
 which was divided into 5 schwaren. In 
 the other countries belonging to this 
 Postal Union the thaler was divided into 
 30 silbergroschen. It was decided to ex- 
 press the values in fractions of a thaler, 
 1 silbergroschen (1/30 thaler) being 
 equal to 2 2/5 grote; 2 silbergroschen 
 (1/15 thaler) being equal to 4 4/5 grote; 
 and 3 silbergroschen (1/10 thaler) be- 
 ing equal to 7 1/5 grote. These three 
 stamps were first placed on sale on Janu- 
 ary 5th, 1852. The 1 silbergroschen 
 stamp was for letters weighing up to 1 
 loth (ounce) sent not more than 10 Ger- 
 man miles within the confines of the 
 grand-duchy; the 2 silbergroschen was 
 for letters sent more than 10 miles ; and 
 the 3 silbergroschen value was for heavi- 
 er letters and also for those sent to 
 points outside Oldenburg. The 1 silber- 
 groschen was also used for the registra- 
 tion fee and, from 1858, represented the 
 single letter rate to any place within the 
 grand-duchy. 
 
 In 1855 a new value, 1/3 silbergroschen 
 or 4 schwaren, was issued for use on 
 packages of printed matter up to one 
 ounce in weight. 
 
 In 1857 the coinage was altered to con- 
 form with that of the other members of 
 the Postal Union, the thaler now being 
 divided into 30 groschen of 12 schwaren 
 each. A new set of four values appeared 
 in 1859 showing values in groschen. The 
 next change took place in 1861 when it 
 was decided to dispense with colored 
 papers and have colored impressions on 
 white paper. At the same time two new 
 values were added to the set a J / 2 gr for 
 the reduced local or "drop" letter rate, 
 and Vtgr to assist in making up the frac- 
 tional rates on letters to foreign coun- 
 tries. This value was dropped in Feb- 
 ruary of the following year as its use 
 was rather restricted and where the frac- 
 tional rates necessitated it the next high- 
 er value, l / 2 gr had to be used. The adop- 
 tion of uniform colors for equivalent 
 values among the various members of 
 the Union necessitated another issue in 
 1862 and this remained in use until Jan- 
 uary 1st, 1868, when Oldenburg joined 
 the North German Confederation. 
 
 In 1853 Prussia acquired about a quar- 
 ter of a square mile of the territory of 
 Oldenburg at the mouth of the river 
 Jade for a naval port, now called Wil- 
 helmshafen, for a consideration of $375,- 
 000, but it was stipulated that Prussian 
 stamps should only be used on letters 
 forwarded by sea. Prussian official cor- 
 respondence was forwarded free but all 
 other mail matter passing over the post- 
 al routes of the grand-duchy had to be 
 franked with Oldenburg stamps. It is im- 
 portant to remember that the Oldenburg 
 
stamps were only used in the grand- 
 duchy proper and not in the principalities 
 of Lubeck and Birkenfeld. 
 
 By an agreement, dated August 17th, 
 1845, and by a Customs Convention dated 
 January 16th, 1864, the postal service of 
 Lubeck was transferred to Denmark, 
 which then possessed sovereign powers 
 in the neighbouring Duchy of Holstein. 
 The postal revenue went to Denmark and 
 Danish stamps were used there until 
 1864. Then the stamps of Schleswig- 
 Holstein were used, and from 1866 those 
 of Prussia. 
 
 Prussia also had charge of the postal 
 administration of Birkenfeld, by the 
 terms of a convention dated April 4th, 
 1837. Prussian stamps were used and 
 Oldenburg received the sum of $450 an- 
 nually as compensation for the loss of 
 postal revenue. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 On December 5th, 1851, Oldenburg 
 joined the German- Austrian Postal Un- 
 ion and, as one of the rules of the Union 
 stipulated that postage stamps should be 
 introduced as "quickly as possible," the 
 Government at once made arrangements 
 for the issue of suitable stamps. The old 
 established firm of lithographic printers, 
 Gerhard Stalling of Oldenburg, were ap- 
 proached and they submitted a drawing 
 for the proposed stamps together with 
 an estimate for the cost of production. 
 The drawing met with the approval of 
 the Government and it was returned to 
 Stalling with an order to manufacture 
 the stamps. This order was notified to 
 the Postal Administration by the Govern- 
 ment on December 29th, 1851, and on the 
 day previous to this an official decree was 
 published for a translation of which I am 
 indebted to Mr. G. B. Duerst's article 
 in the Mnnthlv Journal for December, 
 1000, viz.: 
 Xo. 113. 
 
 OLDENBURG, December 28, 1851. 
 On account of the introduction of 
 postage stamps, and in consequence of 
 the notice of the 16th inst. referring to 
 the German-Austrian Postal Conven- 
 tion, the following is herewith pub- 
 lished : 
 
 Art. i. The value is stated on the 
 postage stamps, on a shield underneath 
 the coat of arms of Oldenburg-Del- 
 menhorst, surmounted by a crown, in 
 fractions of a thaler, and on a scroll on 
 the right-hand side of the shield in 
 silbergroschen, and on the left-hand 
 side in grote. Underneath the shield 
 
 is the word "Oldenburg." also in a 
 scroll. 
 
 The stamps of 1/30 thaler=2 2/5gr 
 Isgr are blue. 
 
 The stamps of 1/15 thaler=4 4/5gr 
 =2sgr are red. 
 
 The stamps of 1/10 thaler=7 l/5gr 
 3sgr are yellow. 
 
 Art. 2. Only letters can be franked 
 with postage stamps; letters with de- 
 clared value, packets to be paid for on 
 delivery, samples and wrappers (news- 
 papers?) are excepted. 
 
 Art. 3. The correct amount for the 
 prepayment of the postage according 
 to the tabulated tariffs must be affixed 
 in postage stamps on the address side 
 of the letter in the upper left-hand cor- 
 ner; this can be done by moistening 
 the adhesive matter which is found on 
 the back of the stamps, and pressing 
 them on the letters. If the stamps 
 have dropped off the letters are con- 
 sidered as not franked. 
 
 Art. 4. On letters which have not 
 been franked sufficiently by the senders 
 the underpaid amount will be marked 
 and collected from the addressee. If 
 the sender has affixed more stamps 
 than required by the tariff he will have 
 to bear the loss. 
 
 Art. 5. Letters franked with stamps 
 can be posted like unfranked letters 
 in letter boxes ; registered letters must 
 be handed in over the counter. 
 
 Art. 6. Refers to imitators and 
 forgers of postage stamps. 
 
 Art. 7. Postage stamps can be 
 bought at all post offices from the 5th 
 of January, 1852. 
 
 (Signed) MUTZENBECHER, 
 
 Barnstedt. 
 
 At the same time as the foregoing doc- 
 ument was distributed a "letfter of instruc- 
 tions" was sent to the various postmas- 
 ters and for the translation of the fol- 
 lowing interesting items I am again in- 
 debted to Mr. Duerst. 
 
 If sufficient postage has not been 
 affixed in stamps, the despatching post 
 office must mark the deficiency on the 
 address side of the letter and debit the 
 receiving office, which must collect the 
 amount from the addressee. 
 
 All letters must be postmarked with 
 name dies as before. If a stamp be 
 recognized as forged, the letter must 
 be sent to the head office. Each stamp 
 must be cancelled separately. The 
 number of the cancellation die must be 
 completely imprinted on the stamp it- 
 self. Each office has a die, consisting 
 of four concentric circles, containing a 
 number in the centre. Each office will 
 receive a different number as per the 
 enclosed list. 
 
The despatching office will be lined 
 five times the amount of any not suffi- 
 ciently obliterated stamp. 
 The "dies" referred to above are the 
 cancellation stamps. 
 
 The same design served for all three 
 values and this has a strong resemblance 
 to that adopted for the first issue of 
 Hanover. Writing in the Stamp Collec- 
 tor's Magazine in 1874 with regard to 
 these stamps Mr. Overy Taylor said, 
 "The early issues of Oldenburg are re- 
 markable for their neatness and finish. 
 They have the same kind of artistic 
 primness as their Hanoverian contem- 
 poraries. There is the same combina- 
 tion, at any rate in the first series, of 
 the useful numeral of value with the 
 decorative coat of arms ; and there is 
 the same peculiarity noticeable in them 
 as in many of the other old German 
 stamps they are rigidly rectangular. 
 Whatever vagaries of ornamentation 
 may be allowed in the centre of the 
 German stamps of the ante-Prussian 
 days, their exterior border is always 
 composed of a neatly ruled double-lined 
 rectangle. Other stamps might take 
 oval, octagonal, hexagonal, or sinuous 
 edged frames, the German engravers 
 stuck fast to their four-sided ideal; and 
 it must be admitted that their produc- 
 tions are not lacking in a certain grave 
 and well-balanced appropriateness. The 
 first Oldenburg type is an example in 
 point. The arms are very carefully 
 and clearly drawn, though on a small 
 scale ; the shield, containing the value 
 is fancifully designed ; and the scroll, 
 which frames it on three sides, falls in 
 graceful folds; whilst the subordinate 
 foliate ornaments and shading relieve 
 and harmonise with the prominent fea- 
 tures." 
 
 It should be noted that the arms on 
 the mantle and coronet above are the 
 ducal and not the grand-ducal ones. 
 
 The design for each value was en- 
 graved separately so that there are many 
 differences apart from those of the facial 
 values. The engravings were made on 
 stone and from these transfers were 
 taken on specially prepared paper and 
 laid down on the printing stone in ten 
 rows of ten. An exact description of 
 the process followed is given in a letter 
 dated January 24th, 1859, which was 
 sent by the Oldenburg postoffice to the 
 Postal Administration of Luxemburg in 
 reply to the latter's enquiry as to the 
 method and cost of manufacturing post- 
 age stamps. Mr. Duerst translates the 
 important part -of this letter as follows : 
 One drawing of the stamp is made 
 with a diamond point and a steel 
 needle on a hard, well-polished, blue 
 
 lithographed stone, and as many copies 
 are taken on prepared Chinese paper 
 as there are to be stamps on the plate 
 (in this case 100). These are then 
 fixed in straight lines on paper, (in 
 this instance in ten rows of ten), and 
 transferred in this form to another 
 stone. After these transfers have 
 been retouched the plate is ready for 
 printing. 
 
 There are three generally recognized 
 varieties of type of the 1/30 and 1/15 
 thaler values and though Scott's cata- 
 logue does not differentiate between 
 them it is as well to know how to 
 identify them as some are rarer than 
 others. 
 
 The three varieties of the 1/30 thaler 
 may be distinguished as follows : 
 
 Type I. The ornament in the lower 
 part of the shield joins the left stroke 
 of the H of THALER. 
 
 Type II. The ornament does not 
 touch the H but is 1 mm. distant from 
 that letter. 
 
 Type III. The ornament is rounded 
 and still farther away from the letter H. 
 The accompanying illustrations should 
 clearly demonstrate the differences. 
 Types I and III are about equal in value 
 while type II is three times as rare as 
 the others. 
 
 The distinguishing marks of the three 
 
 types of the 1/15 thaler are as.follows: 
 
 Type I. The letter H of THALER is 
 
 well above the indentation of the shield. 
 
 Type II. The letter H almost touches 
 
 the indentation of the shield. 
 
 Type III. This is similar to type IT 
 but the bottom portion of the mantle 
 (below the arms) is fully shaded. 
 
 In this value type I is a little com- 
 moner than the other two. Of these 
 three varieties of each value the late 
 Mr. W. A. S. Westoby stated that the 
 first two in each case represented diff- 
 erent drawings on the matrix stone and 
 that the third "may be only a retouch." 
 Capt. P. Ohrt, whose writings formed 
 the ground for Mr. Duerst's translation, 
 states positively that there were only 
 two separate drawings of each, the sec- 
 ond one being made owing to a fear that 
 the original one might be worn out with 
 constant use. While he mentions the 
 third type of each his theory of how they 
 were caused is too vague to be of any 
 value. How many stones were made 
 for each value does not appear to be 
 known. In fact, taking it as a whole, 
 the published information regarding this 
 issue is far from satisfactory and these 
 three stamps form a fine field for origi- 
 nal research for a collector, with the 
 time, means, and patience to accumulate 
 the necessary material and study it 
 
 64 
 
properly. The late Mr. Robert Ehren- 
 bach stated that being lithographed, each 
 stamp on a sheet differed slightly from 
 the others though, owing to superior 
 workmanship, he admitted that the dif- 
 ferences in the case of the 1/10 thaler 
 were very minute. 
 
 Quite an extensive range of shades can 
 be found in all three values. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1852. Lithographed. Imperforate. 
 
 1. 1/30 thaler black on blue, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 2. 1/15 thaler black on rose, Scott No. 2. 
 
 3. 1/10 thaler black on yellow, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 In February 1855, a new value was 
 added to the set for the prepayment of 
 the rate on newspapers and other printed 
 matter. This is very similar in design 
 to the other denominations but has the 
 value " l / 3 SILB. GR." on the shield 
 and "4 SCHW." on the scrolls at each 
 side. Up to this time all printed matter 
 enclosed in wrappers had to be prepaid 
 in money and as the number of these 
 packages had grown to a considerable 
 total the time taken in weighing them 
 and accepting the proper fee in money 
 often proved a serious embarrassment 
 to the postal employes. In December, 
 1854, therefore, the Administration or- 
 dered Stalling to prepare a stamp of 
 the required value and at the same time 
 the following official notice was pub- 
 lished : 
 
 It was decreed in the official notifi- 
 cation of December 28, 1851, that pack- 
 ets in wrappers could not be prepaid 
 by means of stamps. As it has been 
 found in the meantime that it is de- 
 sirable that such packets be prepaid 
 by stamps, the Postal Administration 
 has ordered such stamps to be made, 
 presuming that the Government will 
 sanction this order. 
 
 The value, 4 schwaren, is contained 
 on a shield below the coat of arms of 
 Oldenburg-Delmenhorst, surmounted 
 by a crown, and on the right and left- 
 hand sides in scrolls, underneath 
 the shield is the word "OLDEN- 
 BURG." 
 
 The stamps are on green, the im- 
 pression in black color. Concerning the 
 introduction of this stamp, a notice 
 will have to be published in the Offi- 
 cial Gazette, which the Government is 
 requested to order. 
 
 (Signed) BOEDECKER. 
 In acceding to this request the Govern- 
 ment published the following decree un- 
 der date, January 30, 1855 : 
 
 Referring to the official notification 
 of 28 December, 1851, concerning post- 
 age stamps, and in alteration of Arti- 
 cle 2 of the same, it is hereby notified 
 that packets in wrappers can also be 
 prepaid by stamps, from the 1st of 
 February, in the same manner and 
 under the same conditions as letters. 
 The stamps are of green color, with 
 black impression, and are of the value 
 of 4 schwaren. 
 
 The stamps can be bought from the 
 date named at all post offices. 
 
 (Signed) MUTZENBECHER, 
 
 KROPP. 
 
 The value schwaren was abbreviated 
 to "schw" on the stamps. The schwaren 
 was a small copper coin, peculiar to 
 Oldenburg, worth only about J^c in 
 United States currency. 
 
 The stamps were lithographed in the 
 same manner as the others and printed 
 in sheets of 100 in ten rows of ten. 
 There do not appear to be any minor 
 varieties of importance while the color 
 of the paper hardly varies at all. It 
 would appear that the total number is- 
 sued was not large while, judging from 
 the present catalogue price of used spec- 
 imens, the use of this value was some- 
 what restricted. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1855. Lithographed. Imperf. 
 4. l/3sgr (4schw) black on green Scott's 
 No. 4. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 On January 24th, 1857, Oldenburg con- 
 cluded a monetary convention with other 
 German States according to which only 
 the thaler of" 30 groschen was to be 
 legal currency, and the old thaler of 72 
 grote was abolished. As the stamps then 
 
current did not agree with the new coin- 
 age so far as some of the inscriptions 
 were concerned it was decided to issue 
 a new series. Matters were, however, 
 taken very leisurely and it was not un- 
 til eighteen months later that the new 
 .stamps were placed on sale. Of such 
 little consequence was the change con- 
 sidered by the Postal Administration, 
 notwithstanding that the design chosen 
 was a very different one from that of 
 1852, that no official notification of any 
 sort appears to have been published. 
 The new stamps were, apparently, dis- 
 tributed to the postmasters without com- 
 ment and were placed on sale at each 
 post office just as soon as supplies of the 
 old stamps were exhausted. As no offi- 
 cial date of issue was stipulated we have 
 to rely on dated obliterated specimens 
 and from these it would seem that the 
 stamps were probably placed on sale in 
 July or August, 1859. 
 
 The design is similar for all four 
 values and consists of the grand-ducal 
 coat of arms, surmounted by a ducal 
 crown, on a plain oval ground, with 
 "OLDENBURG" on a scroll above it, 
 and the value in words on a similar 
 scroll below. On each side of the cen- 
 terpiece are small ovals containing the 
 numerals of value, while the spaces 
 above and below these are filled with 
 leaf-like ornamentation. 
 
 The stamps were designed and litho- 
 graphed at the works of Gerhard Stall- 
 ing, and as in the case of the previously 
 current stamps, a separate engraving on 
 stone was made for each value. They 
 were printed in sheets of 100 in ten 
 rows of ten, in black on colored papers. 
 Naturally, as the stamps were produced 
 by lithography minor varieties exist but 
 the only one of prominence occurs on 
 the 3 groschen. On one stamp on the 
 stone the D of OLDENBURG was so 
 malformed as to more nearly resemble 
 a B. 
 
 The T /3 groschen seems to have been 
 but little used and it is by far the rarest 
 of the series. Tn the 1 and 2 groschen 
 fairly pronounced shades may be found. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1859. Lithographed. Imperf. 
 
 5. l/3gr black on green, Scott's No. 5. 
 
 6. Igr black on blue, Scott's No, 6. 
 
 7. 2gr black on rose, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 8. 3gr black on yellow, Scott's No. 8. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 A Post-office circular, dated December 
 15th, 1860, announced that on January 
 1st, 1861, coincident with an issue of 
 stamped envelopes, a new issue of adhe- 
 sive stamps would be made, printed in 
 color on white paper, the values being 
 1 A, l /z, l /2, 1, 2, and 3 groschen. The de- 
 signs for the 1/3, 1, 2, and 3 groschen 
 were the same as those for the preced- 
 ing issue and it is evident the same 
 original dies were used. Possibly, too, 
 for the earlier printings the same stones 
 were used. The two new values are a 
 little different in design. The ducal 
 coronet is larger, nearly as large as the 
 coat of arms ; and these are on a ground 
 of solid color. The ends of the scrolls 
 containing the inscriptions above and 
 below the centre are prolonged down- 
 wards or upwards and these extensions 
 fill the spaces occupied by the arabesques 
 on the other values. How many print- 
 ings were made is not known but most 
 of the values fall into two divisions 
 which may be described as hazy and 
 clear prints, respectively. The former 
 were evidently the earlier printings, the 
 result of lack of knowledge on the part 
 of the lithographers as to how to deal 
 with colored inks. As they became 
 more expert their work improved result- 
 ing in the clear prints. Quite a number 
 of varieties are found in the lettering 
 and in the frames of the l /3gr and 3gr 
 values from which it would appear that 
 new stones were laid down and for 
 these a number of defective transfers 
 were used. Of these varieties the most 
 prominent are "OLDEIBURG," which is 
 found on both values, and "Dritto" and 
 "Drittd," found on the ^gr. An inter- 
 esting minor variety of the Igr is known 
 with a pointed numeral at the right hand 
 side. This seems of considerable rarity. 
 
 The Y-2. groschen value was necessitated 
 by a reduction in the rates for local let- 
 ters which had previously required a 
 Igr stamp. The ^4gr was for no par- 
 ticular rate but was used in conjunction 
 with other values when the postal 
 charges, as was frequently the case, re- 
 sulted in such fractional charges as Y$ 
 or Y$. It is the rarest value of the set 
 in used condition. 
 
 All values exist in a number of shades 
 the }/3gr and Igr in narticular furnishing 
 a number of distinctive tints. Errors of 
 the Igr and 3gr are known printed on 
 both sides. The former was first dis- 
 covered in 1894 while the latter was not 
 known until some years later, 
 
Reference List. 
 
 1861. Lithographed. Imperf. 
 
 9. 54 gr orange, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 10. l/3gr green, Scott's No. 10 or No. 11. 
 
 11. i/ 2 gr brown, Scott's No. 12 or 12a, 
 1L'. Igr blue, Scott's No. 13. 
 
 13. 2gr red, Scott's No. 14. 
 
 14. 3gr yellow, Scott's No. 15. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 On March 9th, 1861, the Prussian 
 Postal Administration addressed the 
 following circular to the various signa- 
 tories to the German-Austrian Postal 
 Union : 
 
 Experience has shown that the dif- 
 ferences in the colors of the stamps 
 and stamped envelopes used by the 
 various states in the postal convention 
 make the ascertaining whether the 
 correct postage has been paid very 
 difficult. It is, therefore, desirable 
 that the stamps and stamped envelopes 
 of 1, 2 and 3sgr and their equivalents 
 should have the same colors. In 
 order to attain this the General Post 
 Office has the honor to recommend 
 the following propositions : 
 
 I. The said stamps to be printed in 
 the colors shown by the enclosed en- 
 velopes 
 
 1 silbergroschen=3 kreuzer (Rhine 
 States) =5 new kreuzer=l>2 schilling 
 (Mecklenburg) =2 schilling (Hamburg 
 and Lubeck)=3 grote (Bremen) =12^ 
 centimes (Luxemburg), in red. 
 
 2sgr=6kr (Rhine States) =10 n. kr. 
 =3sch (Mckl.)=3sch (Hbg. and 
 Lbk.)=5grt (Brem.)=25c (Lux.) in 
 blue. 
 
 3sgr=9kr (Rhine States) =15 n. kr. 
 =5sch (Mckl.)=4sch (Hbg. and 
 Lbk.)=7grt (Brem.)=37^c"in dark 
 brown. 
 
 II. The same colors, according to 
 the values, should be applied to the 
 stamped envelopes. 
 
 III. To facilitate the operation of 
 obliteration all stamps should be 
 affixed in the upper right-hand corner. 
 
 IV. Proposed alterations, to come 
 into force as soon as a new issue is 
 required. 
 
 The General Post Office requests an 
 answer to these propositions. 
 
 BERLIN, March 9, 1861. 
 General Post Office of the Kingdom of 
 
 Prussia. 
 
 (Signed) WEDDIGS. 
 
 Nearly all the administrations as- 
 sented to these proposals and in con- 
 formity to these suggestions Oldenburg 
 issued a new series in 1862. As the issue of 
 1861 had hardly given satisfaction, Stal- 
 
 ling was asked if he could not print the 
 new stamps by some other process than 
 lithography. It was suggested that the 
 stamps be engraved but Stalling refused 
 to undertake the work, owing to lack of 
 the necessary facilities. 
 
 A requisition was, therefore, sent to 
 the Prussian State Printing Works, ask- 
 ing if they would undertake to supply 
 the new stamps. The printing works 
 replied that they were prepared to exe- 
 cute the order at a cost of about $37.50 
 for the necessary dies and plates for 
 each denomination in addition to the 
 cost of printing. 
 
 The Postal Administration of Olden- 
 burg agreed to the price and it was de- 
 cided the same design should be used 
 for all five values (the %gr was 
 dropped from this series as being no 
 longer necessary). The design shows 
 the arms of the Grand-duchy sur- 
 mounted by a ducal coronet, embossed 
 on an oval ground of solid color. This 
 is enclosed within an oval band on 
 which, on an engine turned ground, is 
 the name "OLDENBURG" at top, and 
 the value in words at the base, while 
 on small discs at the sides the numerals 
 of value are displayed. There was no 
 exterior rectangular frame. The arms 
 were engraved on steel by Herr Schil- 
 ling ; from this die Weitmann, a mechani- 
 cian, made a punch with the aid of 
 which he sunk five dies of the Arms, 
 around which oval bands were engine- 
 turned and engraved by schilling. From 
 these completed dies, Mr. Westoby tells 
 us, "fifty lead moulds were taken, and 
 these were clamped together in five 
 rows of ten. From this block of fifty- 
 two electrotypes were taken, making, 
 when combined, the printing plates of 
 100 stamps. The rows were numbered 
 at the top, bottom and sides, as was the 
 practice with almost all the stamps em- 
 bossed at Berlin." The stamps were 
 printed on plain white paper and were 
 rouletted in line. At first the roulettes 
 gauged 11^ but in 1867 a new machine 
 gauging 10 was used. Five printings 
 were made in all, the dates of delivery 
 of these being June 26th, 1862, October 
 31st, 1863, September 30th, 1864, De- 
 cember 21st, 1865, and January llth, 
 1867. The total quantities printed were : 
 
 l / 3 groschen, 
 ]/ 2 groschen, 
 
 1 groschen, 
 
 2 groschen, 
 
 3 groschen, 
 
 490,000 
 240,000 
 2,100,000 
 380,000 
 380,000 
 
 The 1 groschen of this series is oc- 
 casionally found bisected and the halves 
 used as l / ? groschen but such use was 
 never officially authorized, 
 
Shades of all values may be found. 
 These stamps were withdrawn from use 
 on January 1st, 1868, when Oldenburg 
 joined the North German Confederation. 
 
 Reference 'List. 
 
 1862. Embossed. Rouletted 10 or 11 J^. 
 
 15. l/3gr green, Scott's Nos. 16, 21 or 21a. 
 
 16. ^zgr orange, Scott's Nos. 17, 22 or 22a. 
 
 17. ]gr rose, Scott's No. 18 or 23. 
 
 18. 2gr blue, Scott's Nos. 19, 24 or 24a. 
 
 19. 3gr bistre, Scott's No. 20 or 25. 
 
 REMAINDERS. 
 
 There have been no reprints of any 
 of the Oldenburg stamps. The stones 
 
 for the lithographed issues were always 
 kept carefully under lock and key when 
 not in use, and were defaced when new 
 issues were made. The plates for the 
 embossed issue were defaced at Berlin 
 on February 18th, 1868, and the original 
 dies were handed over to the Imperial 
 Museum. 
 
 The YA, groschen, as we have stated 
 already, was discontinued, as there was 
 very little use for it. The post-offices 
 were ordered to return their stocks to 
 headquarters and of the 35,000 or there- 
 abouts so returned small lots were sold 
 to various dealers from time to time at 
 face value and on December 21st, 1863, 
 the balance, amounting to 4790, were 
 burnt. 
 
 When the Oldenburg stamps were 
 superseded there remained on hand 
 about 46,000 of the ^Jgr, 45,000 of the 
 , l /2gr, 59,000 of the Igr, 63,000 of the 2gr, 
 and 36,000 of the 3gr. These were pur- 
 chased from the Government in 1868 
 by Mr. Carl Dinklage of Oldenburg for 
 $300. Mr. Dinklage sold comparatively 
 few of these until 1875 when Mr. Berrig, 
 of Hanover, paid him $750 for the stock. 
 
 PRUSSIA. 
 
 Prussia is a kingdom of the German 
 Empire stretching from Russia in the 
 east to Holland in the west, and from 
 the Baltic Sea in the north to Bohemia 
 and Lorraine in the south. It has an 
 area of 134,622 square miles and a popu- 
 lation of about forty millions. While 
 it is essentially an agricultural country 
 its mines are of considerable importance 
 and its manufacturing industries are 
 very extensive. It is also important 
 educationally for within its borders are 
 no less than eleven famous universities. 
 Prussia is a constitutional and heredita- 
 ry monarchy. The king alone exercises 
 the executive ; the legislative power he 
 shares with the two houses of parlia- 
 ment the House of Magnates and the 
 Chamber of Deputies. The former num- 
 bers 310 members, and the latter 433 
 who are elected indirectly by the people. 
 Prussia, in common with most other 
 Furopean states and kingdoms, has had 
 an eventful history which can be traced 
 back through many centuries. The for- 
 ;une of war had added to and taken 
 from its dominions until in the 
 eighteenth century it suffered so many 
 reverses that it became an easy prey to 
 French domination. Until 1813, reduced 
 to a shadow of its former self, it suf- 
 
 fered numerous indignities at the hands 
 of the French which have never been 
 forgotten. In 1813, however, with the 
 defeat and imprisonment of Napoleon, 
 it commenced a new era of prosperity 
 which has continued and expanded to 
 the present day. By the Congress of 
 Vienna much of its old territory was 
 restored and many new provinces were 
 added. From this date the people were 
 imbued with a new spirit of nationality 
 and began to dream of a United German 
 Empire. The first step towards German 
 unity was taken when Prussia unite .1 
 several north German State* in a cus- 
 toms union, or Zollverein, which was 
 shortly afterwards joined by nearly all 
 Germany. By taking the lead in this 
 matter the influence of Prussia was 
 greatly increased. Frederick William 
 IV (1840-61), during whose reign post- 
 age stamps were first issued, made Ber- 
 lin a centre of learning and natura r 
 science ; but he refused to grant Viis 
 subjects a constitution, and heM ex- 
 travagant views regarding royalty. The 
 revolutionary movements in 1848, how- 
 ever, caused him to modify his convic- 
 tions. A national assembly was sum- 
 moned to meet at Berlin on May 22nd. 
 1848, and the king prepared a new con- 
 
stitution. Simultaneously war broke out 
 with Denmark over the Schleswig- 
 Holstein question ; and Frederick Wil- 
 liam in 1849 tried to unite the German 
 states under the leadership of Prussia. 
 This attempt to seize the foremost place 
 in Germany was at once resisted by 
 Austria, and for a time civil war seemed 
 imminent. The year after his accession 
 William I (1861-88) appointed Bismark 
 his prime minister and minister of for- 
 eign affairs. The joint attack of Prussia 
 and Austria on Denmark in 1864, and 
 the conquest of the duchies of Schleswig 
 and Holstein, only served to accentu- 
 ate the hostility of the courts of Berlin 
 and Vienna, and in 1866 the question of 
 the leadership of Germany was fought 
 out. Ever since the days of Frederick 
 the Great that question had awaited so- 
 lution, and it was settled by the victory 
 of the Prussians at Sadowa or Konig- 
 gratz on July 3rd, 1866. All the states 
 north of the Main formed the North 
 German Confederation under the leader- 
 ship of Prussia. But it required a for- 
 eign war to complete German unity. In 
 1870 the Franco-Prussian war broke out, 
 France 1-eing alarmed at the growth of 
 Prussia. The south German states re- 
 mained true to King William; France 
 was invaded and after the battle of 
 Sedan Napoleon surrendered. The war 
 brought out a strong feeling among the 
 German states for a closer union, and on 
 January 18th, 1871, at Versailles, King 
 William was solemnly proclaimed Ger- 
 man Emperor. The tendency in Ger- 
 many since 1870 has been to make 
 Prussia more powerful and it has taken 
 a leading part in colonial expansion, and 
 in the establishment of a powerful navy. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 Although Austria had taken the lead 
 in introducing postage stamps into its 
 postal service, and Bavaria was the 
 first of the German states to issue 
 stamps, Prussia was not far behind, and 
 by the energy of its postal administra- 
 tion rapidly took the lead in postal mat- 
 ters throughout Germany. By a decree 
 of King Frederick William IV, dated 
 December 21st, 1849, new regulations 
 for the postal service were introduced 
 under which the rates for single letters 
 (i. e. those weighing less than 1 loth or 
 Y 2 oz.) were fixed as follows: 
 Up to 10 German miles, 1 silbergroschen. 
 From 10 to 20 German miles, 2 silber- 
 groschen. 
 Above 20 German miles, 3 silbergroschen. 
 
 Heavier letters were charged accord- 
 ing to weight ; the registration fee was 
 
 fixed at 2 silbergroschen, and a com- 
 mission of J^sgr was charged on packets 
 and money orders. It was also an- 
 nounced that stamps would be prepared 
 but it was not until October 30th, 1850, 
 that a circular from the Minister of 
 Trade and Works fixed the issue of the 
 stamps to the public to take place on 
 November 15th, 1850. At that time the 
 currency consisted of the thaler (equal 
 to about 72c) divided into thirty silber- 
 groschen, each of which in turn con- 
 sisted of twelve pfennige. The first set 
 consisted of four values 6pf, 1, 2 and 
 3sgr. The 6pf stamp 'was largely used 
 in payment for the charge for delivering 
 letters. This charge was fixed at ^sgr 
 (6pf) where there was a post office and 
 Isgr for other places. When letters 
 were called for no delivery charge was 
 made. Shortly after the issue of these 
 stamps the German-Austrian Postal 
 Union was formed for the interchange 
 of correspondence between Austria and 
 various German states. It was chiefly 
 due to Prussia that this Union was made 
 possible this being the first of many 
 progressive steps taken by the kingdom 
 in the interests of increased postal effi- 
 ciency. On May 1st, 1856, a 4pf stamp 
 was issued for the prepayment of matter 
 sent under wrapper. In 1857 the silber- 
 groschen values were printed by typog- 
 raphy instead of line-engraving, the mo- 
 tive for the change being that of 
 economy. In 1858, the first design was 
 reverted to and unwatermarked paper 
 was introduced; in 1861, following the 
 accession of King William I, a new 
 series bearing the Prussian coat-of-arms 
 appeared ; and in 1866 two high values 
 were introduced for use on heavy 
 packets. In 1867 a set of five values in 
 kreuzer currency was issued, these be- 
 ing for use in the states served by the 
 Thurn and Taxis administration, the 
 management of which Prussia had taken 
 over from July 1st, 1867. On the forma- 
 tion of the North German Confederation 
 on Jan. 1st, 1868, Prussia ceased to 
 issue its individual stamps. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE, 
 
 The first set of Prussian stamps, as 
 announced in the Official Circular of 
 October 30th, 1850, were issued on No- 
 vember 15th of that year. The set con- 
 sisted of four different values 6pf, 1, 2, 
 and 3 silbergroschen by means of 
 which the various postal rates then 
 availing could be easily made up. All 
 four stamps are similar in design and 
 show a nrofile portrait of King William 
 IV, with head to right, on a ground of 
 
lines cross-hatched horizontally and ver- 
 tically. The portrait is enclosed within 
 a rectangular frame inscribed "FREI- 
 MARKE" at the top and with the value 
 in words at the bottom. The side 
 borders are filled with oak-leaf orna- 
 mentation, there are small crosses in the 
 upper angles, and in the lower corners 
 are the numerals of value. The design 
 and necessary dies were the work of 
 Eduard Eichens, a Berlin engraver. It 
 appears that two designs were submitted 
 and that the one chosen was modified 
 to some extent before the dies were 
 engraved. I cannot do better than quote 
 from Mr. Ralph Wedmore's interesting 
 article in the Stamp Lover for May, 
 1910, on this point, viz: 
 
 "He (Eduard Eichens) made two 
 silver point drawings. One showed a 
 bust of the King, almost full face, on 
 a shaded background, with a single- 
 lined rectangular frame, with the in- 
 scription at foot 1 SGR. KPGA (1 
 Silbergroschen, Konigl. Preuss. Gen- 
 eral Post Amt), and the figure 1 
 in a triangle in each of the upper 
 corners. The other showed a bust of 
 the King in profile to the right, on a 
 black ground, in a double-lined frame, 
 with the inscriptions K POST A at 
 the top, EIN SILB GR. at the foot 
 and the figure 1 in each of the lower 
 corners. These two drawings may be 
 seen at the Post Office Museum in 
 Berlin by anyone -who visits that city. 
 This second design was substantially 
 approved of, and Eichens thereupon 
 engraved it upon steel, but with the 
 word POSTMARKE at the top and 
 no indication of value at foot. 
 
 "I have not seen the die, which is in 
 the Postal Museum in Berlin, but it 
 seems highly probable that this origi- 
 nal die was used for making the 
 stanips issued in 1850. In Captain 
 Ohrt's book on the stamps of Prussia 
 the suggestion is made that an entirely 
 new die, bearing only the head of the 
 King and the lined background, was 
 engraved and used for making the 6pf, 
 1, 2, and 3sgr stamps. Enlargements 
 of these four stamps and of the 4pf of 
 1856 show very great similarity, the 
 only notable point of difference being 
 that on the 4pf stamp the features of 
 the King are sharper, which makes 
 the face look smaller. A comparison 
 of the stamps themselves will show 
 that the lines of shading on the 4pf 
 stamp, although much finer, are practi- 
 cally identical in form and position 
 with those on the other values. The 
 4pf stamp has a softer appearance, due 
 to the fine dots between the lines of 
 shading, which themselves are for the 
 most part broken into dots. Another 
 
 marked point of difference is that on 
 the 4pf stamp the oak leaves are neat- 
 ly drawn, whereas on the other values 
 they are merely indicated by dashes. 
 
 "Failing positive proof to the con- 
 trary I suggest that the following 
 method was employed. Impressions 
 from the original die were taken on 
 soft steel rollers, and the fine dots be- 
 tween the lines of shading partially 
 removed. The roller was then hard- 
 ened, and a rather faint impression 
 taken on four soft steel blocks, one 
 for each of the required values. The 
 word POSTMARKE at the top was 
 then carefully erased, and FREI- 
 MARKE engraved in its place. The 
 border, with oak leaves, and the lines 
 of shading, were then engraved on 
 each of the four dies, following the 
 faintly impressed lines of the roller 
 impression but with bolder effect. The 
 top of the head and forehead are out- 
 lined, whereas on the original die this 
 was not the case, as may be seen by 
 reference to a 4pf stamp. The figures 
 and words of value were then added. 
 The foregoing theory seems all the 
 more probable since there are slight 
 differences in the. lines of the hair and 
 the shading lines on the face in each 
 of the values 6pf, 1, 2, and 3sgr. The 
 differences are not of such a nature as 
 to suggest that each stamp was inde- 
 pendently engraved, but are such as 
 would arise when strengthening ex- 
 isting lines on a die. 
 
 "Whether my theory be correct, or 
 Captain Ohrt's statement be the true 
 one, it is certain that dies were made 
 from an original die for each of the 
 four values in question, and that the 
 frame with oak leaves and the in- 
 scription at top (and, of course, the 
 values at foot) were separately en- 
 graved on each of these secondary 
 dies, as may be proved by small differ- 
 ences, which are common to all stamps 
 of each value." 
 
 The plates, made of steel, each con- 
 tained 150 impressions arranged in 
 fifteen horizontal rows of ten each. The 
 vertical rows were then numbered 1 to 
 10 in the top margin, and the horizontal 
 rows were similarly numbered 1 to 15 
 in the left hand margin, while in the 
 centre of the right hand margin the 
 number of the plate was engraved thus, 
 "Platte No. 15". Whether more than 
 one plate for each value was used is not 
 known but plates now housed in the 
 Berlin Postal Museum, are numbered 
 as follows : 
 
 6 pfennig, No. 7. 
 
 1 silbergroschen, No. 14 
 
 2 silbergroschen, No. 12 
 
 3 silbergroschen, No. 10 
 
 70 
 
These numbers probably belong to a 
 series referring to the plates made by 
 Eichens, or the firm with which he 
 worked. The only other number we 
 know of is plate No. 13, which was, used 
 for the 1 silbergroschen. 
 
 The paper was hand made, water- 
 marked with branches of laurel forming 
 a wreath, and it was manufactured by 
 Ebart Brothers of Berlin. The group 
 of 150 watermarks was enclosed within 
 a single-line frame broken on the four 
 sides for the following watermarked in- 
 scription : "FREIMARKEX DER 
 KOENIGL. PREUSS POST" (Post- 
 age Stamps of the Royal Prussian Post). 
 
 The impression was on white paper 
 for the 6 pfennige and on colored pa- 
 per for the other denominations. There 
 are fairly well marked shades of the 6pf 
 and 3sgr values, but the other differ 
 hardly at all. 
 
 Mr. Wedmore tells us "the stamps 
 were printed in hand presses, the print- 
 ing plates being warmed and the paper 
 damped. The sheets of stamps printed 
 from warmed plates were ready for 
 gumming 24 hours later, without tmder- 
 going any special drying process. The 
 gum consisted of two parts arabic, y\ 
 parts dextrine, and l / part animal glue. 
 with the addition of a small quantity of 
 white lead, and was applied by hand 
 with a soft wide brush. The sheets 
 were laid between boards, which had 
 narrow strips of wood at either end to 
 keep each layer apart until they were 
 dry, and then placed between warmed 
 millboards and put in a press for several 
 hours to flatten them." 
 
 As the State Printing Office did not 
 exist until January 1st, 1853, the early 
 supplies of these stamps were printed 
 under contract by a Berlin copper-plate 
 printer whose name seems to be un- 
 known. 
 
 The State Printing Office soon be- 
 came a very important establishment and 
 in subsequent years printed stamps for 
 many of the German States as well as 
 those of Prussia itself. In many cases, 
 too, the emissions of Prussia served as 
 a guide and pattern as to color and 
 value for the issues of many of its 
 neighbours. To quote from a short ar- 
 ticle in the Stamp Collectors' Magazine 
 from the pen of Mr. Overy Taylor, "in 
 matters postal Berlin was the capital of 
 Germany long before she assumed that 
 position politically, and it is to the 
 credit of the Prussian administration 
 that for a long period it vindicated its 
 right to direct the postal service of the 
 Confederation by the intelligence with 
 which it seized on improvements and 
 led the way in every useful innovation." 
 
 Reference List, 
 1850. Wmk. Laurel wreath. Imperf. 
 
 1. 6pf vermilion, Scott's No. 2 or 2a. 
 
 2. Isgr black on rose, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 3. 2sgr black on blue, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 4. 3sgr black on yellow, Scott's No. 5 or 5a. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 A Ministerial order of April llth, 
 1856, reduced the tariff on printed 
 matter, etc., sent under open wrapper to 
 4 pfennige and on May 1st a stamp of 
 this denomination was placed on sale. 
 The design is similar to that of the 
 values of 1850 and it is evident the same 
 original die was employed for the por- 
 trait. Mr. Wedmore tells us: 
 
 "The dies and printing plates were 
 produced in the same manner as be- 
 fore, the original die of the head of 
 King Frederick William IV. with the 
 word POSTMARKE being used. 
 Roller transfers were made on a steel 
 die, and the word POSTMARKE 
 erased and FREIMARKE inserted in 
 the upper label. In the Museum at 
 Berlin this steel die may be seen bear- 
 ing four impressions from the original 
 die. On three of them the word 
 POSTMARKE is partially erased, and 
 the fourth is completed and was used 
 for making the plates for this value. 
 The figures and words denoting the 
 value were engraved, most probably, 
 by Schilling, who had been employed 
 by the State since 1851 to engrave the 
 dies of the envelope stamps. A com- 
 parison with the y 2 groschen value 
 shews considerable variation in the 
 size of the lettering, which tends to 
 prove that this was not the work of 
 Eichens. It will also be observed that 
 on this stamp the value is given as 
 VIER PFENNIA r GE and not PFEN- 
 NIGE as on the 6pf stamps." 
 There were at least two plates for 
 this value and though these were num- 
 bered in the right hand margin, the 
 words "PLATTE No." and the numbers 
 for the horizontal and vertical rows 
 were not engraved on the plates. The 
 color varies from a dark moss green to 
 a pale yellow green. Paper water- 
 marked with laurel wreaths was used 
 
 71 
 
for this value and the stamps were is- 
 sued imperforate like the series of 1850. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1856. Wmk. Laurel wreath. Imperf. 
 5. 4pf green, Scott's No. 1. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 The Government evidently found the 
 steel-plate process too costly and in 1856 
 it was decided to change the mode of 
 manufacture. At the same time it was 
 decided to dispense with colored papers 
 for the silbergroschen values and print 
 the impressions in color instead. The 
 public were informed of the impending 
 change by means of an Official Notice 
 published in December, 1856, viz : 
 
 No. 203. CHANGE OF STAMPS. 
 The stamps of 1, 2, and 3sgr, which 
 have hitherto been printed on colored 
 papers, will in future be printed on 
 white paper. The design of the stamp 
 will appear, therefore, instead of in 
 black as hitherto, in rose-red for the 
 Isgr, in blue for the 2sgr, and in yel- 
 low for the 3sgr. 
 
 The Post Offices are hereby in- 
 formed of this alteration, and notified 
 that the issue of such stamps will be- 
 gin with next year, and that the 1, 2, 
 and 3sgr stamps printed in black on 
 colored paper will remain current until 
 the present stocks of same are entirely 
 exhausted. 
 
 GENERAL POST OFFICE, 
 
 (Signed) SCHMUCKERT. 
 BERLIN, December 23rd, 1856. 
 From the wording of this notice it 
 has been assumed that the stamps were 
 issued on January 1st, 1857, but no 
 specimens dated earlier than June ap- 
 pear to have been found. The design 
 is very similar to that of the first issue 
 and it is evident there was no official 
 intention of changing the type. The 
 portrait of the King was engraved on 
 wood by Schilling, the background be- 
 ing solid instead of lined as before. 
 The frame resembles the former issue 
 and has similar inscriptions. The ex- 
 pression on the king's portrait differs 
 considerably from that of the 1850 type, 
 the sleepy appearance of the first having 
 given place to a nervous dilletante ex- 
 pression in the second. The oak leaves 
 at the sides are more clearly defined and 
 there is a colon instead of a period 
 after "SILBERGR:", this being, of 
 course, the correct abbreviation for 
 "silbergroschen." 
 
 From the original boxwood die en- 
 graved by Schilling three subsidiary dies 
 were struck and, the necessary details 
 
 of value being added to these, 150 elec- 
 trotypes of each were made and clamped 
 together in fifteen horizontal rows of 
 ten each to form the printing plates. 
 The rows were numbered vertically and 
 horizontally in the margins on all four 
 sides but whether the plates bore dis- 
 tinctive numbers or not is unknown. 
 The 3sgr plate was ready first and trial 
 impressions were made in rose, blue, and 
 yellow. As these sheets were gummed 
 it was for a time presumed the rose and 
 blue stamps were errors of color but we 
 now know they were only proofs. 
 
 The stamps were printed on plain 
 white wove paper and, as a safeguard 
 against forgery in the absence of water- 
 mark, this received a colorless network 
 impression from a preparation of car- 
 bonate of lead before printing. This 
 network can be made visible by washing 
 the stamps with a solution of hydric 
 sulphide, or more permanently and with 
 less danger of discoloring the paper by 
 the fumes of sulpheretted hydrogen 
 which Mr. Wedmore describes as "a 
 very evil smelling compound." The gum 
 is whiter than that previously used, but 
 coarser and much more inclined to 
 crack. 
 
 A die for the 4pf in this type was pre- 
 pared and proofs in green are known 
 but this value was never issued. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1857. No watermark. Imperf. 
 
 6. Isgr rose, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 7. 2sgr blue, Scott's No. 7 or No. 7a. 
 
 8. 3sgr yellow, Scott's No. 8 or No. 8a. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 In 1858 the design of the 1, 2, and 3 
 silbergroschen values was modified, and 
 the new stamps began to appear in Sep- 
 tember, being placed on sale as the 
 stocks of the former issue became ex- 
 hausted in the various post offices. A 4 
 pfennige value of similar type was issued 
 in 1859. The modification consisted in 
 the alteration of the background, which 
 was cross-hatched horizontally and ver- 
 tically in a similar manner to the line- 
 engraved stamps of the first issue. Why 
 the change was made is somewhat of a 
 mystery unless the authorities presumed 
 that the cancellation hardly showed with 
 sufficient distinctness against the solid 
 background of the preceding series. 
 Little is known as to the method of 
 manufacture of these stamps but Mr. 
 Wedmore tells us that "a comparison 
 with the stamps of the last issue shows 
 that an impression was taken from the 
 same wood-block, the background then 
 lined, and the denomination of values, 
 
 72 
 
both figures and words, separately en- 
 graved for each value of the series. The 
 shape of the letters and figures differs 
 slightly from those of the previous issue." 
 
 All four values were printed typo- 
 graphically from electrotyped plates 
 composed of 150 impressions in fifteen 
 horizontal rows of ten. The rows were 
 numbered on the margins as in the case 
 of the 1857 issue. They were printed 
 on unwatermarked paper, on which the 
 invisible network had been previously 
 printed. There are several fairly pro- 
 nounced shades of all denominations. 
 
 In .iay, 1860, a new printing of the 6 
 pfennige value was made from the 
 original plate or plates of 1850. As 
 these are on unwatermarked paper, how- 
 ever, thev cannot be confused with the 
 series of 1850. The paper for these 
 stamps was also previously printed with 
 the colorless network. Pale and deep 
 shades of this value may be found. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1858-60. No watermark. Imperf. 
 9. 4pf green, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 10. 6pf vermilion, Scott's No. 10. 
 
 11. Ispr rose, Scott's No. 11. 
 
 12. 2sgr blue, Scott's No. 12 or No. 12a. 
 
 13. 3sgr yellow, Scott's No. 13 or No. 13a. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 King Frederick William IV died on 
 January 2nd, 1861 and was succeeded by 
 the Emperor William I who early de- 
 cided his portrait should not figure on 
 the postage stamps by publishing a cab- 
 inet order under date of February 17th, 
 1861, decreeing that for the new series 
 of stamps the Prussian coat-of-arms 
 should be used. Economy may have had 
 something to do with his decision for 
 the new types were common to both ad- 
 hesives and envelopes. The issue con- 
 sisted of the same values as those pre- 
 viously in use and there were two types 
 one for the pfennige values and the 
 other for the silbergroschen denomina- 
 tions. The design consists of a small 
 oval of solid color containing a Prussian 
 eagle, with outspread wings, having on 
 its breast a small shield on which the 
 letters "F. R." (for Frederick Rex) are 
 inscribed. The frames for the 4 and 
 6pf are octagonal while those for the 
 other values are oval. All are inscribed 
 "PREUSSEN" at top and with the value 
 in words below. The method of manu- 
 facture differs from that of the pre- 
 ceding issues and we cannot do better 
 than quote from Mr. Wedmore's article 
 regarding this: 
 
 Schilling engraved the eagle, and the 
 single lined oval immediately sur- 
 rounding it, on a small block of steel. 
 
 This was then hardened and an im- 
 pression taken, which latter was then 
 impressed on two steel dies. Schilling 
 then engraved on one of them the de- 
 sign of the pfennige values and on the 
 other the design of the silbergroschen 
 values, but with no figures or lettering. 
 These dies were then hardened and im- 
 pressions taken on soft steel dies. On 
 these Schilling engraved the word 
 PREUSSEN and the denomination of 
 value. Two such dies were engraved 
 for 5 and 6 silbergroschen but no 
 stamps of these values were issued. 
 
 From the above mentioned dies 50 
 impressions of each value (except the 
 five and six sgr.) were taken on small 
 pieces of lead measuring about 23x20 
 mm., and these then arranged in five 
 horizontal rows of ten, each value sep- 
 arately. From these, three electrotype 
 plates of each value were taken, and 
 the three plates placed together to form 
 one plate for printing. The rows were 
 numbered on all four sides as in the 
 previous issue, and some of the plates, 
 perhaps all, were lettered instead of 
 being numbered as in the issue of 1850. 
 At the top and bottom of each plate 
 a "needle point" was provided, which 
 was printed in color on the margin of 
 the sheet. Its use will be seen in due 
 course. 
 
 The printing in color and the "em- 
 bossing" of the central design was 
 done in one process, in fact the central 
 design was not, properly speaking, em- 
 bossed, but slightly impressed in the 
 paper, which was damped before being 
 put to press to make the operation 
 easier. The sheets of stamps were 
 first gummed and then rouletted. For 
 the gumming the best gum arabic 
 mixed with glycerine was used. 
 
 The rouletting was done in hand 
 printing presses in the following man- 
 ner. A frame containing vertical rows 
 of sharp steel strips connected by 
 small horizontal strips, all with their 
 edges filed at regular intervals, was 
 placed on the press. The frame was 
 provided with a hinged lid or cover. 
 On this cover at top and bottom were 
 two needles, and the sheet of stamps 
 was placed on this cover, the needles 
 piercing the sheet at the colored 
 "needle points" already mentioned, 
 thus ensuring that the sheet was accu- 
 rately placed over the steel rouletting 
 lines. The cover was then lowered 
 and the hand lever applied thus press- 
 ing the sheet on to the rouletting 
 lines. Only one sheet was rouletted 
 at a time, and 1000 were rouletted in 
 the "working day" of those "good old 
 days," which consisted of ten hours. 
 The rouletting apparatus was supplied 
 
 73 
 
by one Sutler, a machine maker of 
 
 Berlin. 
 
 An official Circular, dated September 
 19th, 1861, was issued to the post-offices 
 notifying them of the impending new 
 issue and instructions were given that the 
 new stamps were not to be sold until the 
 stocks of the old issue were entirely 
 exhausted. Though the stamps were 
 available for use from October 1st, 1861, 
 none are known with an earlier date 
 than November. 
 
 The colors chosen for the respective 
 denominations followed those of the pre- 
 ceding set fairly closely with the excep- 
 tions of the 3sgr. This was printed in 
 yellow brown to conform with the "color 
 scheme" adopted by the German-Aus- 
 trian Postal Union. 
 
 A Post-office Circular of March 6th, 
 1865, announced that a stamp of 3 
 pfennige in violet would be added to the 
 series and this appeared on April 1st 
 following, the design being like that of 
 the other pfennige values. This stamp 
 was intended for use on printed matter 
 sent to Norway. 
 
 All six values may be found in vary- 
 ing shades and all are known imperfo- 
 rate. These latter are proofs, though 
 postmarked specimens exist. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1861-65. No. Wmk. Rouletted 11^. 
 
 14. 3pf violet, Scott's No. 14 or No. 14a. 
 
 15. 4pf green, Scott's No. 15 or No. 15a. 
 
 16. 6pf orange, Scott's No. 16 or No. 16a. 
 
 17. Isgr rose, Scott's No. 17. 
 
 18. 2sgr blue, Scott's No. 18 or No. 19. 
 
 19. 3sgr yellow brown, Scott's No. 20 or 
 
 No. 20a. 
 
 THE SIXTH ISSUE. 
 
 The parcel post division of the Prus- 
 sian Post-office dealt with parcels, 
 money orders, and insured letters and, 
 prior to 1866, oayments in connection 
 with these were made in cash. With a 
 view to saving the immense amount of 
 labor entailed by booking all these small 
 cash items it was decided to issue 
 stamps of the values of 10 and 30sgr 
 and, according to an official notice of 
 November 24th, 1866, these were not to 
 be sold to the public but were to be 
 affixed to the parcels, etc. by the postal 
 
 clerks. These stamps were of different 
 types and also quite distinct in design 
 from all other Prussian stamps. The 
 designs were drawn by Schilling and he 
 engraved the original dies on copper. 
 These dies may now be seen in the 
 Berlin Postal Museum. The design for 
 the 10 silbergroschen shows large open 
 numerals in the centre of a transverse 
 oval band inscribed "PREUSSEN" in 
 the upper portion and "SILB. GR." in 
 the lower, the intervening spaces being 
 filled with fourteen small Prussian 
 eagles. The oval rests on a rectangular 
 background which has no exterior 
 frame. The ground work, consists of a 
 repetition of the words "ZEHN SIL- 
 BERGROSCHEN" in very small type. 
 There are thirty-two rows of lettering 
 in all and the inscription is shown three 
 times in each row. In the large numer- 
 al "1" the word "POSTMARKS" is 
 shown in small type and the same word 
 appears twice in the large "O." The 
 design for the 30 silbergroschen shows 
 open numerals within a transverse ob- 
 long rectangular frame similarly in- 
 scribed to the lOsgr. In this value there 
 are 10J^ Prussian eagles on each side 
 of the frame between the inscriptions. 
 The background shows the words 
 "DREISSIG SILBERGROSCHEN" re- 
 peated twice in each of twenty horizon- 
 tal rows, while the "POSTMARKS" is 
 engraved in each of the large numerals 
 as in the case of the lOsgr. Mr. Wed- 
 more describes the manner in which 
 these two stamps were manufactured as 
 follows : 
 
 The design was engraved in positive 
 form ; that is to say, an impression 
 from the die would show the stamp 
 reversed. From the die electrotypes 
 were taken and arranged in ten hori- 
 zontal rows of ten each. The rows 
 were numbered in the margin on all 
 four sides. The stamps were then 
 printed on a special transparent paper 
 (not goldbeater's skin), one side of 
 which was painted over with a solu- 
 tion of collodium and gelatine be- 
 fore the printing. The stamps were 
 printed on the side thus treated, and 
 the gum was then applied on the same 
 side. From the foregoing description 
 it will be seen that the printed side of 
 the paper was affixed to the parcel, 
 but the paper being transparent and 
 the stamp being positively engraved, 
 the design was visible in its proper 
 form on what we may call the obverse 
 side. The stamps were rouletted in 
 the same manner as before described, 
 but, on a new frame which made 10 
 roulettes in 20 centimetres. The 
 unique method of production was the 
 invention of a German-American, who 
 
 74 
 
had sold the patent to the Prussian 
 
 Government some few years before 
 
 these stamps were issued. 
 
 Although Prussia joined the North 
 German Confederation on January 1st, 
 1868, and in common with other mem- 
 bers of the Union ceased to issue its 
 own distinctive stamps there was such 
 a large stock of these 10 and 30 gros- 
 chen stamps on hand that the Confed- 
 eration continued to use them until the 
 end of February, 1869. 
 
 numbered at the ends of the horizontal 
 and vertical rows. 
 
 Reference List. 
 J66. No Wmk. Rouletted 10. 
 
 20. lOsgr rose, Scott's No. 21. 
 
 21. SOsgr blue, Scott's No. 22. 
 
 THE SEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 Prussia, having purchased the remain- 
 ing rights of the Princes of Thurn & 
 Taxis for the sum of three million 
 thaler (about $2,250,000), from July 1st, 
 1867, was obliged to provide a series of 
 stamps in kreutzer currency until fur- 
 ther arrangements could be made. 
 These stamps were also used in that 
 part of Bavaria which was ceded to 
 Prussia by the treaty of August 22nd, 
 1866, at the close of the war. Five 
 values were issued in all 1, 2, 3, 6 and 
 9kr. One kreuzer was equal to 3 3/7 
 pfennige, and the letter rates were fixed 
 at 3, 6 and 9 kreuzer as being the near- 
 est equivalents to 1, 2 and 3 silbergros- 
 chen. The two lower values were used 
 for printed matter, samples and post- 
 cards. 
 
 The design is the same for all and 
 consists of a Prussian eagle within a 
 hexagonal frame intercepted at the 
 sides by a large block for the numerals 
 of value, which form part of the solid 
 background on which the eagle is em- 
 bossed. At the top is "PREUSSEN" 
 on an engine-turned background, and at 
 the base is "KREUZER" on a similar 
 ground. 
 
 For the central design of the Prus- 
 sian eagle the same die was used as for 
 the stamps of 1861-65, while the en- 
 graving of the rest of the design for the 
 respective values was the work of 
 Schilling. The stamps were printed in 
 sheets of 100, in ten rows of ten, and 
 rouletted 16. All four margins were 
 
 1867. 
 
 Reference List. 
 No Wmk. Rouletted 16. 
 
 22. Ikr green, Scott's No. 23. 
 
 23. 2kr orange, Scott's No. 24. 
 - 24. 3kr rose, Scott's No. 25. 
 
 25. 6kr blue, Scott's No. 26. 
 
 26. 9kr bistre, Scott's No. 27. 
 
 REMAINDERS. 
 
 The use of Prussian stamps ceased on 
 December 31st, 1867 for, on the follow- 
 ing day, the stamps of the North Ger- 
 man Confederation came into use. 
 There were considerable remainders of 
 the issues of 1861-67 and towards the 
 end of 1868 attempts were made to dis- 
 pose of these. The late M. Moens was 
 offered the lot comprising no less than 
 a quarter of a million sheets of the 
 issues of 1861-67 besides a large number 
 of envelopes and a big stock of the ob- 
 solete stamps of Schleswig Holstein. 
 The minimum price was to be the cost 
 of manufacture which, in the case of 
 the stamps, was 2 l / 2 thalers per 100 
 sheets. The value of the entire lot was 
 estimated at 3,000 thalers and as no 
 purchaser could be found at that figure 
 the numbers were reduced, a portion of 
 the stock being sold to a papermaker 
 for the purpose of being reduced to 
 pulp. The remainder were carefully 
 tabulated and consisted, so far as the 
 Prussian stamps were concerned, of the 
 following : 
 
 1850 6pf 270 copies. 
 
 Isgr 19 copies. 
 
 2sgr 13 copies. 
 
 3sgr 38 copies. 
 
 1856 4pf 85 copies. 
 
 4pf21 copies (unwatermarked 
 paper). 
 
 1857 6pf 80 copies. 
 Isgr 10 copies. 
 2sgr 6 copies. 
 3sgr 30 copies. 
 
 1858 4pf 88 copies. 
 Isgr 79 copies. 
 2sgr 64 copies. 
 3sgr 61 copies. 
 
 1861 4pf, 6pf, 1, 2, 3sgr, 30,000 of 
 
 each. 
 
 1865 3pf 30,000. 
 1867 1, 2, 3, 6, 9kr, 30,000 of each. 
 
 75 
 
The 10 and 30sgr, as we have already 
 shown, were not offered for sale, these 
 being used up as stamps of the Confed- 
 eration itself. This lot together with 
 about 10,000 envelopes, and over 270,000 
 stamps of Schleswig Holstein were sold 
 to the late Mr. Julius Goldner, of Ham- 
 burg, for 1,000 thalers (about $750). 
 The comparatively small quantities of 
 the 1850-58 issues were immediately ac- 
 quired by M. Moens and it was not long 
 before the balance of the stock was en- 
 tirely dispersed. 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 In 1864 requests were made to the 
 Prussian postal authorities by several 
 European governments for specimens of 
 all stamps that had been issued. As there 
 were no more supplies of the first is- 
 sue at the Head Post Office (the few 
 included in the remainders were found 
 in some of the smaller offices at a 
 later date, presumably) the five values 
 were reprinted in complete sheets from 
 the original plates. Regarding these re- 
 prints Mr. Wedmore tells us: 
 
 The reprints of the 1, 2 and 3sgr 
 values were made on unwatermarked 
 paper, and can therefore easily be 
 distinguished from the originals. The 
 colors of the papers are almost iden- 
 tical with those employed for the is- 
 sued stamps. 
 
 The reprints of the 4pf stamps were 
 also on unwatermarked paper. Two 
 shades are known a pale yellow- 
 green and a dark blue-green. The 
 latter is by many supposed to be a 
 color trial of the year 1856, but the 
 gumming, and above all the paper, 
 resemble so closely that used for the 
 yellow-green printing and the 1864 
 reprint of the 6pf stamp, that it 
 seems more probable that the blue- 
 green shade was printed in 1864 owing 
 to the yellow-green being of poor ap- 
 pearance. 
 
 The reprint of the 6pf stamp is on 
 similar paper to the foregoing, and 
 can be distinguished from the 1860 
 printing of that stamp on unwater- 
 marked paper by the absence of the 
 colorless network. There is also a 
 difference in the shade, but I am not 
 expert enough in color definitions to 
 describe it. 
 
 Small quantities of these reprints 
 were supplied to private persons and 
 to dealers at face value, and some 
 copies qf the 1 and 2sgr are known 
 used postally. 
 The total quantity printed of each 
 
 value was very small, and these 1864 re- 
 prints are now quite scarce. 
 
 In 1873 a number of reprints were 
 made for Julius Goldner, of Hamburg, 
 who paid a certain sum to the govern- 
 ment for the benefit of the soldiers 
 wounded in the Franco-Prussian war. 
 The quantities of these were as follows : 
 4pf 500 sheets of 150 stamps = 75,000 
 6pf 500 sheets of 150 stamps = 75,000 
 Isgr 200 sheets of 150 stamps = 30,000 
 2sgr 200 sheets of 150 stamps = 30,000 
 3sgr 200 sheets of 150 stamps = 30,000 
 Mr. Wedmore gives interesting de- 
 tails of these reprints as follows : 
 
 These reprints are all on water- 
 marked paper which was made in the 
 same moulds as that used for the 
 original stamps, and the two lower 
 values resemble very closely the genu- 
 ine stamps. The paper is thicker and 
 coarser than the originals, and the 
 gum is thick, smooth, and "glassy" in 
 appearance. The printing is generally 
 smudgy, and the green of the 4pf 
 stamp has a fresh, bright appearance. 
 The 6pf is of a more orange shade of 
 vermilion than is found in the origi- 
 nals. 
 
 The paper on which the silbergro- 
 schen values were printed is similar in 
 texture to that employed for the lower 
 values, and the gum is also the same. 
 The color of the paper employed for 
 the Isgr is a pale wine-red. The 
 plates were badly cleaned during the 
 printing, and the stamps, consequent- 
 ly, have a dirty appearance. 
 
 The same remarks apply to the 2 
 and 3sgr values, except as to the color 
 of the papers. That used for the 2sgr 
 value has changed color, so that the 
 stamps now usually appear to be 
 printed on a very pale blue paper 
 sprinkled with dark blue spots, which 
 shew either on the face or the back of 
 the stamp. In the case of the 3sgr 
 reprints, which were originally on yel- 
 low paper, the color has now mostly 
 changed to a pale grey, sometimes 
 with yellow or pinkish spots, owing to 
 some chemical action. 
 
 The whole of the printing was de- 
 livered to Julius Goldner, no supply 
 being retained by the postal author- 
 ities, so that the Postal Museum offi- 
 cials had to purchase, in 1890, some 
 complete sheets for the collection. 
 
 The reprints were printed from the 
 original plates, bearing the following 
 numbers: 6pf (No. 7); Isgr (No. 
 14) ; 2sgr (No. 6) ; 3sgr (No. 3) ; and 
 4pf (No. 1). The two first named 
 plates are in the Berlin Postal 
 Museum, the others are no longer in 
 existence. 
 
 7ti 
 
OFFICIAL IMITATIONS. 
 
 In addition to the reprints of the 
 1850-56 stamps described above so- 
 called reprints of the 1857 issue were 
 made in 1864 but these are nothing bet- 
 ter than official imitations. The original 
 electrotyped plates employed in printing 
 the originals had long since been de- 
 stroyed as also had the dies from which 
 the electrotypes had been struck. It 
 was necessary, therefore, to make en- 
 tirely new dies. These were made from 
 a wood-block which now reposes in the 
 Berlin Postal Museum with other in- 
 teresting relics of the Prussian post. 
 Though an attempt was made to copy 
 the original design as closely as possible 
 there are many differences by which the 
 imitations can be easily recognised. 
 The most prominent of these is a period 
 in place of a colon after the word 
 "SILBERGR." The "G" of the same 
 word has no crossbar and the "F" of 
 "FREIMARKE" has a projecting line 
 at the top left side. 
 
 The 3sgr is in a yellow tint very simi- 
 lar to that of the originals but the Isgr 
 and 2sgr are in shades unlike any found 
 in the genuine stamps. The former is 
 bright crimson and the latter a laven- 
 der-blue. The paper is white-wove and 
 thin and the gum is thin, smooth and 
 white like that of the reprints of the 
 
 same period. These official imitations 
 were printed from plates specially con- 
 structed and afterwards destroyed so 
 that when an additional supply was re- 
 quired in 1873 they were printed direct 
 from the wood-block, and the three sub- 
 sidiary dies taken from the wood-block. 
 Mr. Wedmore tells us that these were 
 printed "on strips of paper measuring 
 about 2J4 by 6^ inches. On each strip 
 were printed the Isgr, 3sgr, 2sgr and 
 woodblock (without value) in the order 
 named, and impressions were taken in 
 carmine red, deep blue, brownish yel- 
 low and black. These are ungummed." 
 
 FORGERIES. 
 
 Forgeries of the first three issues are 
 fairly plentiful but all I have seen are 
 so crude that they would hardly deceive 
 the veriest tyro. Mr. Wedmore states 
 that forgeries of the lOsgr and 30sgr 
 are also known though I have never 
 come across these. They are said to 
 be a little dangerous though the eagles 
 and lettering are very badly drawn com- 
 pared with the originals. The paper 
 is very different being thin and white 
 instead of tough and yellowish as in 
 the genuine stamps. 
 
 SAXONY. 
 
 Saxony is a kingdom of Germany, be- 
 ing fifth in area and third in population 
 among the states of the empire. It is 
 surrounded by Bohemia, Silesia, Prus- 
 sian Saxony, and the minor Saxon 
 States, and has a total area of 5,787 
 square miles. The population grows 
 fast and had nearly quadrupled in the 
 period 1815-1900. At the present time 
 it has nearly reached the five million 
 mark and is the most densely peopled 
 country in Europe. The River Elbe di- 
 vides the kingdom into two almost equal 
 parts, both hilly and both well watered. 
 The predominating geographical feat- 
 ure of the western half is the Erzgebirge 
 (2,500 feet) separating it from Bo- 
 hemia; of the eastern half, offsets of the 
 Riesengebirge, and the sandstone forma- 
 tion, above Dresden, known as the 
 Saxon Switzerland. Agriculture is 
 highly developed though most of the 
 farms are small. Saxony's chief inter- 
 ests are, however, manufacturing and 
 mining. Coal, iron, cobalt, tin, copper, 
 lead and silver are all found, the latter 
 
 having been mined at Freiberg since 
 the 12th century. 
 
 The people are in part of Slav de- 
 scent, but Germanised. Amongst them 
 are between 50,000 and 60,000 Wends 
 (pure Slavs). Education stands at a 
 high level, the university at Leipzig, for 
 instance, being one of the most import- 
 ant educational centres of the empire. 
 The capital is Dresden, while the three 
 largest towns are Dresden, Leipzig and 
 Chemnitz. Saxony is a constitutional, 
 hereditary monarchy, with a parlia- 
 ment of two chambers. It sends four 
 members to the Imperial Council and 
 twenty-three representatives to the 
 Reichstag. 
 
 The name of Saxony formerly des- 
 ignated a very large tract in north 
 Germany, extending from the Weser to 
 the frontiers of Poland. At the peace 
 of 1495 the Emperor Maximilian I, di- 
 vided Germany into two circles, of 
 which the extensive tract of country 
 hitherto called Saxony formed three, 
 viz : Westphalia, Lower Saxony and 
 
 77 
 
Upper Saxony. The last of these com- 
 prised the electorates of Braddenburg 
 and Saxony, the duchy of Pomerania, 
 and several small principalities. The king- 
 dom of Saxony was formed out of the 
 electorate of the same name. The 
 duchy of Saxony, to which the elec- 
 torial dignity and the office of hereditary 
 marshall of the empire were attached, 
 was, however, no part of the ancient 
 German duchy of that name (which was 
 composed of Lauenberg and a tract on 
 the other side of the Elbe), but a 
 Wend or Vandal province, which Al- 
 bert the Bear, margrave of Salzwedel, 
 of the house of Ascania, had conquered 
 and left to his son Bernhard. This 
 Bernhard received from the Emperor 
 Frederick Barbarossa the dignity of Duke 
 of Saxony, to which were attached a part 
 of Engern and Westphalia, extending 
 from the Weser, which separated it 
 from Eastphalia, westward to the Rhine. 
 But Bernhard not being powerful 
 enough to maintain his rights, most of 
 the Saxon allodial proprietors became 
 immediate estates of the empire by 
 which the duchy was dissolved, and 
 its name transferred to the country in- 
 herited by Bernhard from his father, 
 to which from that time the ducal dig- 
 nity was attached. The house of As- 
 cania becoming extinct on the death of 
 Albert III (1422), the Emperor Sigis- 
 mund invested Frederick the Warlike, 
 margarve of Meissen, with the electoral 
 title and the duchy of Saxony. He was 
 succeeded in the electoral dominions by 
 his son, Frederick the Mild, who reigned 
 from 1428 to 1464. On his death his 
 dominions were divided between his two 
 sons, Albert and Ernest, who were the 
 founders of the Albertine and Ernes- 
 tine lines, the former of which still 
 reigns in the kingdom of Saxony, and 
 the latter is divided into four branches 
 of Saxe - Altenburg, Coburg - Gotha, 
 Meiningen and Weimar. , 
 
 In the war with France (1793) 
 Saxony furnished only a small contin- 
 gent and took no decided part; but in 
 1806 the elector sent all his troops to 
 support the kin of Prussia. The ruin 
 of the Prussian power at the battle of 
 Jena enabled Napoleon to gain the 
 Saxons to his cause. Prussian Poland 
 was added to the dominions of Saxony 
 under the title of the grand-duchy of 
 Warsaw, and the title of elector was 
 changed to that of king. After the 
 overthrow of Napoleon at Leipzig 
 (1813), the king was for a time a pris- 
 oner in the hands of the allies, and the 
 Congress of Vienna deprived him of 
 more than half his dominions, or a ter- 
 ritory of 7,880 square miles, which was 
 
 handed over to Prussia. Saxony took 
 
 the side of Austria in the Seven 
 Weeks' War (1866) shared in the de- 
 feat of Sadowa and was compelled to 
 join the North German Confederation. 
 In 1871 Saxony became a member of 
 the new German empire. 
 
 ITS PHILATELIC HISTORY. 
 
 The German-Austrian Postal Union 
 was formed on April 6th, 1850, and as 
 Saxony at once decided 1 to join it was 
 necessary to take measures for pro- 
 viding postage stamps. The kingdom 
 of Bavaria had issued stamps in the 
 previous year and the Government of 
 Saxony therefore applied to that king- 
 dom for information. In response to 
 this appeal the Bavarians sent copies of 
 all their acts and decrees relating to 
 the issue of stamps, together with spec- 
 imens of the postage stamps which had 
 been issued. As the question of de- 
 ciding upon an entire issue required 
 some deliberation, it was determined 
 to make a start by providing a stamp 
 of small value for prepaying the rate 
 of postage on journals and printed mat- 
 ter. This stamp was the now famous 
 3 pfennige red 1 the design of which, it 
 will be noticed, is a palpable copy of the 
 1 kreuzer Bavaria. On June 22d, 1850, 
 a notice appeared stating that from 
 July 1st following, articles under wrap- 
 per destined for any place within the 
 circuit of the royal post of Saxony or 
 for Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, the 
 Mecklenburgs, Anhalt - Schwarzburg, 
 Waldeck, or Hamburg, must be pre- 
 paid with stamps of three pfennige for 
 every loth (about Y?. oz.) in weight, and 
 that the post-office had prepared such 
 stamps, the sale of which would com- 
 mence on June 29th, though they were 
 not to be used until July 1st. For the 
 definite issue of August 1st, 1851,. more 
 elaborate designs were selected. Vari- 
 ous methods of production were con- 
 sidered and numerous essays were sub- 
 mitted by J. B. Hirschfeld, who printed 
 the 3pf red. Hirschfeld could, appar- 
 ently, only produce stamps by the typo- 
 graphic process and while this was con- 
 sidered suitable enough for the lowest 
 value, used for printed matter, it was 
 hardly considered good enough for the 
 higher denominations. Consequently 
 Hirschfeld 1 only obtained the contract 
 for printing the 3 pfennig stamps, in a 
 design showing the Arms of the king- 
 dom, while the contract for manufactur- 
 ing the higher values was awarded to 
 C. C. Meinhold & Sons, of Dresden, a 
 firm well-known for the production of 
 engravings by the glyphographic pro- 
 cess. There were four values in aJJ^ 
 
 78 
 
l / 2 , 1, 2, and 3 neugroschen showing a 
 profile portrait of Frederic Augustus 
 II. King Frederic died on August 9, 
 1854, and was succeeded by his brother 
 John. Steps were at once taken to pro- 
 vide new stamps and though these were 
 ready by the end of the year they were 
 not issued until June 1st, 1855. The 
 numismatic rule of setting the profile of 
 a reigning sovereign the reverse way to 
 that in which it was placed on the coins 
 etc., of his predecessor was followed. 
 With the exception of the portrait the 
 design was altered as little as possible; 
 the values were the same and the same 
 colors were used. No change was made 
 in the 3pf value, as it bore the coat-of- 
 arms, and this denomination continued 
 to be printed by Hirschfeld. It was 
 found desirable to have higher values 
 than 3ngr for use on letters sent beyond 
 the confines of the German-Austrian 
 postal union and on April 24th, 1856, 5 
 and lOngr stamps were issued. In de- 
 sign these were similar to the lower 
 values but they were printed in color 
 on white paper instead of in black on 
 colored papers as was the case with all 
 previously issued neugroschen stamps. 
 
 In March, 1861, the head of the Prus- 
 sian Post-office called attention to the 
 confusion that was created by so many 
 states of the German-Austrian Postal 
 Union using stamps of corresponding 
 values in different colors, and suggested 
 that all stamps of similar value, whether 
 expressed in schilling, grote, groschen, 
 or kreuzer, should be printed in the 
 same color, and that the same rule 
 should be applied to the stamped en- 
 velopes, which should have the stamp 
 in the right upper angle, and the ad- 
 hesivcs placed in the same position; and 
 he advised new issues to be made to 
 carry out these suggestions. These pro- 
 posals met with general approval, and 
 Saxony immediately prepared for a new 
 issue. Various firms were invited to 
 submit designs, but only four did so and 
 the contract was eventually awarded to 
 Giesecke and Devrient, of Leipzig. The 
 new stamps had the arms of Saxony in 
 colorless embossing in the centre, and 
 they are certainly inferior in appearance 
 to their predecessors. With this issue 
 perforation w r as introduced for the first 
 time. The values were the same as be- 
 fore except that the 10 neugroschen was 
 dropped. The demand for this value 
 was found to be exceedingly small and 
 at the time the new series appeared, 
 July 1st, 1863, quite a large proportion 
 of the original supply of the lOngr of 
 1856 still remained on hand. Saxony, 
 as we have already shown, was com- 
 pelled to join the North German Con- 
 federation and on the appearance of the 
 
 Confederation stamps on January 1st, 
 1868, its separate stamps were sup- 
 pressed. 
 
 The currency of Saxony was the thal- 
 er, worth about 72c, which was divided 
 into 30 neugroschen. One neugroschen 
 was equivalent in value to a silbergros- 
 chen, but was divided into ten instead 
 of twelve pfennige. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 Among all the stamps issued by the 
 various German States none is more 
 popular than the first stamp issued in 
 Saxony the 3 pfennige red. It is not 
 a very handsome stamp, or even one of 
 original design, but it is merely a some- 
 what crude copy of the Ikr stamp issued 
 by Bavaria in 1849, as we have already 
 pointed out. This particular stamp 
 seems always to have been in demand 
 from the earliest days of stamp collect- 
 ing, the real reason of its popularity be- 
 ing that it was one of the most difficult 
 stamps to obtain as well as one of the 
 first used in the German Empire. This 
 stamo was produced in a hurry and did 
 not receive the careful consideration ac- 
 corded to the other postage stamps is- 
 sued by Saxony in the following year. 
 The reason for its hurried manufacture 
 lies in the fact that it was intended for 
 use on newspapers and printed matter 
 which, under the newly formed postal 
 Convention between Austria and vari- 
 ous German States, had to be prepaid. 
 If not prepaid, the packages were 
 charged full letter rate. Not only had 
 these packages to be prepaid but the 
 Saxon Government insisted that stamps 
 must be used and payment in cash was 
 not allowed. The design consists of a 
 large open "3" covered with a maze- 
 work pattern on a ground composed of 
 fragments of wavy lines within a frame 
 18 1 / 2 mm. square. The frame is about 
 3% mm. wide and is inscribed 
 "SACHSEN" at top, "FRANCO" at 
 base, "DREI" at left, and "PFEN- 
 NIGE" at right. In each of the angles 
 is a small ornament with a star-like 
 centre. 
 
 The stamps were manufactured at the 
 printing establishment of J. B. Hirsch- 
 feld, a printer and lithographer of 
 Leipzig. The original die was en- 
 graved in relief on metal and from this 
 moulds were taken in plaster, or some 
 similar material, from which Arnold, 
 the stereotyper in Hirschfeld's works, 
 took casts in type-metal. The stamps 
 are not all of equal size the variations 
 being due to unequal shrinkage of the 
 plaster moulds in drying, It is also 
 
probable, as Mr. Westoby points out, 
 that Arnold, to save time, used some 
 of his to produce moulds for others. 
 
 It is probable only twenty moulds 
 were made for the stamps were 
 printed in sheets of twenty in four 
 horizontal rows of five. It has been 
 suggested that there was another plate 
 used for some of the later printings but 
 no satisfactory proof of this has been 
 produced. Lines of printer's rule were 
 placed between the casts and in re- 
 ferring to these Mr. Westoby says they 
 ran "vertically down the sheet unin- 
 terruptedly; but the horizontal lines 
 were broken and did not touch the 
 vertical lines." Unless, however, a 
 second plate was used, or a resetting 
 of the casts made, this statement must 
 be inaccurate for in a superb mint 
 block of four illustrated in a German 
 paper some little time ago the hori- 
 zontal lines are distinctly continuous 
 and it is the vertical ones which are 
 broken. The stamps were printed on 
 ordinary white wove paper and they 
 are, of course, not perforated. The 
 gum is of a distinctly yellow hue. 
 
 The first lot of stamps consisting of 
 120,000 (6,000 sheets) was delivered by 
 the end of June and the public's ap- 
 preciation of them may be gauged from 
 the fact that only 19,000 remained by 
 the 20th of August. Two days later 
 another supply of 60,000 was delivered. 
 Both these lots were ordered orally but 
 after that it was decreed that future 
 orders must be made in writing from 
 the office of the Main Postal Treasury. 
 Six further lots were ordered and de- 
 livered as follows : 
 
 Stamps or Sheets 
 
 October 8th, 1850, 40,000 2,000 
 
 November 4th, 1850, 60,000 3,000 
 
 December 19th, 1850, 60,000 3,000 
 
 February 22nd, 1851, 40,000 2,000 
 
 April 3rd, 1851, 80,000 4,000 
 
 June 17th, 1851, 40,000 2,000 
 
 Altogether, therefore, 500,000 of 
 these stamps were printed and delivered. 
 One sheet of twenty stamps was sent 
 to the Finance Ministry at Dresden as 
 a sample, 463,058 stamps were sold, and 
 the remaining 36,922 were burnt on De- 
 cember 10th, 1851. In the early nineties 
 the sheet sent to the Treasury was ap- 
 parently cut up and the stamps sold 
 singly at a dollar or so apiece. 
 
 That this stamp was only intended as 
 a temporary issue is shown by a remark 
 contained in the official notification of 
 June 22nd, 1850, viz: "This form is, 
 however, only provisional, and will be 
 altered when postage stamps for cor- 
 respondence (letters) are introduced." 
 This stamp was replaced bv the 3pf 
 green label, in the Arms type, on Au- 
 
 gust 1st, 1851, and it was then decreed 
 that no more of the red stamps were to 
 be sold at the post-offices. At the same 
 time the public were informed they 
 could use any of the red stamps they 
 possessed but that under no circum- 
 stances would they be exchanged for 
 the new green ones. Writing in the 
 Monthly Journal for December, 1900, 
 Mr. G. B. Duerst says: "This is the 
 reason why the 3 pfennig, red, is so rare 
 with the lozenge obliteration, which 
 was onlv introduced in March, 1852. 
 The usual postmark is the name and 
 date stamp, but the earliest obliteration 
 was in pen and ink." 
 
 The stamp exists in a number of 
 shades, doubtless owing to the many 
 printings, but according to the catalogue 
 quotations there is little to choose be- 
 tween them in point of rarity. . 
 
 The stamp is rare and its scarcity is 
 accounted for by the fact that the vast 
 majority of the 463,058 stamps sold were 
 used on newspaper packages and were 
 destroyed in the removal of the wrapper. 
 
 Unused this stamp has always been 
 considered scarcer than used but owing 
 to the larger demand for used speci- 
 mens of recent years there is now little 
 to choose between used and unused so 
 far as market value is concerned. We 
 believe the largest block known in mint 
 condition, with original gum, is a block 
 of four from the right lower corner of 
 a sheet. An entire sheet is, or was, in 
 existence, however. This was de- 
 scribed in the Monthly Journal in 1896 
 as follows: "Mr. Castle secured, for a 
 sum of about $1500.00, an unsevered and 
 unused sheet of 20 Saxony 3pf red. 
 This is believed to be the only sheet 
 known, and is the one formerly in the 
 Friedl Museum of Vienna. Mr. Friedl 
 got it from a Castle in Saxony, where 
 it was found pasted on a fire-screen and 
 varnished over! Naturally it is not in 
 the most brilliant condition, but it is a 
 unique piece, and well worth the price 
 paid." 
 
 This 3pf stamp is one that has con- 
 sistently shown an appreciation in 
 value and of recent years it has 
 jumped upwards in price at an astonish- 
 ing rate. In 1864 it was worth about 
 35c in used condition; in 1884 it was 
 quoted 75c; in 1894 its value had in- 
 creased to $22, in 1908 it stood at $37; 
 while at the present time Scott has it 
 quoted at a modest $70, Gibbons at $120, 
 while fine copies have approached the 
 $150 mark at auction abroad. There is 
 a suspicion in some quarters that some 
 one is attempting a corner in this stamp 
 a not impossible proceeding in view of 
 the limited number available and 
 should such a "corner" be successful 
 
there is no knowing to what price this 
 variety may yet be forced. 
 
 Few stamps have been so extensively 
 counterfeited as this 3 pfennige, one 
 writer alone admitting the possession of 
 no less than twenty-rive different coun- 
 terfeits. Mr. Westoby mentions several 
 points which should be of value in de- 
 tecting counterfeits, viz. : 
 
 In the ornament in the corners, 
 which is in the shape of a quatrefoil, 
 the interior design is in the shape of 
 a four-rayed star, or rather a round 
 uncolored centre to a St. Andrew's 
 Cross. In the left upper corner orna- 
 ment there is a curved line opposite 
 to each extremity of the cross. This 
 curved line is wanting opposite the 
 left upper extremity of the cross in all 
 the other corner ornaments, and also 
 opposite the upper right extremity of 
 the cross in the right upper orna- 
 ment, and this right extremity is long, 
 while the left one is very short, as 
 also is the upper right one in the 
 right lower ornament. In the in- 
 scriptions the S and A in SACHSEN 
 almost join, as also do the R and E 
 in DRIE. There is a break in the 
 inner line of the frame opposite the 
 I of DRIE. These are the principal 
 tests given by Messrs. Collin and Cai- 
 man, and in their catalogue enlarged 
 engravings are given of the corner or- 
 naments. In the genuine stamps there 
 is a full stop after FRANCO which, 
 curiously enough, is absent in most 
 of the imitations." 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 July 1st, 1850. No wmk. Imperf. 
 1. 3pf red, Scott's Nos. 1 or la. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 Whilst the first Saxon stamp had 
 been designed and issued without much 
 care or fuss, many and deep were the 
 deliberations before the permanent is- 
 sue was decided upon. Various methods 
 of production were examined and con- 
 sidered; wood engraving was objected 
 to, and line engraving was considered 
 too expensive. Numerous essays were 
 submitted by Hirschfeld and others and 
 those of Hirschfeld met with approval. 
 Before, however, he received the order 
 
 the firm of C. C. Meinhold and Sons, of 
 Dresden, a firm well known for the 
 production of engravings by the gly- 
 phographic process, made a proposal 
 which was accepted by the authorities. 
 Hirschfeld's design for the neu-groschen 
 values was, therefore, handed to the 
 Meinholds and the only order Hirsch- 
 feld received was that for printing the 
 3 pfennige stamps. The 3pf value was 
 again intended for printed matter but 
 it now represented the rate within the 
 entire German-Austrian Postal Union 
 this was the main reason for the 
 change of design for this denomination. 
 The l / 2 neugroschen was intended for 
 local letters; the Ingr for letters sent 
 less than 10 miles within the Postal 
 Union; the 2ngr for letters between 10 
 and 20 miles; and the 3ngr for letters 
 beyond 20 miles. 
 
 The design for the 3 pfennige shows 
 the Arms of Saxony on a shield sur- 
 mounted by a crown within an oval of 
 solid color. On a scroll at top is 
 "SACHSEN" and on a similar scroll at 
 base is "Drie Pfennige." Numerals of 
 value, within small circles, are shown 
 at the sides and the spaces are filled 
 with scroll ornamentation. The whole 
 is enclosed within a narrow rectangular 
 frame. This stamp was printed in 
 sheets of 120, the plate being composed 
 of casts taken in type-metal from the 
 original die. The stamps were placed 
 so closely together that specimens with 
 good margins are very difficult to obtain. 
 The neugroschen values are all alike in 
 design and show a profile portrait of 
 King Frederic Augustus II, with head 
 to right, on a solid colored ground with- 
 in an oval. The inscriptions are similar 
 to those of the 3pf except that the lower 
 one is "Neu-Grosch.", separated by the 
 numeral of value. Numerals are also 
 placed at the sides and all four values 
 were printed in sheets of 120. The 
 early supplies of all values were de- 
 livered by the printers in strips of ten 
 for some reason or other. Usually the 
 sheets were sub-divided horizontally, but 
 in some cases the strips were cut verti- 
 cally. 
 
 The 3 pfennige exists in two distinct 
 shades blue or dark green and yellow 
 green. The colors of the papers for the 
 various neu-groschen values also show 
 some variation and in dealing with this 
 matter I cannot do better than quote 
 from an excellent article in the Phila- 
 telic Journal of Great Britain, written 
 by Mr. D. C. Gray in December, 1908 : 
 The l / 2 neu-groschen may be found 
 on paper varying from almost white 
 to bluish grey, the bluish shades being 
 the scarcer. The paper of the 1 neu- 
 groschen is sometimes deep and 
 
 81 
 
sometimes quite pale rose ; that of 
 the 3 neu-groschen varies from very 
 deep to quite pale yellow; while the 
 2 neu-groschen appears printed on 
 pale blue and very dark blue paper. 
 Some of the shades of the l /2, 1, and 3 
 neu-groschen may be due to fading, 
 although, considering the large num- 
 bers of printings which took place a 
 variation in the colour of the papers 
 used is not surprising. The change 
 of the 2 neu-groschen from pale to 
 very dark blue, however, was cer- 
 tainly not accidental, but was due to 
 definite instructions given to the 
 printers by the postal authorities in 
 1852. 
 
 The reason for this order was that 
 a postmaster had complained to the 
 head office that if the 2 neu-groschen 
 stamps (printed in pale blue) were 
 much exposed to the light they faded 
 into approximately the color of the 
 l /2 neu-groschen. By the adoption of 
 the dark blue paper any mistakes 
 arising from such a cause were 
 entirely obviated. These stamps were 
 all put on sale on 29th July, and 
 were to frank letters from 1st Au- 
 gust, 1851. The quantities printed 
 of each value of this set were as 
 follows : 
 
 3 pfennige, 12,500,000; l /2 neu- 
 groschen, 5,100,000; 1 neu-groschen, 
 5,700,000; 2 neu-groschen, light blue, 
 700,000; 2 neu-groschen dark blue, 
 1,500,000; and 3 neu-groschen, 
 2,350,000. There were twenty-four 
 printings of the 3 pfennige; seventeen 
 of the y* and 1 neu-groschen, and 
 sixteen of the 2 and 3 neu-groschen. 
 By far the rarest stamp of Saxony is, 
 pf course, the y* neu-groschen printed 
 in error on the pale blue paper of the 
 2 neu-groschen. The existence of this 
 error seems to have been quite unknown 
 until Dr. Kloss published his "History 
 of the Stamps of the Kingdom of 
 Saxony" in 1883 or 1884. According to 
 Dr. Kloss "On August 22nd, 1851, the 
 Post-office at Leipzig informed the G. 
 P. O. at Dresden, that they had found 
 a quantity of stamps among the 2ngr 
 blue which had, instead of '2 Neu- 
 groschen,' the inscription '^ neu- 
 groschen' although printed in the correct 
 color of the 2ngr stamps, viz., blue. On 
 referring to the printers' statement it 
 was found that only 120 stamps were 
 printed in this color by mistake, 63 of 
 these were sold over the counter before 
 the mistake was found out, the remain- 
 ing 57 were returned to the G. P. O. 
 at Dresden." There is little doubt that 
 the 63 stamps which were sold to the 
 public, were sold as 2ngr stamps, whose 
 color they bore, and they were used as 
 such. 
 
 It appears the Post-office sold the er- 
 rors singly and in strips of ten and 
 when they discovered the mistake the 
 purchasers were written to and asked 
 to return the stamps as any letters 
 franked with them might possibly be 
 treated as unpaid by other offices. 
 When Dr. Kloss made his notes public 
 the hunt for the errors began and some 
 of the firms written to by the Leipzig 
 post-office in 1851 were hunted out. 
 This resulted in the discovery of one 
 of the letters written by the Post-office 
 with an unused strip of ten of the er- 
 rors pinned to it. Due to the forget- 
 fulness of a clerk this letter was never 
 returned to the postal authorities ! Herr 
 Blauhuth, of Leipzig, secured this strip, 
 and for ten years these were the only 
 copies known. The owner first sold a 
 pair, inlcuding the one spoiled by the 
 pin-holes, for $37.50, while his last copy 
 realised $300. The 57 errors which 
 were returned to Dresden should have 
 been destroyed but, in 1891, 24 of the 
 stamps were found in an envelope 
 pinned to an old document relating to 
 the former postal accounts in the De- 
 partment of Finance, Dresden. What be- 
 came of the other 33 is a mystery which 
 will probably never be solved most 
 likely they were destroyed as was 
 originally intended. These errors were 
 included in a set of so-called "essays" 
 put on the market by the Saxon Gov- 
 ernment at 75c each. The history of 
 the error had been forgotten by the 
 officials but not by collectors and con- 
 sequently the sets sold like the proverbial 
 hot cakes. Most of these 24 errors 
 were single copies but in the lot was 
 one strip of five and one block of four, 
 the latter eventually passing into the 
 famous Mann collection. But though 
 this error is one of the great rarities 
 unused it is even scarcer used. There 
 is a pair in the Tapling collection, an- 
 other pair in a German collection, and 
 a few single copies are known. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1851. No. wmk. Imperf. 
 
 2. 3 pfennige green, Scott's Nos. 2 or 2a. 
 
 3. y 2 neu-groschen, black on grey, Scott's 
 
 No. 3. 
 
 4. 1 neu-groschen, black on rose, Scott's 
 
 No. 5. 
 
 5. 2 neu-groschen, black on blue, Scott's 
 
 Nos. 6 or 7. 
 
 6. 3 neu-groschen, black on yellow, Scott's 
 
 No. 8. 
 
THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 The death of King Frederic Augustus 
 II on August 9th, 1854, and accession 
 of his brother John, made a change in 
 the portrait stamps necessary. As the 3 
 pfennige value bore the Arms of the 
 kingdom it was not deemed necessary 
 to make any change in these and they 
 continued to be printed by Hirschfeld. 
 The other values of l /2, 1, 2 and 3 neu- 
 groschen were manufactured by Mein- 
 hold and Sons. Little alteration was 
 made in the framework but in the centre 
 the portrait of King John superseded 
 that of his predecessor. The profile is 
 shown to the left instead of to the right 
 as on the 1851 stamps. The new stamps 
 were all ready by the end of 1854 but 
 they were not placed on sale until about 
 August, 1855. The stamps were printed 
 in black on colored papers as before, 
 but a change was made in tne size of the 
 plates which now consisted of 100 in- 
 stead of 120 subjects. In 1856, 5 and 10 
 neu-groschen stamps were added to the 
 set as it was found desirable to have 
 some higher values for use on letters 
 sent beyond the confines of the German- 
 Austrian Postal Union. These two 
 stamps were printed in color on white 
 paper like the 3pf denomination. More 
 than one plate was used for some of the 
 values and some of these show varia- 
 tions in the size and shape of the 
 numerals in the small ovals at the sides. 
 These differences are particularly notice- 
 able in the l /2 and 1 neu-groschen. How 
 many plates were used altogether is not 
 known but when Messrs. Meinhold and 
 Sons lost the printing contract in 1863 
 they sent to the Dresden Post-office the 
 original dies of the six values, together 
 with four reliefs and five printing plates 
 of the ^ngr, two reliefs and five print- 
 ing plates of the Ingr, two reliefs and 
 three printing plates of each of the 
 2ngr and 5ngr, and one relief and two 
 printing plates of the lOngr. The 
 plates of the 3ngr do not appear to 
 have been sent at that time and no offi- 
 cial record of their receipt at a later 
 date has been found. 
 
 Shades are numerous and again I 
 cannot do better than quote Mr. Gray 
 on this subject, viz : 
 
 All the stamps of this set vary con- 
 siderably in shade, as is only to be 
 expected in the case of a long-lived 
 series. The following are the prin- 
 cipal variations : 
 
 neu-groschen, black on pearl grey, 
 grey, lilac grey, jet-black 
 on grey. 
 
 1 neu-gr, deep rose, rose, pale rose. 
 
 2 " blue, deep blue, greenish 
 
 blue. 
 
 3 neu-gr, deep yellow, yellow, pale 
 yellow. 
 
 5 pale red, russet brown, 
 
 red brown, vermilion. 
 10 blue, deep blue. 
 
 Some of the shades of the l / 2 neu- 
 groschen are much scarcer than others ; 
 the greenish blue shade of the 2 neu- 
 groschen is scarce used, though com- 
 mon unused, and the russet brown 5 
 neu-groschen is very scarce. Appar- 
 ently this color was used by mistake, 
 and though some of the stamps 
 printed in this shade were issued, the 
 printer was compelled to supply others 
 instead, printed in the proper color, 
 and the balance of the russet-brown 
 stamps were destroyed by the postal 
 authorities. (There were 100,000 of 
 these errors, of which 62,200 were 
 sold according to Mr. Westoby though, 
 as will be seen below, Mr. Gray puts 
 the number at 4,000 more). 
 
 The 5 neu-groschen is found on 
 thick and on thin paper and is also 
 known double printed (an uncata- 
 logued variety). For the first print- 
 ing of the 10 neu-groschen stamps 
 thinner paper was used than for the 
 two later printings. The quantities 
 printed of these stamps were as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 l / 2 neu-groschen, 17,705,000 
 
 1 17,345,000 
 
 2 5,980,000 
 
 3 7,880,000 
 5 ' (vermilion 
 
 and pale red ) , 200,000 
 5 ' russet brown, 66,200 
 
 5 (red brown), 823,800 
 
 10 250,000 
 
 There were twenty-four printings of 
 the l / 2 , 1, 2 and 3 neu-groschen stamps, 
 one of the russet brown 5 neu- 
 groschen and three of the 10 neu- 
 groschen. The number of printings 
 of the other shades of the 5 neu- 
 groschen seems not to be ascertain- 
 able. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1855-56. No wmk. Imperf. 
 
 7. J^ngr black on gray, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 8. Ingr black on rose, Scott's No. 10. 
 
 9. 2ngr black on blue, Scott's Nos. 11 or 
 
 lla. 
 
 10. 3ngr black on yellow, Scott's No. 12. 
 
 11. 5ngr red, Scott's Nos.13, 13a, 13b, 13c. 
 
 12. lOngr blue, Scott's Nos. 14 or 14a. 
 
THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 In March, 1861, the Prussian postal 
 administration drew the attention of the 
 other members of the German-Austrian 
 Postal Union to the confusion which 
 existed owing to the lack of uniformity 
 in the colors adopted for stamps of 
 corresponding values in the various 
 States. It was suggested that all stamps 
 of similar value, whether that value 
 was expressed in schilling, grote, 
 groschen or kreuzer, should be printed 
 in the same color. These proposals met 
 with general approval, as we have al- 
 ready shown in considering the stamps 
 of other States, and Saxony began 
 preparations for a new issue. It had 
 been decided to change the color of the 
 3ngr and 5ngr stamps to black on brown 
 and black on yellow respectively, when 
 the appearance of the new Prussian 
 stamps caused Saxony to reconsider its 
 plans. The new Prussian stamps, con- 
 forming to the new color scheme, were 
 all printed in color on white paper and 
 the Saxon postal authorities, upon in- 
 vestigating the matter, decided to adopt 
 the same principle and retire the colored 
 papers in favor of stamps printed in 
 color on white. Designs for the new 
 series were invited from engravers but 
 only four firms competed Hirschfeld, 
 Meinhold and Sons, and Blockman and 
 Son, of Dresden, and Giesecke and 
 Devrient of Leipzig. The contract was 
 awarded to the last named firm and the 
 taille-douce process was abandoned for 
 the cheaper method of typography. The 
 design consisted of the Arms of Saxony 
 in colorless embossing within an up- 
 right oval engine-turned band with a 
 scalloped outer edge. On the upper 
 part of the band the name "SACHSEN" 
 is shown, on the lower portion is the 
 denomination and in the sides and be- 
 low the Arms are oval discs containing 
 the numerals of value. These are in 
 color on a plain ground at the sides 
 and in white on a ground of solid color 
 below the Arms. The 3 pfennige and 
 l / 2 neu-groschen values differ from the 
 others in being enclosed within a rec- 
 tangular frame in which the numerals of 
 value are again shown in each of the 
 spandrels. 
 
 The advent of the new issue was 
 notified by a circular issued from Leip- 
 zig on June 19th, 1863, and the stamps 
 were placed on sale on July 1st follow- 
 ing. The denominations were the same 
 as before except that the 10 neu- 
 groschen was omitted, owing to the 
 small use made of that value. The- 
 stamps were printed in sheets of 100 
 and perforation was introduced for the 
 first time, the gauge being 13. There 
 are pronounced shades of all values 
 
 and though Scott gives but two for each 
 denomination (three for the 5ngr). 
 Gibbons lists two for the 3 pfennige, 
 three each for the l /z t 1, 2, and 3 neu- 
 groschen, and five for the 5 neu- 
 groschen. Specialists extend the list 
 still further, especially in the case of the 
 two lowest values. 
 
 In 1867 complaints were made of the 
 varying colors of the 5 neu-groschen, 
 and the contractors printed some in a 
 reddish lilac shade in which there 
 would be fewer variations. These 
 stamps were objected to, however, as 
 resembling the Ingr too closely and they 
 were not put on sale. Finally a grey- 
 ish shade of lilac was adopted. Mr. D. 
 C. Gray tells us that the quantities 
 printed and number of printings were as 
 follows : "There were fifteen printings 
 of the 5 neu-groschen, sixteen of the 2 
 neu-groschen, and seventeen of each of 
 the remaining values. The quantities 
 printed of these stamps were as fol- 
 lows : 3 pfennige, 10,850,000 ; l / 2 neu- 
 groschen, 17,100,000; 1 neu-groschen, 
 15,175,000; 2 neu-groschen, 4,870,000; 3 
 neu-groschen, 5,870,000; 5 neu-groschen, 
 950,000; 5 neu-groschen (grey, and grey- 
 lilac shades), 250,000." 
 
 The 1 neu-groschen is known im- 
 perforate vertically, and the 3pf, l /2, 1 
 and 2 neu-groschen are known entirely 
 imperforate. 
 
 The post office of Saxony was included 
 in the post office system of the 
 North German Confederation on Jan- 
 uary 1st, 1868, and the distinctive stamps 
 were consequently withdrawn. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1863. Arms in centre embossed. Perf. 13. 
 
 13. 3pf green, Scott's Nos. 15 or 15a. 
 
 14. y 2 ngr orange, Scott's Nos. 16 or 16a. 
 
 15. Ingr rose, Scott's Nos. 17 or 17a. 
 
 16. 2ngr blue, Scott's Nos. 18 or 18a. 
 
 17. Sngr brown, Scott's Nos. 19 or 19a. 
 
 18. 5ngr violet or grey-blue, Scott's Nos. 20, 
 
 20a or 21. 
 
 REMAINDERS. 
 
 At the time Saxony joined the North 
 German Confederation there were large 
 remainders of some of the values of 
 the 1863 issues and smaller lots of all 
 
 84 
 
values of 1856 and the 3pf of 1851. 
 The Government made no attempt to 
 dispose of these in one parcel, as was 
 done by other German States, but of- 
 fered the earlier issues at so much per 
 stamp and the 1863 issue at a few marks 
 per 500 stamps. No information seems 
 to have been published as to the num- 
 bers available but as late as 1890 all 
 but the lOngr were obtainable at very 
 low figures, though the lOngr was 
 quoted at 15 marks. In 1899 the prices 
 
 were advanced and the stamps were 
 then offered as follows : 
 
 3pf of 1851, 15 marks 
 
 Ingrof 1856, 1 " 
 
 2ngrof 1856, 2 
 
 Sngrof 1856, 3 " 
 
 Sngrof 1856, 10 
 
 None of the ^ and 10 neu-groschen 
 were then available and the only value 
 of the 1863 series offered was the l / 2 ngr 
 which was quoted at 6 marks per 500 
 stamps. 
 
 SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN. 
 
 Of all the stamps issiled by what we 
 now call the German States none are 
 more complicated than those issued by 
 the dual duchies of Schleswig and Hoi- 
 stein and yet, on the other hand, none 
 delineate the chequered history of a 
 troublous period more clearly. The 
 catalogues generally divide the stamps 
 into three groups the issues for Schles- 
 wig and Holstein, issues for Schleswig 
 only, and issues for Holstein only. But 
 though this rough and ready classifica- 
 tion has some advantages it is far from 
 being accurate and a collection of the 
 stamps arranged by catalogue obviously 
 fails to show the proper sequence of 
 historical events. 
 
 Although the stamps themselves are 
 simple and straightforward in the main 
 it is fortunate that they have been ex- 
 tensively written up so that it is now 
 possible to examine them from a his- 
 torical point of view. While most of 
 the articles available for reference have 
 appeared in German periodicals an ex- 
 cellent one from the pen of Mr. G. B. 
 Duerst will be found in the Philatelic 
 Journal of Great Britain for 1898 and 
 from this I have drawn largely for much 
 of the following information. Much 
 valuable material has also been gleaned 
 from an exhaustive study of the two 
 first stamps, written by the veteran 
 Mons. L. Hanciau. and which appeared 
 in the MoiitJiIy Journal in the later 
 months of 1906. 
 
 The former duchies of Schleswig and 
 Holstein, united with Lauenburg, now 
 form a province of Prussia, just south 
 of Denmark. The total area of the pro- 
 vince is 7,273 square miles and it has a 
 population of about one and a half mil- 
 lions, most of the inhabitants being of 
 Low German stock. 
 
 At the dawn of history the duchies 
 were inhabited by the Cimri, who were 
 
 succeeded by the Angles, Jutes and 
 Friscians; but the greater part of the 
 Angles crossed over to England and 
 their place was taken by the Danes. 
 Then for a period of more than a thou- 
 sand years Schleswig-Holstein, and 
 Lauenburg, which politically belonged to 
 them, were a continual bone of conten- 
 tion between Denmark and Germany. 
 They were continually changing hands, 
 now belonging to Denmark with the 
 King of that country as their Duke, then 
 being ruled by a German prince, or 
 sometimes independent. To give even 
 a brief resume of all the happenings dur- 
 ing this lengthy period of unrest would 
 pccupv far too much space but I think 
 it will be interesting to record the most 
 important events as outlined by Mr. 
 Duerst, viz. : 
 
 The first church built on Danish 
 ground was erected at Schleswig in 
 850, the country evidently then be- 
 longing to Denmark. In 934, however 
 it was ceded to Germany, and Henry 
 I established it as a separate depend- 
 ency under the name of "Danish 
 Mark." The Emperor, Conrad II, 
 gave the country back to Denmark in 
 1025. The Wendish tribes revolted 
 and founded in 1066 a mighty empire 
 under Kroko. This empire comprised 
 Mecklenburg, Holstein, Schleswig, 
 Lauenburg, Storman and Dithmar- 
 schen. The Emperor, Lothair, ap- 
 pointed, about the year 1230 or 1231, 
 Duke Adolphus of Schauenburg, Duke 
 of Holstein, whereas Schleswig was 
 left with Denmark, and Lauenburg 
 was given to Henry of Badewide. In 
 1459, Adolphus VHI, Duke of Schles- 
 wig and Holstein, died and his uncle, 
 King Christian I of Denmark, (the 
 first ruler of the Oldenburg line), was 
 elected Duke of Schleswig and Hol- 
 stein on the 5th of March, 1470, One 
 
of the principal clauses in the act of 
 succession was "that these two coun- 
 tries should be undivided forever" 
 (ewich tosammende ungedeelt). About 
 the year 1500, however, King John 
 divided the countries again, and his 
 brother, Frederic, received Tondern, 
 Hadersleben, Tyle, Steinburg, Trittow, 
 Oldenburg, Plon and Kiel, whereas 
 King John retained Flensburg, Son- 
 derburg, Norburg, Hanrove, Rends- 
 burg, Haseldorf, Apenrade and Sege- 
 berg, t. e. the northern portion. By 
 the treaty of Roeskilde, in February, 
 1865, Schleswig and Holstein were de- 
 clared to be independent of Denmark. 
 This treaty, however, was never car- 
 ried out, and the two duchies were 
 sometimes united with Denmark, and 
 sometimes independent, and under the 
 rule of their own dukes. In 1720 
 England and France confirmed the 
 conquest of Schleswig by the Danes, 
 while Holstein was considered as be- 
 longing to the German Empire under 
 the sovereignty of their own dukes. 
 At the end of the Napoleonic troubles 
 both duchies were left with Denmark, 
 although it had been decided' that only 
 Schleswig should belong to Denmark. 
 On the southern gate of Rendsburg 
 there is to be found the inscription 
 "Eidora Romani Terminus Imperii" 
 meaning that the river Eider is to be 
 the frontier of the Roman Empre, and 
 the decision of dividing the two 
 duchies was based on it. In 1846, the 
 question arose whether Schleswig and 
 'Holstein should belong to Denmark 
 or not, and when the Danish Con- 
 gress petitioned the King to proclaim 
 that Denmark, Schleswig, Holstein 
 and Lauenburg should be one united 
 monarchy, the German population of 
 the three latter provinces appealed to 
 the German people and expressed the 
 wish to be free from Denmark, and to 
 become independent duchies affiliated 
 with Germany. An insurrection broke 
 out in 1848, but was subdued by the 
 Danes in 1851, and it was not until 
 1864 that the German Congress asked 
 Prussia and Austria to interfere. The 
 consequence of this step was the war of 
 1864, which ended by Denmark ceding 
 Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg to 
 the victors. These, however, could 
 not agree altogether, sometimes the 
 two duchies were governed by both, 
 sometimes Schleswig by Prussia, and 
 Holstein by Austria. The war of 
 1866 between Austria and Prussia left 
 the three duchies with Prussia. 
 The currency in Schleswig and Hol- 
 stein was the mark courant, of Ham- 
 burg, which was divided into 16 schil- 
 linge and had a value of about 28c. In 
 
 Lauenburg the currency was that of 
 Mecklenburg, in which 48 schillinge 
 were the equivalent of a thaler of three 
 marks, or 72c in United States money. 
 The Danish money was also used, in 
 which 96 skilling were equal to a rigs- 
 bankdkler, worth about 54c. Four skil- 
 ling Danish were, therefore, equivalent 
 to 1^4 schillinge of Schleswig-Holstein 
 and l l / 2 schillinge of Lauenburg. 
 
 The first stamps issued by the duchies 
 were those of the Provisional Govern- 
 ment which appeared in 1850 and the last 
 series appeared in 1866. Although, 
 therefore, the philatelic history occupies 
 the comparatively short period of six- 
 teen years so many were the changes of 
 government, as related in the foregoing 
 historical sketch, that the stamps should 
 really be considered in eight separate 
 periods as follows : 
 
 A. Schleswig-Holstein. (Provisional 
 Government ; seat of government at- 
 Rendsburg) Nov. 15th, 1850-Feb. 
 1st, 1851. 
 
 B. Schleswig-Holstein. (Danish Gov- 
 ernment). Feb. 1st, 1851-March 1st, 
 1864. 
 
 C. Schleswig. (Governed by Commis- 
 
 sioners appointed by Prussia and 
 Austria; seat of government at 
 Flensburg). Feb. 20th, 1864-Janu- 
 ary 24th, 1865. 
 
 D. Holstein. (Governed by Commis- 
 sioners appointed by Prussia and 
 Austria ; seat of government at 
 Kiel). March 1st, 1864- Jan. 24th, 
 1865. 
 
 E. Schleswig and Holstein. (Governed 
 by Prussia and 1 Austria combined; 
 seat of government at Flensburg). 
 Jan. 24th, 1865-October 31st, 1865. 
 
 F. Schleswig, (Governed by Prussia) 
 
 Nov. 1st, 1865-Nov. 1st, 1866. 
 
 G. Holstein. (Governed by Austria). 
 Nov. 1st, 1865-Nov. 1st, 1866. 
 
 H. Schleswig and Holstein united with 
 Prussia. Nov. 1st, 1866. 
 
 Period A. Provisional Government of 
 Schleswig-Holstein. 
 
 In 1848, the duchies of Schleswig and 
 Holstein revolted from the rule of Den- 
 mark and it was only after a struggle 
 lasting for three years that Frederic VII 
 was able to quell the insurrection. In 
 spite of the constant warfare the revo- 
 lutionary government, the seat of which 
 was established successively at Rends- 
 burg, Schleswig, and Kiel, found time 
 to consider the issuing of postage 
 stamps. In 1849, the Director of Posts 
 was sent to Germany and Belgium to 
 study postal matters in those countries 
 and find out how a postal system could 
 be best ad&pted to fit the needs of 
 Schleswig-Holstein. The information he 
 
obtained was of a sufficiently satisfac- 
 tory nature to induce the Department 
 of Finance to propose a law for the in- 
 troduction of postage stamps. This 
 scheme was unanimously accepted by 
 the National Assembly o'n March 26th, 
 1850 and on April 3rd; following, a law 
 was passed in which the chief provisions 
 were as follows : 
 
 Article 1. The Department of Fi- 
 nance is authorised to have manufac- 
 tured stamps or "Postschillinge," by 
 the affixing of which upon letters the 
 latter may be franked, in accordance 
 with the directions laid down in the 
 tariff of postal charges. These stamps 
 are to bear the Arms of Schleswig- 
 Holstein. 
 Article 2. Whoever shall 
 
 (1) With fraudulent intent manu- 
 facture ."Postschillinge" or forge them, 
 and employ the forged "Postschil- 
 linge" for the franking of letters, or 
 cause it to be done by others; 
 
 (2) In collusion with the author of 
 the fraud, or with his assistance em- 
 ploy, or cause to be employed by 
 others, such "Postschillinge" for the 
 franking of letters, shall be punished 
 with imprisonment with hard labor, 
 not exceeding five years. 
 
 Whoever shall knowingly employ, 
 or cause to be employed by others, 
 for the franking of letters, imitations 
 or falsifications of the "Postschillinge" 
 without collusion with the author of 
 the fraud or his aid, will incur a pen- 
 alty of imprisonment with hard labor 
 for one year. 
 
 The above law made no mention of 
 the actual values or the colors of the 
 stamps it was proposed to issue but in 
 the Postal Gazette for November 9th, 
 1850, the public were informed of the 
 forthcoming issue as follows : 
 
 Xotice of the introduction of the 
 Stamps for franking letters styled 
 "Postschillinge." 
 
 In execution of the law relating to 
 the introduction of stamps for the 
 franking of letters, etc., dated April 
 2nd, 1850, Art. 1, the following in- 
 structions are brought to the knowl- 
 edge of the general public and or- 
 dained for the compliance of the postal 
 officials : 
 
 (1) From the 15th November of 
 this year there will be placed on sale 
 at the postoffices stamps for the frank- 
 ing of letters "Postschillinge." These 
 stamps will bear the Arms of Schles- 
 wig-Holstem, the inscription POST- 
 SCHILLI^ T G, and. on a white ground, 
 the letters S and H, and numerals de- 
 noting the values represented by 
 
 stamps in schilling of the currency of 
 Schleswig-Holstein. 
 The franking stamps of the value of 
 
 1 schilling are blue 
 
 2 schilling are red 
 
 and are pierced lengthwise by a 
 blue silk thread, and are provided with 
 gum on the reverse side, for the pur- 
 pose of attaching them. 
 
 (2) Only letters (not the packets 
 and envelopes which belong to the 
 transport post) may be franked by 
 means of stamps. The franking is ef- 
 fected by affixing as many "Post- 
 schillinge" as amount to the charge 
 under the tariff on the address side 
 of the letter, in the left upper corner, 
 by means of moistening the gum which 
 will be found on the back of the 
 stamps. Letters franked in this way 
 may be deposited in the letter boxes, 
 as may also unfranked letters; regis- 
 tered letters should in future, as here- 
 tofore, be handed in at the Postoffice 
 window. In order to rend'er the post- 
 al tariff more accessible to all, the lists 
 of charges are posted' up at the side 
 of the window and of the letter boxes, 
 and copies are also for sale at all 
 post-offices at 1. schilling. 
 
 (3) In the case of letters which 
 have not been sufficiently franked by 
 senders, the stamps which are affixed 
 to them will not be taken into con- 
 sideration, bi;t the total charge must 
 then be paid by the receivers. If 
 more than the required charge accord- 
 ing to the tariff, is paid by the stamps 
 affixed, the sender will suffer the loss. 
 When a stamp has been used once it 
 loses its value. 
 
 (4) None but the postal officials 
 and the persons duly authorised by 
 the higher postal authorities may sell 
 the franking stamps. 
 
 On the same day a further official no- 
 tice was published for the instruction of 
 postal officials and this is by no means 
 uninteresting. Article 1 states that the 
 stamps are printed "80 upon a quarto 
 sheet" and that the post-offices must 
 never be without a stock of stamps suf- 
 ficient to last for fifteen days. It is also 
 expressly stipulated that each office is 
 responsible for the amount of stamps in 
 its possession. Article 3 states that the 
 post-offices must take care that the let- 
 ters are sufficienty franked, see that the 
 stamps are genuine and have not been 
 used before. After this careful exami- 
 nation the officials were instructed to 
 obliterate the stamps (the word schwar- 
 zen, "blacken," is used). Article 4 re- 
 lates to the providing of each office with 
 
a distinctive numbered cancelling stamp. 
 These numbers ran from 1 to 42. 
 
 The set, as will be seen from the forego- 
 ing official documents, consisted of but two 
 denominations 1 and 2 schilling. Both 
 are alike in design and show the Arms 
 of the duchies of Schleswig and Hoi- 
 stein together in a shield, impressed in 
 plain relief, within an oval which covers 
 the body of a double headed eagle with 
 wings outspread. The eagle is in color 
 and rests upon a horizontally lined 
 ground within a rectangular frame. In 
 the upper corners are small uncolored 
 ovals containing the letters "S" and "H" 
 respectively (these of course being the 
 initial letters of the names of the two 
 duchies), while corresponding ovals in 
 the lower angles contain the numerals of 
 value. Above the central oval is 
 "POST" and below is "SCHILLING" 
 these inscriptions extending over the 
 eagle and being in large uncolored capi- 
 tals. The Arms of Schleswig described 
 in the orthodox heraldic manner are 
 "Or, two lions passant, or Beopardy, 
 azure," while those of Holstein are 
 "Gules, a triangular escutcheon argent, 
 coupe gules, supported at each side by 
 three half leaves of holly argent, and 
 accompanied by three Passion nails of 
 the same, placed at even distances so 
 that their points appear to pierce the 
 angles of the escutcheon." 
 
 The dies were engraved on steel by 
 M. Claudius, of Altona, and the stamps 
 were printed at the works of Messrs. H. 
 W. Kobner and L. Kuhl, of that city, in 
 color on white wove paper, the Arms 
 in the centre being in relief. 
 
 The stamps were printed in sheets of 
 eighty, in ten rows of eight, upon "Dick- 
 enson" paper with a blue thread running 
 vertically through each stamp. Owing 
 to imperfect feeding of the paper in the 
 printing press the silk thread does not 
 always appear in the centre of the stamps 
 as was intended, but may frequently be 
 found at one of the sides. This paper 
 was obtained from the same manufac- 
 turers that supplied similar paper for the 
 Bavarian stamps. 
 
 A variety of the 2sch is recorded with 
 a dot after the numeral "2" in the right 
 lower corner but what its position was 
 in the sheet I am unable to say. A die 
 and plate for a 3 schilling stamp was 
 also preoared but this was never used. 
 
 The dies were finished by M. Claudius 
 and the blocks necessary for the print- 
 ing plates were ready by October 20th, 
 1850. As a precaution against counter- 
 feiting somewhat elaborate methods 
 were used in manufacturing these 
 stamps and on this point I cannot do 
 better than quote from the excellent de- 
 
 scription provided by M. Rosenkranz 
 viz : 
 
 The stamps were separated from 
 one another by a space of 1 mm., and 
 were produced by three successive 
 processes. 
 
 The sheet first received an impres- 
 sion from a plate of 80 cliches of an 
 underprint, of an Eagle in light blue 
 or light red according to the value. 
 This Eagle was engraved on steel, and 
 from the original die two lots of 
 eighty cliches were prepared and ar- 
 ranged together in the form in which 
 the stamps would appear on the sheets, 
 thus making up two plates, one for 
 the blue stamps and one for the red, 
 or 160 cliches in all. 
 
 The second die contained the de- 
 sign of the stamp, and as the same 
 Eagle appears again upon this, the 
 Eagle was transferred to a steel die 
 in such a way that the impression 
 from the second plate should fit ac- 
 curately upon that of the first. This 
 die was etched, and upon it were en- 
 graved the lines of the background 
 and the inscriptions 'POST' and 
 'SCHILLING,' while the four small 
 ovals in the corners were left blank. 
 Then 160 cliches were produced from 
 this steel die and were made up into 
 plates of eighty, and finally there were 
 engraved upon each cliche the letters 
 'S' and 'H' in the upper ovals and the 
 figures '!' or '2' in the lower. There 
 are thus eighty different types of each 
 of the tzvo values. These additions 
 were made by means of punches, 
 which impressed the outlines of the let- 
 ters and figures into the comparative- 
 ly soft metal of the cliches, and the 
 surrounding parts of the ovals were 
 then cut away, for the differences are 
 recognizable but exceedingly minute. 
 I have never seen an entire sheet, but 
 I have examined some fairly large 
 blocks of stamps which enable me to 
 affirm that this engraving was not 
 done upon a few cliches made from 
 the original die, and then the remain- 
 ing cliches produced by reduplicating 
 these matrices, but that the engraving 
 was done separately upon each of the 
 eighty. 
 
 * * * * 
 
 Although excellent " register was 
 kept in the printing, close examination 
 shows that here and there the colour 
 of the first printing appears at one 
 side or the other of the central oval. 
 
 The third printing produced the em- 
 bossed Arms in the oval in the center. 
 The Coat of Arms was* engraved in 
 relief on a slightly convex steel die, 
 and from this eighty brass cliches 
 
were struck, which were burnished 
 and then arranged in a plate for the 
 embossing. The steel die in relief 
 was made somewhat convex as other- 
 wise the central design would not im- 
 press itself sufficiently clearly in the 
 brass cliches. All the stamps, both 1 
 and 2 schilling, were embossed with 
 the same plate. The Arms are not 
 always set exactly in the middle of 
 the oval ; at times they are too much 
 to the right or left. Even in the 
 case of unsevered copies the position 
 of the Arms within the oval is not 
 always the same ; it must therefore 
 be supposed that when the brass 
 cliches were soldered together, suf- 
 ficient care was not taken in their 
 exact arrangement. 
 
 The printers were under contract to 
 furnish two millions of stamps in all 
 and these were supplied in four con- 
 signments as follows : 
 Nov. 1, 185080,000 Isch, 40,000 2sch 
 Nov. 25. 185020,000 Isch, 20,000 2sch 
 Dec. 24, 1850100,000 Isch, 100,000 2sch 
 Feb. 14, 18511,100,000 Isch, 540,000 2sch 
 
 Altogether, therefore, 1,300,000 of the 
 1 schilling blue were printed and 
 700,000 of the 2 schilling rose. The cost 
 of the dies, matrices, and other materials 
 required was 1,000 marks (about $290), 
 while the charge for printing, pressing, 
 gumming and packing was lOsch per 
 1,000 which amounted to 1,250 marks or 
 about $360.00. 
 
 Although so many stamps were 
 printed, a comparatively small number 
 were sold and of these not all seem to 
 have been used. According to the offi- 
 cial records stamps to a total face value 
 of 1,599 marks 2 schilling were sold 
 and 8,701 letters were franked with 
 the stamps. This accounts for the 
 greater rarity of these stamps in used 
 condition. 
 
 Reference List. 
 Nov. 15th, 1851. Silk thread paper. Imperf. 
 
 1. Isch blue, Scott's No. 1 or la. 
 
 2. 2sch rose, Scott's No. 2 or 2a. 
 
 of l/10sch would be necessary, before 
 these could be issued the insurrection 
 was suppressed by the Danes. The Pro- 
 visional Government was dissolved on 
 February 1st, 1851, and a law was passed 
 on April 18th following according to 
 which Danish postage stamps were to be 
 used in the duchies. The revolutionary 
 stamps were, however, permitted to be 
 used until the end of August when the 
 large remainders were sent to Copen- 
 hagen, together with the dies, plates and 
 all postal documents. No special stamps 
 were used during this period of Danish 
 rule. 
 
 Period B Danish Government. 
 
 Although the Provisional Government 
 passed a law amending the postal rates 
 under which new stamps of the value 
 
 Period C Schleswig; Governed by Com- 
 missioners appointed by Aus- 
 tria and Prussia. 
 
 Schleswig and Holstein being re- 
 garded as belonging to the German Con- 
 federation, the Congress of Frankfurt 
 in 1863 authorised Austria and Prussia 
 as the two principal German powers to 
 force Denmark to evacuate the two 
 duchies. Denmark refused to be co- 
 erced and the war of 1864 resulted. 
 Denmark was badly defeated and 
 the two duchies thus fell into the hands 
 of the victors. The allied forces 
 of Austria and Prussia occupied Flens- 
 burg on February 7th, 1864, and no 
 time was lost in superseding the Danish 
 postage stamps. A notice was published 
 from Flensburg on March 14th, 1864, an- 
 nouncing the issue of a 4sch stamp for 
 Schleswig, viz : 
 
 To replace the postage stamps in- 
 scribed in the Danish language hither- 
 to employed in the Duchy of Schles- 
 wis:, new postage stamps with the in- 
 scription "HERZOGTHUM SCHLES- 
 WIG" (Duchy of Schleswig) will be 
 put into circulation. The post offices 
 in the Duchy of Schleswig will at 
 first sell only stamps of the value of 
 4 schillinge printed in rose on white 
 paper. 
 
 Shortly afterwards this notice was 
 followed by another announcing the is- 
 sue of the l^sch stamps on the follow- 
 ing April 1st. The reason for the issue 
 of the two stamps is that the first of 
 them was in Danish currency, and was 
 objected to on that account. The new 
 one in Hamburg currency was at once 
 ordered to take its place ; but not being 
 ready in time the 4sch stamp was is- 
 sued and continued in use for only six- 
 teen days. This value is consequently 
 much the scarcer used. 
 
 Both stamps were manufactured at 
 the State Printing Works in Berlin, and 
 are similar to each other in design. 
 Tin's shows the numerals of value in 
 
large figures on an upright oval ground 
 of solid color. This is enclosed within 
 an engine turned oval band inscribed 
 "HERZOGTH. SCHLESWIG" at top, 
 and "SCHILLINGE" (for the 4sch) or 
 "SCHILLING" (for the l^sch) at the 
 base. The stamps were embossed in 
 color on white wove paper and were 
 printed in sheets of 100 arranged in ten 
 rows of ten. 
 
 For some unexplained reason Gibbons' 
 catalogue gives 1865 as the date of issue 
 of these two stamps. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1864. No wmk. Rouletted 11%. 
 
 3. 4sch carmine, Scott's No. 13. 
 
 4. IJ^sch green, Scott's No. 9. 
 
 Period D Holstein; Governed by Com- 
 missioners appointed by Prus- 
 sia and Austria. 
 
 FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 On February 18th, 1864, the following 
 notice was issued from Kiel by the 
 joint Commissioners of Austria and 
 Prussia relating to the issue of new 
 stamps : 
 
 From the first of the following 
 month new stamps can be obtained at 
 all post offices in the Duchies of Hol- 
 stein and Lauenburg. These new 
 stamps will be printed like those in 
 use at present in blue, and of the 
 value of 1^4sch courant or 4sch Dan- 
 ish currency. 
 
 From the same date Danish stamps 
 cannot be used any longer for the 
 franking of letters in both Duchies. 
 All post offices are hereby instructed 
 to forward to headquarters at the be- 
 ginning of next month all such stamps 
 they may have in stock. 
 
 All persons having such stamps in 
 their possession and wishing to ex- 
 change same for new stamps, must ap- 
 ply to the post offices before the first 
 of next month. 
 
 The design of the new stamps ob- 
 viously owes its inspiration to the 1853 
 design for Denmark. In the center is 
 a circular uncolored space containing the 
 value "VA SCHILLING CRT." in 
 
 three lines. This is enclosed within a 
 square frame having posthorns in each 
 of the four corners. In the frame are 
 the letters "HRZGL" at the left; 
 "POST" at the top; and "FRM" at the 
 right. This is an abbreviation for "Her- 
 zogliche Post Freimarke" meaning "Du- 
 cal Postage Stamp." At the bottom of 
 the frame is "4 S. R. M." i. e. "4 Skil- 
 ling Reichs Miinze" (4 skilling Reichs 
 Mark or Danish currency). The span- 
 drels are filled with wavy lines. 
 
 The stamps were lithographed by 
 Kobner and Co., of Altona, in sheets of 
 100 in ten rows of ten. Before printing, 
 the paper was covered with an under- 
 print of wavy lines, of a grayish color, 
 in metallic oxide which only becomes 
 visible by chemical action. The fumes 
 of sulpheretted hydrogen will cause the 
 under-print to show. In the upper mar- 
 gin the inscription "HERZOGLICHE 
 POST FREIMARKEN" appears in 
 the wavy lines and in the central portion 
 of each stamp a capital "P" was also 
 left clear of the under-print. There are 
 three types of this stamp, printed from 
 different stones, which appeared in the 
 order in which they are described, viz : 
 
 Type I. The wavy lines in the span- 
 drels are close together ; the lettering 
 is small and there are periods after the 
 letters at the sides; and "SCHILLING" 
 is in large type. 
 
 Type II. The wavy lines in the span- 
 drels are coarser and farther apart ; the 
 lettering is larger and there are periods 
 after the letters at the sides; and the 
 word "SCHILLING" is in small type. 
 
 Type III. The wavy lines in the 
 spandrels are similar to those of Type 
 II ; the lettering is still larger and thick- 
 er and there are no periods after the 
 letters at the sides ; and "SCHILLING" 
 has no dots above the two letters "I." 
 
 The stamps were printed on white 
 wove paper and they were issued in im- 
 perforate condition, though both types 
 I and III are known rouletted. As the 
 rouletting was, however, entirely unoffi- 
 cial the philatelic interest of these vari- 
 eties is slight. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 March 1864. Imperforate. 
 5. Ij^sch blue (three types), Scott's Nos, 
 15, 16, or 17. 
 
 90 
 
SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 Early in April, 1864, another official 
 notice was issued from Kiel to the ef- 
 fect that, as the duchies of Holstein and 
 Lauenburg formed a territory of the 
 German-Austrian Postal Union, the 
 stamps would have to be altered and in- 
 stead of being inscribed with an equiva- 
 lent value in Danish currency they 
 would have the value denoted according 
 to the currency of Lauenburg. To give 
 a little more time to get rid of the stock 
 in hand of the former issue, the stamps 
 of the new issue were not placed in 
 circulation until about the end of May, 
 1864. 
 
 The design is somewhat similar to 
 that of the preceding issue, but the num- 
 erals of value in the center are much 
 larger and double-lined. Also, instead 
 of being confined within a circle the 
 value is in a square frame with "SCHIL- 
 LING CRT." in an upturned curve be- 
 low and with small ornaments in each 
 of the angles. In the right hand side 
 of the frame the lettering, indicating 
 Freimarken, now consists of "F R M R 
 K," thus balancing the five letters on the 
 opposite side. At the base the inscrip- 
 tion reads "lJ/ S L M" (Schilling 
 Lauenburg Miinze), that is "schilling 
 of Lauenburg currency." The under- 
 
 (dated March 31st, 1865) stated their 
 further use would not be permitted. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 May 1864. Lithographed, Rouletted 8. 
 blue, Scott's No. 18. 
 
 print, consisting of a pattern of diagonal 
 lines, is in pink and, as in the previous 
 stamps, the letter "P" shows in the 
 centre of each stamp clear of the under- 
 print. The stamps, like the former is- 
 sue, were lithographed in sheets of 100 
 by Kobner and Co., of Altona. They 
 are rouletted in line about 8. In pay- 
 ment of postage to foreign countries 
 this stamp is considered the equivalent 
 of 1 silbergroschen, although the sil- 
 bergroschen was really worth 1^ schil- 
 ling. 
 
 The local rate at Altona and Kiel was 
 y$ schilling and as no stamp of this 
 value was provided for the use of the 
 public an official edict was published on 
 November 22nd, 1864, permitting the 
 ]^sch stamp to be cut into halves, diag- 
 onally, and each portion then served for 
 the prepayment of the local rate. These 
 bi-sected stamps are, therefore, quite 
 legitimate provisionals. They were al- 
 lowed to be used for a period of about 
 four months until an official notice 
 
 Period E Schleswig and Holstein: 
 
 Governed by Prussia and 
 
 Austria Combined. 
 
 In the year 1865, prior to the Conven- 
 tion of Gastein, stamps were issued un- 
 der the authority of Austria and Prus- 
 sia for the whole territory comprised 
 in the duchies. One of the chief rea- 
 sons for this step was that of finance, 
 considerable economy being effected by 
 having one instead of two postal ad- 
 ministrations. At ' the same time the 
 head office was removed to Flensburg, 
 this place being considered the most 
 centrally situated. 
 
 The first stamp to appear bore the 
 facial value of l /& schilling. This stamp, 
 like those previously issued for Schles- 
 wig, was manufactured at the State 
 Printing Works, in Berlin. The design 
 is similar to the Schleswig stamps of 
 1864 but with the upper inscription al- 
 tered to "SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN;' 
 
 and the lower one to "SCHILLING." 
 The stamps were printed in sheets of 
 100, in ten rows of ten, upon white 
 wove paper, and were rouletted in line 
 about IV/2. This value was intended 
 for local letters and superseded the 
 split stamps which had been allowed to 
 be used previously. It was issued on 
 February 22nd, 1865. 
 
 On June 1st, following, another value 
 of similar design but of the value of 
 1^4 schilling was issued. 
 
 The IJ^sch, not being the exact equiv- 
 alent of 1 silbergroschen, a decree was 
 published on August 5th, 1865, author- 
 izing the issue of l^sch stamps the 
 exact value of a silbergroschen. It was 
 stated, at the same time, that for the 
 future this value must be "affixed to all 
 letters addresed to places within the 
 German-Austrian Postal Union. This 
 stamp differs a little from the two pre- 
 ceding values for the whole of the value 
 is now denoted in the center, viz : \ l /z 
 SCHILLING (=lsgr). This occupies 
 three lines and in the lower part of 
 the inscribed band a star takes the place 
 of the word "SCHILLING." 
 
 On the 30th of June, 1865, the duchies 
 concluded a convention with Denmark 
 fixing the rate on single letters to that 
 country at 2 schilling. This led to the 
 issue of another stamp, similar in de- 
 sign to the ^asch, but with a large 
 numeral "2." in the center. 
 
 91 
 
In September, 1865, another addition 
 to the set was made a 4sch stamp being 
 issued as representing the 3 silbergrps- 
 chen rate within the German Austrian 
 Postal Union. This is similar in de- 
 sign to the l^sch and shows the value 
 in schilling and its equivalent in silber- 
 groschen in the central oval. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1865. No. wmk. Rouletted Iiy 2 . 
 
 7. J^sch carmine, Scott's No. 3. 
 
 8. IJ-^sch green, Scott's No. 4. 
 
 9. l^sch lilac, Scott's No. 5. 
 
 10. 2sch ultramarine, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 11. 4sch bistre, Scott's No. 7. 
 
 Period F Schleswig Governed by 
 Prussia. 
 
 Shortly after the issue of the 4sch 
 of the last series disagreements arose 
 between Prussia and Austria. These 
 were patched uo and resulted in the 
 Convention of Gastein by the terms of 
 which Schleswig was awarded to Prus- 
 sia, while Austria received Holstein and 
 Lauenburg. The natural result was 
 that separate series for the two duchies 
 were again required. It was also in- 
 tended to issue special stamps for 
 Lauenburg but this fell through as 
 Prussia purchased this territory from 
 Austria for $1,411,250 and amalgamated 
 it with Schleswig. 
 
 The new stamps for Schleswig were 
 issued on November 1st, 1865, the de- 
 nominations being exactly the same as 
 those previously in use. The designs 
 were similar to those of the Schleswig- 
 Holstein issue of 1865 but with the up- 
 per inscription altered to "HERZOGTH. 
 SCHLESWIG." 
 
 These stamps, like those of the pre- 
 ceding series, were manufactured at the 
 State Printing Works in Berlin. They 
 were printed in sheets of 100 on white 
 wove paper, and were rouletted 1154. 
 
 The l^sch varies considerably in 
 color being found in numerous shades 
 of lilac, mauve and purple, and also in 
 an almost pure grey. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Nov. 1st, 1865. Rouletted 11^. 
 
 12. i^sch green, Scott's No. 8. 
 
 13. l^sch lilac, Scott's No. 10 or lOa. 
 
 14. l^sch rose, Scott's No. 11. 
 
 15. 2sch ultramarine, Scott's No. 12. 
 
 16. 4sch greybrgwn, Scott's No. 14, 
 
 Period G Holstein: Governed by Aus- 
 tria. 
 
 FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 Co-incident with the issue of separate 
 stamps for Schleswig a separate series 
 was also issued for Holstein. An offi- 
 cial notice, dated from Kiel, October 
 5th, 1865, informed the public that the 
 series heretofore in common use in both 
 duchies would be replaced by a new 
 series on November 1st following and 
 that thereafter only the new stamps 
 would be accepted for postal service 
 within the Duchy of Holstein. 
 
 The values in the new set corre- 
 sponded with those previously in use 
 and were also similar to those in the 
 series provided for Schleswig. The 
 five values fall into two types: the l / 2 , 
 \ l /4 and 2sch being of one design and 
 the l l /3 and 4sch of another. 
 
 In the first of these the numerals of 
 values are shown in the center on an 
 oval of solid color while the inscrip- 
 tions on the surrounding frame are in 
 white letters on a colored ground. 
 These inscriptions are "HERZOGTH. 
 HOLSTETN" in the upper part, and 
 "SCHILLING" in the lower, small stars 
 separating them from each other. 
 
 The design for the 1^ and 4sch is 
 exactly like that employed in the previ- 
 ous series for the combined use of the 
 duchies, the value in the center having 
 its equivalent value shown in silber- 
 groschen. 
 
 The dies were engraved by M. Claud- 
 ius and the stamps were printed in 
 sheets of 100 by Messrs. Kobner & Co. 
 of Altona. They were printed on white 
 wove paper and were rouletted 8. The 
 stamps were embossed but the relief is 
 very poor and much inferior to the 
 stamps of similar type printed by the 
 State Printing Works, Berlin. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Nov. 1st, 1865. Rouletted 8. 
 
 17. '/2sch pale green, Scott's No. 19. 
 
 18. l^sch pale mauve, Scott's No. 20, 
 
 19. l^sch carmine, Scott's No. 23. 
 
 20. 2sch pale blue, Scott's No. 21. 
 
 21. 4sch bistre, Scott's No. 25, 
 
SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 The design of the stamps with in- 
 scriptions in white on color did not 
 meet with the approval of the ^author- 
 ities though they accepted them. When, 
 however, new supplies of the 1J4 and 2 
 schilling were required in March and 
 August, 1866, respectively, the opportun- 
 ity was taken of changing the design. 
 In this second issue, therefore, the in- 
 scriptions are in color on an engine 
 turned band. These values were not em- 
 bossed, though, like the similar values 
 of the first issue, they were printed by 
 Messrs. Kobner and Co. The stamps 
 were printed in sheets of 100 on white 
 wove paper and though normally roul- 
 letted 8 both values may be found rou- 
 letted 7. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1866. Typographed. Rouletted 8. 
 22. l l / 4 sch mauve, Scott's No. 22. 
 2::. 2sch blue, Scott's No. 24. 
 
 Period H. Schleswig and Holstein 
 United with Prussia. 
 
 The division of the duchies between 
 Austria and Prussia did not entirely 
 allay the difficulties between the two 
 and after a time strained relations en- 
 sued and ultimately war resulted. The 
 war was of short duration and by the 
 Treaty of Prague, of August 23rd, 1866, 
 Prussia had control of both duchies. 
 Xo special stamps were issued, how- 
 ever. For a time each duchy used its 
 own special stamps as described above, 
 and then, on November 5th, 1866, a 
 circular was issued from the postal de- 
 partment notifying that the stamps of 
 
 both duchies could be used indiscrimi- 
 nately. The remaining stocks of the 
 joint issue for the two duchies (as de- 
 scribed under Period E) were also put 
 into circulation again. When formal in- 
 corporation with Prussia was completed 
 on December 24th, 1866, the stamps of 
 that State were likewise available for 
 use anywhere within the duchies so 
 that from that time, until the stamps of 
 the North German Confederation were 
 issued on January 1st, 1868, the inhabi- 
 tants of Schleswig and Holstein had 
 ample choice as to the kind of stamps 
 they might use. 
 
 REMAINDERS. 
 
 When the special stamps were super- 
 seded by the general issue for the North 
 German Confederation a small stock of 
 most values of the series for Schles- 
 wig and Holstein as well as of the issue 
 for the combined use of both duchies 
 remained and these were later acquired 
 by M. Moens. The quantities of the 
 several varieties were as follows: 
 
 Schleswig, 1864 Issue. 
 \ schilling 173. 
 4 schilling 21,000. 
 
 ,. 
 
 Schleswig-Holstein, 1865 Issue. 
 1 A, 1%, V/3, 2 and 4 schilling, 20,000 of 
 
 each. 
 
 Schlesivig, 1865 Issue. 
 
 20,000 2sch, 20,000 
 
 Ij4sch, 20,000 4sch, 20,000 
 l^sch, 20,000 
 
 Holstein, 1865 Issue. 
 
 ^sch, 1,000 I 2sch, 13,000 
 
 l^sch, none 4sch, 20,000 
 
 7,000 I 
 
WURTEMBERG. 
 
 The kingdom of Wurtemberg lies be- 
 tween Baden and Bavaria and touches 
 Switzerland (Lake of Constance) on 
 the south. It entirely surrounds Hohen- 
 zollern, in which state, as well as in 
 Baden, it owns several enclaves. Its 
 total area is 7529 square miles and it 
 has a population of about three millions. 
 It is drained for the most part by the 
 Neckar and its tributaries, while the 
 Danube crosses the country towards the 
 south. The most striking geographical 
 feature is the Swabian Alb, the most 
 characteristic portion of the South Ger- 
 man Jura. The Black Forest borders 
 the kingdom on the west. On the whole 
 the surface lies high (3000 to 1500 feet), 
 the greater part belonging to one or 
 other of the German plateau systems; 
 but there are many valleys, all of great 
 fertility. Agriculture is the principal 
 industry; wine and fruit are produced 
 in large quantity; and market gardening 
 is actively pursued at Stuttgart, Ulm, 
 Heilbronn and elsewhere. Iron and 
 salt are mined and there are numerous 
 mineral springs scattered over the whole 
 kingdom. There is a good deal of man- 
 ufacturing industry of a varied char- 
 acter, the more important branches pro- 
 ducing iron, gold, and silver goods, 
 cutlery, fire-arms, machinery, scientific 
 and musical instruments, chemicals, 
 prints and books, confectionery and beer. 
 The capitol of the kingdom is Stuttgart. 
 
 The bulk of the people (69 per cent.) 
 are Protestants ; the Roman Catholics, 
 who have a bishop at Rottenburg, 
 amount to 30 per cent., and there are 
 about 12,000 Jews. The state university 
 is at Tubingen, and there is a polytech- 
 nical high school at Stuttgart. Educa- 
 tion stands at an exceptionally high gen- 
 eral level, even for Germany; there is 
 not a single individual in the kingdom 
 over ten years of age who is unable to 
 read and write. Wurtemberg has four 
 votes in the Federal Council, and re- 
 turns seventeen deputies to the Imperial 
 Diet. The Wurtemberg troops consti- 
 tute the 13th Army Corps of the German 
 Army, having a total strength of about 
 24,000. The king is a hereditary consti- 
 tutional sovereign and he is assisted by 
 two houses of parliament. The national 
 receipts and expenditures balance at 
 about $17,500,000 per annum, while the 
 national debt, nearly all incurred for 
 railways, stands at about $110,000,000. 
 
 The territory now called Wurtemberg, 
 then occupied by the Suevi, was con- 
 quered by the Romans in the first cen- 
 tury, A. D. In the third century it was 
 settled by the Germanic Alemanni and 
 
 they, in turn were subdued by the 
 Franks. In the 9th century it was in- 
 corporated in the duchy of Swabia, Ul- 
 rich (1241-65) being the first count. In 
 1495 the reigning count was made a 
 duke of the empire. Duke Frederick II, 
 (1797-1816) on going over to the French 
 was rewarded with 850 square miles of 
 new territory and an addition of 125,000 
 subjects, as well as the dignity of Elec- 
 tor (1802). In Napoleon's war against 
 Austria (1805) he sided with the French, 
 and his troops fought with them down 
 to 1813 ; in return for which he acquired 
 the kingly title and an increase of terri- 
 tory which more than doubled the num- 
 ber of his subjects. Throwing in her 
 lot with Austria in 1866, Wurtemberg 
 was beaten at Konniggratz and Tauber- 
 bischofsheim, and her king (Charles, 
 1864-91) was compelled to purchase 
 peace from Prussia at the cost of an 
 indemnity of $4,000,000. 
 
 ITS POSTAL HISTORY. 
 
 From an early period the postal service 
 of Wurtemberg was, with some inter- 
 ruptions, in the hands of the princely 
 House of Thurn and Taxis, but by an 
 agreement dated March 22nd, 1851, the 
 Government of Wurtemberg liberated 
 itself by purchasing the postal privileges 
 from July 1st of that year for the sum 
 of 1,300,000 florins (about $525,000). It 
 then proceeded to form its own adminis- 
 tration and to join the German-Austrian 
 Postal Union, established by the conven- 
 tion of April 6th, 1850. As one of the 
 provisions of this convention required 
 the adoption of postage stamps, prepara- 
 tions were immediately made for pro- 
 viding them, and by a notice of October 
 7th, 1851, the public were informed that 
 stamps of 1, 3, 6 and 9 kreuzer would 
 be on sale at the various post offices on 
 the 12th of that month, and that their 
 use would commence from the 15th of 
 the same month. In design these stamps 
 are very similar to those of Baden, is- 
 sued a few months earlier. All values 
 were printed in black on colored papers, 
 the design, common to all, mainly fea- 
 turing large numerals to denote the re- 
 spective denominations. In December, 
 1856, the numeral design was suppressed 
 in favor of a new one showing the 
 Arms of the kingdom. The values were 
 the same as before with an 18kr stamp 
 in addition, and all were printed in color 
 on white paper, the paper containing 
 orange colored silk threads like the 
 
 94 
 
"Dickinson" paper employed in Great 
 Britain. In June, 1858, the stamps be- 
 gan to appear on plain white wove paper, 
 without silk threads, while about No- 
 vember, 1859, perforation was^ intro- 
 duced. The next change, occurring in 
 February, 1861, was a somewhat minor 
 one affecting the paper which was much 
 thinner than before. In 1862, the 1, 3, 6 
 and 9 kreuzer were issued with a per- 
 foration gauging 10 instead of 13^ as 
 before, while in 1863-64 all denomina- 
 tions appeared in new colors conform- 
 ing to the color scheme adopted by the 
 German-Austrian Postal Union. In 1865 
 the 1, 3 and 6kr were issued with roulette 
 instead of perforation, the 9kr followed 
 in 1867 and the 18kr in 1868 and in the 
 latter year a new value, 7kr, also 
 rouletted, was added to the series. In 
 1868 the Government decided to abandon 
 the typographic embossing process as it 
 was foui.'d too expensive, especially in 
 the case of the lower denominations. 
 Ordinary typographic printing was 
 adopted and with the new process a new 
 design was introduced. In this the main 
 theme was a large numeral in the cen- 
 ter, to denote the value, surrounded by 
 suitable inscriptions and ornamentation. 
 A post office notice, dated November 
 27th, 1868, stated that from January 1st, 
 1869, the new 1, 3 and 7kr stamps would 
 be issued according as the stocks of the 
 former issues were exhausted. On May 
 3rd, 1869, another value of 14kr was 
 added to the series ; on December 1st, 
 1872, a 2kr stamp was issued ; and on 
 January 15th, 1873, another stamp of the 
 value of 9 kreuzer appeared. About the 
 same time a 70 kreuzer stamp of the 
 type of 1856 was issued, the object of 
 which was to prepay heavy letters. 
 Towards the end of 1874 the system of 
 rouletting the stamps ceased, a new per- 
 forating machine, with a gauge of 11 
 by 11 y 2 , having been purchased. The 
 only stamps of the 1869-73 series per- 
 forated by this machine were those of 
 the 1 kreuzer, which was issued in No- 
 vember, 1874, as before it was necessary 
 to print any of the other denominations 
 the design was altered. 
 
 In 1874 it was decided to change the 
 currency, which up to then was that of 
 the florin of 60 kreuzer, to the Imperial 
 currency of marks and pfennige, and 
 January 1st, 1875, was decided on as the 
 date upon which the change should take 
 effect. A Post-office Notice dated De- 
 cember 23rd, 1874, announced that a 
 stamp of 20 pfennige of a new design 
 would be issued on the following Jan- 
 uary 1st to ' take the place of the 7 
 kreuzer, as soon as the stock of that 
 value in the various post offices was ex- 
 hausted. Prominent numerals are again 
 
 the chief feature of the design but in 
 place of "WURTTEMBERG," the in- 
 scription is "K.WURTT.POST". On 
 May 28th, 1875, a further notice from 
 the post office announced the discontin- 
 uance of the kreuzer series from the 1st 
 of July following and the issue of a 
 new series with values in pfennige. The 
 new stamps were 3, 5, 10, 25 and 50 
 pfennige and 2 marks, the latter taking 
 the place of the 70kr stamp. The 50pf 
 as originally issued was printed in grey 
 but by virtue of an agreement made 
 with the Imperial Post Office at Berlin, 
 its color was changed to grey-green in 
 February, 1878. In November, 1881, a 5 
 mark stamp was added to the series, this 
 being similar in design to the rest of the 
 set except that the central portion was 
 uncolored and the numeral of value was 
 printed in this space in black by a second 
 operation. On January 1st, 1883, a 
 similar change in the color of the num- 
 eral was extended to the 2 mark stamp. 
 Early in 1890 the colors of the 3, 5, 25 
 and 50pf stamps were changed and in 
 1893 a further addition was made to the 
 series by the issue of a 2 pfennige stamp. 
 In 1900 two new values 30 and 40 pfen- 
 nige respectively were issued, these be- 
 ing like the mark denominations with 
 the numerals in black on a plain ground. 
 On April 1st, 1902, the kingdom of Wur- 
 temberg ceased the issue of its own 
 separate stamps, those for the German 
 Empire superseding them. 
 
 In addition to its stamps for ordinary 
 use, Wurtemberg has issued Municipal 
 Service and Official stamps, both these 
 special series still continuing in use. 
 The Municipal Service stamps were first 
 issued in July, 1875, there being two de- 
 nominations, 5 and 10 pfennige. The 
 first of these was for use on the official 
 correspondence of municipalities, irre- 
 spective of weight, and the lOpf was 
 for use on money orders and parcels. 
 In 1880 the color of the 5pf was changed 
 from mauve to green. In 1897 a change 
 in the postal rates led to the issue of a 
 3pf stamp and in 1900 other regulations 
 led to the issue of 2 and 25 pfennige 
 values. In 1906 all five values were 
 overprinted with the dates "1806-1906," 
 surmounted by a crown in commemora- 
 tion of the centenary of Wurtemberg's 
 being raised to a Kingdom. In 1906-7 all 
 five values were printed on paper water- 
 marked with a design of crosses and 
 circles and at the same time 20 and 50 
 pfennige values were added to the set. 
 
 Until April 1st, 1881, the correspond- 
 ence of the ministerial offices was con- 
 veyed free of charge, but on the sup- 
 pression of this privilege a series of 
 stamps of special design was issued for 
 use on official correspondence. The 
 
values at first issued were 3, 5, 10, 20, 25 
 and 50 pfennige, but in 1882 a 1 mark 
 stamp was added. In 1890 the colors of 
 the 3, 5 and 25pf and 1 mark were changed 
 to conform with those of the regular 
 series. The color of the 50pf was also 
 changed shortly afterwards and in 1900 
 a 2pf stamp was added to the set. In 
 1903, 30 and 40 pfennige stamps were 
 issued in colors corresponding to those 
 of the ordinary stamps of 1900, while in 
 1906 all denominations were overprinted 
 in a similar manner to the Municipal 
 Service stamps. During 1906-7 all de- 
 nominations appeared on the new paper 
 watermarked with circles and crosses. 
 
 THE FIRST ISSUE. 
 
 The Government of Wurtemberg ob- 
 tained control of its own postal service 
 in 1851 when, as I have already shown 
 in my preceding notes, it was purchased 
 from the Prince of Thurn and Taxis. 
 The first series of stamps consisting of 
 1, 3, 6 and 9 kreuzer values were placed 
 on sale to the public on the 12th Octo- 
 ber, 1851, though their use for postal 
 purposes did not commence until three 
 days later. In April, 1852, a new de- 
 nomination 18 kreuzer was added to 
 the set and as the design is similar to 
 that of the lower values, all can best be 
 treated as one set. To quote the late 
 Mr. W. A. S. Westoby: "The resem- 
 blance between the stamps of the first 
 series of Wurtemberg and those of the 
 first series of Baden is so remarkable as 
 to leave no doubt that the Government 
 of Wurtemberg availed itself of the re- 
 sults of the investigations made by that 
 of Baden previously to the issue of the 
 first series for this latter State, on May 
 1st, 1851. The dies were similarly con- 
 structed, the inscriptions were similar, 
 mutatis mutandis, and the stamps were 
 printed on colored paper. The matrix 
 die was composite, the numeral of value 
 in the center being within a frame, al- 
 most square, of 9^ mm. placed angle 
 upwards within a frame measuring ex- 
 ternally 22^ by 22 mm. and internally 
 15^2 by 15 mm. and carrying the follow- 
 ing inscriptions on tablets : In the upper 
 one, running the whole width, was 
 'Wurttemberg,' and on a similar tablet at 
 the foot was 'Freimarke/ with an orna- 
 ment at each end resembling a vine 
 branch with the two bunches of grapes, 
 the lower one of which was incomplete. 
 On the tablet on the left side was'Deutsch- 
 Oestr. Postverein,' and on another on 
 
 the right side 'Vertrag v. 6 April 1850. 
 These were set up in movable type, the 
 upper and lower ones in ordinary Ger- 
 man lower case characters with capital 
 initials, and those on the sides in diamond 
 type, as in those of Baden. The spaces 
 between the rectangle carrying the num- 
 eral of value and the inner line of the 
 frame were filled in with arabesque or- 
 naments." 
 
 The design is similar for all values 
 with the exception of the central portion 
 carrying the numerals. In the case of 
 the 1 and 6 kreuzer the background is 
 composed of lines running parallel to 
 the sides of the rectangle making a de- 
 sign of small squares; in the 3 kreuzer, 
 the ground consists of small ovals; in 
 the 9 kreuzer the ground is composed 
 of small circles resembling lace work; 
 while on the 18 kreuzer the background 
 is formed of horizontal lines. 
 
 The dies were engraved at the Mint 
 in Stuttgart, where the electrotypes com- 
 posing the printing plates were also 
 made. The printing was done under the 
 direction of the post office, in typo- 
 graphic presses, the sheets consisting of 
 sixty stamps arranged in ten rows of six. 
 All denominations were printed in black 
 on colored papers. The paper was ob- 
 tained locally and while it is always wove, 
 it varies considerably in thickness and 
 most values provide numerous shades. 
 The stamps were all issued imperforate. 
 
 Mr. Westoby tells us that, "It may be 
 noted that occasionally one or both of 
 the full stops are wanting after the 'v' 
 or the '6' in the inscription in the right 
 tablet of the 3 kreuzer, and there is a 
 difference in the position of the stop 
 after the word 'Postverein' in the left 
 tablet. The first of these is probably 
 due to imperfections in the moulds from 
 which the electrotypes were made, while 
 the second points to the making of new 
 plates." 
 
 Mr. Robert Ehrenbach, writing in the 
 London Philatelist for August, 1893, 
 points out that differences in the posi- 
 tion of the period after "Postverein" 
 may be found in all values except the 
 18kr. There are three types in all. In 
 Type I the period is between the second 
 and third points of the zigzag lines of 
 the border; in type II it is exactly over 
 the second point; and in type III it is 
 exactly above the third point. All three 
 types are found on the 3 kreuzer, types 
 I and II are found in the 1, 6 and 9 
 kreuzer, while the ISkr is known only 
 with the first type. Whether the varie- 
 ties are found side by side on the same 
 sheet or are the distinguishing points 
 of separate plates we are not told. 
 
20 ii r H r m b erg. 
 
 crcnce List. 
 
 1851-52. Imperf. 
 
 1. Ikr black on buff, Scott's No. 1. 
 L'. :;kr black on yellow, Scott's No. 2 or 3. 
 :;. t;kr black on green, Scott's No. 4 or 4a. 
 4. !>kr black on rose, Scott's No. f> or fia. 
 .".. iskr black on lilac, Scott's No. 6. 
 
 THE SECOND ISSUE. 
 
 Although it is obvious that the design 
 of Wurtemberg's first stamps was in- 
 spired by the numeral series for Baden, 
 it was not long befoie more original 
 ideas prevailed and an entirely new 
 series of stamps was issued. The new 
 design shows the Arms of the kingdom, 
 with supporters and motto, embossed 
 in colorless relief on a ground work 
 of color covered with white horizontal 
 loops. This is contained within a rec- 
 tangular frame, measuring 22^ mm. 
 square, which is inscribed "FREI- 
 MARKE" at the top and with the value 
 on each of the other three sides. The 
 inscriptions are all in Roman capitals 
 and the design is completed by the ad- 
 dition of small six-rayed stars in each 
 of the angles. An excellent description of 
 the Arms design appeared in Gibbons' 
 Stamp Weekly for September 5th, 1908, 
 which I cannot do better than repro- 
 duce : 
 
 In 1817, King William of Wur- 
 temberg simplified the Arms of the 
 kingdom, the proper arms of the royal 
 house having become too complicated 
 through additions at various times. 
 The arms now consist of an oval 
 shield divided into two parts or fields, 
 surrounded by a wreath of oak leaves, 
 in gold, surmounted by a gold helmet 
 bearing a royal crown. 
 
 The two fields are: 
 
 On the right, for Wurtemberg, three 
 stag's antlers, in black, placed one 
 upon the other, on a golden field; the 
 upper antlers having each four points, 
 the lower one but three. These are 
 the original arms of the counts of 
 Wurtemberg, and have reference to 
 their office of Hereditary Grand 
 Huntsman. 
 
 On the left, for Swabia, three blaJc 
 lions, one above the other, also on a 
 golden field; the lions have their 
 tongues hanging out of their mouths, 
 and their right paws are raised. These 
 are the three lions of Hohenstauffen, 
 and were only added to the arms of 
 Wurtemberg in 1806 by King Fred- 
 erick, in memory of the famous fam- 
 ily of Hohenstauffen, which, in for- 
 mer times occupied the country which 
 now forms Wurtemberg. 
 
 The supporters of the shield are, 
 on the right, a black lion bearing a 
 golden crown; and on the left, a 
 golden stag. The proper colors for 
 the ribbon bearing the motto are 
 purple with a black reverse, and the 
 motto itself, in gold letters, reads 
 "Furchtloss und treie," i. e. "Fearless 
 and true." 
 
 The design is the same for all de- 
 nominations, varying only in the desig- 
 nation of value. The dies were en- 
 graved and the electrotypes made at the 
 Mint in Stuttgart. The printing form 
 for each value consisted of sixty elec- 
 trotypes, arranged in ten rows of six, 
 which were separated as a rule by a 
 space of only Y^ mm. 
 
 The paper varies considerably in thick- 
 ness and that at first employed con- 
 tains orange colored silk threads similar 
 to the "Dickinson" paper, found in con- 
 nection with some of the early British 
 stamps. These silk threads were so 
 placed that they traversed the stamps in 
 a horizontal direction, one thread being 
 apportioned to each horizontal row of 
 stamps. This paper was apparently ob- 
 tained from Bavaria. 
 
 The values in this new series corre- 
 sponded exactly to those previously in 
 use, the set being issued on Sept. 22nd, 
 1857, according to Mr. Westoby, Mr. 
 Ehrenbach, and other writers on the 
 subject. In the Monthly Journal some 
 few years ago a copy of the 9kr was 
 reported with cancellation dated Dec. 
 30th, 1856, and on the strength of this 
 Gibbons' catalogue assigns the date De- 
 cember, 1856, to the whole series. This 
 seems particularly slender evidence on 
 which to antedate the whole issue by 
 some nine months for the cancellation 
 might easily have been an error for 
 1857. We should like to hear of other 
 early dated specimens before accepting 
 1856 as the correct date of issue. 
 
 Most of the stamps of this set vary 
 in shade but these variations are not 
 very striking being, as a rule, confined 
 to pale and deep tints. 
 
Reference List. 
 
 Sept., 1857 (?). Silk thread paper. Imperf. 
 
 6. Ikr brown, Scott's No. 7, 8 or 8a. 
 
 7. 3kr yellow, Scott's No. 9 or 9a. 
 
 8. 6kr green, Scott's No. 10 or lOa. 
 
 9. 9kr rose, Scott's No. 11 or lla. 
 10. 18kr blue, Scott's No. 12 or 12a. 
 
 THE THIRD ISSUE. 
 
 If we accept the date of September, 
 
 1857, as correct for the second issue the 
 use of the silk-thread paper lasted but 
 a very short time for in June, 1858, 
 the stamps began to appear on white- 
 wove machine made paper, without 
 threads. This paper is usually fairly 
 thick but, like that of the preceding is- 
 sue, it varies in texture. The sheets 
 contained sixty stamps as before but the 
 electrotypes were re-arranged so that 
 the spaces between them varied from 
 \ l / 2 mm. to 1^4 mm. 
 
 An interesting variety of the Ikr of 
 this issue is described in the Monthly 
 Journal for September, 1904, viz : 
 "Mr. Giwelb has shown our publishers 
 a copy of the 1 kreuzer with a clear im- 
 pression on the back reading the right 
 way. Probably a sheet that was defec- 
 tive in some part of the impression was 
 passed through the press again, for the 
 sake of economy, but it is not the silk 
 thread paper. The specimen is post- 
 marked Stuttgart, 1 Jun 1867." 
 
 The stamps of this issue are almost 
 exactly like the corresponding stamps on 
 the silk thread paper and variations in 
 shade are of little consequence with the 
 exception of the Ikr. This value exists 
 in two very striking shades of brown 
 one being yellowish and the other al- 
 most a black-brown. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1858. Without silk threads. Imperf. 
 
 11. Ikr brown, Scott's No. 13 or 14. 
 
 12. 3kr yellow, Scott's No. 15 or 15a. 
 
 13. 6kr green, Scott's No. 16 or 16a. 
 
 14. 9kr rose, Scott's No. 17 or 17a. 
 
 15. 18kr blue, Scott's No. 18 or 18a. 
 
 tion machine was ordered from Vienna 
 on the joint account of the postal ad- 
 ministrations of Baden and Wurtemberg 
 and this was set up at Carlsruhe. This 
 machine was of the harrow type and 
 was capable of perforating an entire 
 sheet of 100 stamps at one operation, 
 its gauge being 13^. Although the 
 machine was primarily intended for use 
 on sheets of 100 stamps those of 
 Wurtemberg remained the same as be- 
 fore, i. e. sixty impressions in ten rows 
 of six. Some of the perforated values 
 began to be circulated in November, 
 1859. The paper, color, and arrange- 
 ment of the cliches remained as before. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1859-60. Thick paper. Perf. 13 Y 2 . 
 
 16. Ikr brown.Scott's No. 19. 
 
 17. 3kr yellow, Scott's No. 20 or 20a. 
 
 18. 6kr green, Scott's No. 21. 
 
 19. 9kr rose, Scott's No. 22. 
 
 THE FIFTH ISSUE. 
 
 The next change, though it affected 
 all the values, was a somewhat minor 
 one. It was found that the paper was 
 a little too thick for easy working in 
 the perforating machine and, beginning 
 with February, 1861, a much thinner 
 paper was employed. The Ic of this 
 series exists in a number of distinct 
 shades ranging from a palish brown to 
 an almost black-brown. The 3kr and 
 18kr differ in tint a little, while the 9kr 
 is found in two colors. The original 
 shade was rose, similar to that of the 
 preceding issues, but early in 1862 the 
 color was changed to a dull purple or 
 claret. 
 
 Imperforate specimens are known of 
 all values but it is considered doubtful 
 that any were ever issued for use in 
 this condition though postally used 
 specimens are known. Mr. Westoby 
 ascribes the existence of these imperfo- 
 rate varieties to "the difficulty attendant 
 on two administrations using the same 
 perforating machine." 
 
 1861. 
 
 20. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 Thin paper. Perf 13^. 
 
 Ikr brown, Scott's No. 23 or 24. 
 
 21. 3kr yellow, Scott's No. 25 or 25a. 
 
 22. 6kr green, Scott's No. 26. 
 
 23. 9kr rose, Scott's No. 27. 
 
 24. 9kr purple. Scott's No. 28. 
 
 25. 18kr blue, Scott's No. 29 or 29a. 
 
 THE FOURTH ISSUE. 
 
 In describing the stamps of Baden I 
 mentioned that in July, 1859, a perfora- 
 
 THE SIXTH ISSUE. 
 
 During the second quarter of 1862, it 
 became necessary to overhaul the perfo- 
 rating machine and it was provided with 
 
a new set of punches having a gauge of 
 ten, instead of Y6 l / 2 as before. Stamps 
 with the new perforation began to ap- 
 pear about June, 1862, and all except 
 the 18kr were issued by the end -of the 
 year. The 18kr in blue does not exist 
 with the 10 perforation, as plenty of the 
 13^2 perforation remained in stock and 
 by the time more were required, the 
 color was changed. The 9kr is known 
 in carmine as well as the more usual 
 purple. These were probably due to one 
 or more imperforate sheets of the pre- 
 ceding issue, having been found and 
 perforated after the gauge of the ma- 
 chine had been changed. 
 
 Reft 
 
 ere nee List. 
 
 Type as before but perf. 10. 
 
 Ikr brown, Scott's Xu. :;. 
 L'7. Mkr yellow, Scott's No. Ml or Mia 
 
 kr green, Scott's Xo. Ml.'. 
 LI i. !kr purple, Scott's No. 33. 
 
 28. 
 
 THE SEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 The German-Austrian Postal Union 
 had adopted a regulation under which 
 all the members of the Union agreed to 
 use the same colors for their 3, 6 and 
 9 kreuzer stamps. An order of the 
 Minister of Finance of Wurtemberg, 
 dated September 12th, 1862, directed, 
 therefore, that to conform with this 
 regulation the stamps would for the 
 future be printed in green for the 1 
 kreuzer, in rose for the 3 kreuzer, in 
 blue for the 6 kreuzer, in brown for the 
 9 kreuzer, and in orange for the 18 
 kreuzer. The issue in the altered colors 
 was to have taken place on October 1st, 
 1862, but as there were large stocks of all 
 values in the old colors still on hand, it 
 was decided to use these up first. Con- 
 sequently, the new varieties appeared at 
 various times as follows : the 1 kreuzer 
 in February, 1863, the 3 and 9 kreuzer 
 in June, 1863; and the 6 and 18 kreuzer 
 in June, 1864. The paper and perfora- 
 tion were as before. All values except 
 the 18kr exist in a number of different 
 shades. Mr. Ehrenbach mentions a 
 minor variety of the 3 kreuzer which is 
 probably worth looking for, viz : has 
 a prominent flaw in the upper right 
 corner a large red spot on a ground 
 of white instead of the usual white star 
 on a colored ground. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1863-64. New Colors. Perf. 10. 
 
 30. Ikr green, Scott's Xo. M4. M4a or M.". 
 Ml. Mkr rose, Scott's Xo. MO or MOa. 
 ML'. Ckr blue, Scott's No. 37 or 37a. 
 MM. 9kr brown, Scott's No. 38, 39 or M9a. 
 M4. ISkr orange, Scott's No. 4O. 
 
 THE EIGHTH ISSUE. 
 
 With the increasing use of postage 
 stamps the Wurtemberg Government 
 found considerable inconvenience and 
 delay was occasioned by having to send 
 them to Carlsruhe to be perforated and 
 this inconvenience became so great in 
 time that the administration at Stuttgart 
 ordered a machine from Berlin for 
 rouletting the stamps in line, similar to 
 the Prussian stamps of 1861. This 
 machine was set up in August, 1865, 
 and the first stamps rouletted by it were 
 delivered in October following though 
 it was not until June, 1866, that the issue 
 of the 1, 3, and 6 kreuzer was made; 
 and these were followed by the 9 kreuzer 
 in March, 1867; and by the 18 kreuzer 
 in February, 1868. The electrotypes all 
 appear to have been re-set and the dis- 
 tance between the stamps is now 2 mm. 
 
 On November 23rd, 1867, an agree- 
 ment was made with the North German 
 Confederation by which the 2 silber- 
 groschen rate was raised from 6 to 7 
 kreuzer. The Wurtemberg public were 
 informed of this change by means of a 
 post-office notice dated April 2nd, 1868, 
 and at the same time it was stated that 
 6, 9, and 18 kreuzer values would cease 
 to be manufactured though they would 
 continue available for postage purposes 
 till the stocks were exhausted. The 
 color chosen for the new value was 
 blue though it was of a darker color 
 than that used for the superseded 6kr 
 denomination. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1865-68. Types as before. Rouletted 10. 
 
 35. Ikr green. Scott's No. 41. 
 
 36. 3kr rose, Scott's No. 42 or 42a. 
 
 37. 6kr blue, Scott's No. 48. 
 
 38. 7kr deep blue, Scott's No. 44 or 44a. 
 
 39. 9kr brown, Scott's No. 45, 45a or 45b. 
 
 40. ISkr orange, Scott's No. 46. 
 
 THE NINTH ISSUE. 
 
 The typographic embossing method of 
 production was found to be very ex- 
 pensive, especially in the case of the low 
 denominations, and in 1868 the Govern- 
 ment decided to abandon it in favor of 
 ordinary typographic printing. That a 
 considerable saving would be effected by 
 the new method is conclusively shown 
 from the statement that while it cost 1 
 kreuzer to produce 22 stamps by the 
 embossed process 46 stamps could be 
 produced for the same sum by the plain 
 typographic process. On November 27th, 
 
 1868, a Post-office circular was published 
 giving notice that from January 1st, 
 
 1869, stamps of a new design of 1, 3, 
 and 7 kreuzer would be issued accord- 
 ing as the stocks of the former series 
 
were exhausted. The actual date of is- 
 sue of these values is not known. On 
 May 3rd, 1869, another value of 14 
 kreuzer was issued in the same design, 
 and on December 2nd, 1872, a 2 kreuzer 
 value was added to the set. Early in 
 1873 the rate for single letters sent to 
 England, France, or the United States 
 by way of Bremen or Hamburg was 
 fixed at 9 kreuzer and on January 15th 
 a stamp of "this value was issued corre- 
 sponding in design to the other denomi- 
 nations then current. 
 
 The design is the same for all six 
 values and shows large uncolored 
 shaded numerals in the centre on a 
 ground of crossed lines, within an up- 
 right oval with a band of oak leaves 
 around the edge. Around this is an 
 oval band of horizontal lines inscribed 
 "POST" at the left, "FREI" at the top, 
 and "MARKE" on the right, while there 
 is a small posthorn at the bottom. The 
 various inscriptions are separated by 
 small ornamental scrolls. Surrounding 
 this is another inscribed oval band con- 
 taining, on an uncolored ground, the 
 name "WURTTEMBERG" at the top 
 and the value in words at the base, the 
 two inscriptions being separated by 
 small crowns. In the spandrels are 
 small shields containing three lions in 
 the upper left and lower right corners 
 and stag's horns on the others. 
 
 The die was engraved at Stuttgart, as 
 in the case of the previous issues, the 
 stamps being printed in sheets of sixty, 
 in ten rows of six, on plain white wove 
 paper. The printing was heavy, conse- 
 quently the design is generally found 
 deeply indented in the paper. The 
 stamps were rouletted with the machine 
 used for the preceding series. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1869-73. Rouletted 10. 
 
 41. Ikr green, Scott's No. 47 or 47a. 
 
 42. 2kr orange, Scott's No. 48 or 48a. 
 48. 3kr rose, Scott's No. 49. 
 
 44. 7kr blue, Scott's No. 50. 
 
 45. 9kr bistre, Scott's No. 51 or 51a. 
 
 46. 14kr orange, Scott's No. 52 or 52a. 
 
 THE TENTH ISSUE. 
 
 On January 1st, 1873, a stamp bearing 
 the fiscal value of 70 kreuzer and in 
 the Arms type of 1857 made its appear- 
 ance. The object of this high denomi- 
 nation, as shown by a post office notice 
 
 of December 24th, 1872, was to prepay 
 heavy letters. Its use was confined to 
 the three chief post-offices of the king- 
 dom situated at Stuttgart, Ulm, and 
 Heilbron, and the stamp was not per- 
 mitted to be sold to the public. Any 
 letters requiring these high value stamps 
 could be posted at other offices, when 
 they were forwarded under official cover 
 to one of the three above named offices, 
 and then franked with the 70kr stamps. 
 The design of this value is exactly 
 similar to that of the series of 1857, 
 except that there is an exterior border 
 fopied of small dots. The stamps were 
 printed in sheets of six, two horizontal 
 rows of three, on white wove paper and 
 were not perforated. In the top margin 
 is an inscription in black referring to 
 the price of each stamp and the total 
 value of each sheet, viz : 
 
 6. St. Postfreimarken zu 70kr.=F1.1.10. 
 
 =2 Mk. 
 Ztisammen im Werthe von 7 Fl.=4 Thl. 
 
 =12 Mk. 
 
 Two plates were used for printing 
 these stamps differing chiefly in the ar- 
 rangement of the dotted border. Whether 
 both plates were used concurrently or 
 at separate times does not appear to be 
 known for certain, though probably the 
 former was the case if Mr. Ehrenbach's 
 statement that postmarks of the same 
 dates are found on stamps from both 
 plates. Mr. Ehrenbach gives the best 
 description of the differences between 
 the two plates, viz : 
 
 (1) The dark shade (believed by 
 most people to be the first plate). 
 The dimensions of the little black 
 dotted frame running round the 
 stamps is 79^2 mm. horizontally, and 
 53 vertically. They are only divided 
 from each other by a single line of 
 little black dots. The stamps are 3^4 
 mm. apart from one another. In the 
 inscription over the top row there is 
 no stop after the word "Mk.", and 
 the two little lines (denoting equal to) 
 between 70kr, 1F1, 10, etc., are only 
 Y$ mm. wide. 
 
 (2) The light shade. The Arms 
 in the stamps are more embossed, the 
 stamps show a somewhat clearer im- 
 pression. The dimensions of the 
 outer border are 77 mm. by 52 mm. 
 The stamps are likewise printed 3^4 
 mm. apart, but two dotted lines (M to 
 1 mm. apart) divided the stamps in- 
 stead of one only. In the black in- 
 scription on the top there is a stop 
 after "MK.", and the lines (equal to) 
 are 1^2 mm. wide. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1873. Embossed. Imperf. 
 
 47. 70kr violet, Scott's No. 53 or 53a. 
 
 100 
 
THE ELEVENTH ISSUE. 
 
 Towards the end of 1874 the perfo- 
 rating by rouletting ceased as the Gov- 
 ernment purchased a new perforating 
 machine having a gauge of \l l / 2 by 11. 
 The only value of the kreuzer series 
 perforated by this machine was the Ikr 
 which was issued in November, 1874. 
 Before it was necessary to print further 
 supplies of any of the other values the 
 design was changed and though speci- 
 mens are known with this perforation 
 they are fraudulent productions. 
 
 Reference List. 
 1874. Perf. 11^x11. 
 
 48. Ikr green, Scott's No. 54. 
 
 THE TWELFTH ISSUE. 
 
 In 1874 it was decided to change the 
 currency, which up to that time had 
 consisted of the florin of 60 kreuzer, 
 similar to that of the other States of 
 south Germany, to the Imperial cur- 
 rency of marks and pfennige, and Jan- 
 uary 1st, 1875, was fixed as the date for 
 the change. A notice, dated December 
 23rd, 1874, was issued by the Post-office, 
 stating that a stamp of 20 pfennige of a 
 new design would be issued on that day 
 to take the place of that of the 7 kreuzer, 
 just as soon as the stocks of the latter 
 value held in the various post-offices 
 were exhausted. 
 
 The design shows uncolored numerals 
 on a circular ground of lines crossing 
 each other diagonally, above which, on 
 a curved scroll is "K. WURTT. POST", 
 while on a similar scroll below, the 
 value is shown in words. On the left 
 is a shield containing three stag's horns 
 and on the right are three lions in a 
 similar shield. The whole is enclosed 
 by an ornamental rectangular frame 
 measuring 21 by lS l / 2 mm. 
 
 The die was engraved and the print- 
 ing plates were constructed at the Mint 
 in Stuttgart and the printing was done 
 under the direction of the Post-office as 
 in the case of the preceding issues. As 
 the new currency was a decimal one a 
 change in the size of the plates was 
 made and the stamps were printed in 
 sheets of 100 arranged in ten rows of 
 ten. They were perforated bv the new 
 machine gauging 11^ by 11. 
 
 On May 28th, 1875, the Post-office is- 
 sued another notice announcing that 
 from July 1st next the former series 
 of stamps in kreuzer would be entirely 
 superseded by a new series with values 
 in pfennige. These, it was stated, would 
 be on sale at the various post offices on 
 June 15th. and that after August 15th 
 the stamps with values in kreuzer would 
 
 cease to be, valid , for , postal use. 'The 
 new denon)inatldns' co-as4stetT i pf y 3,*5,'10, 
 15, 25, and, 53 ^flfannige/ a^at stfrjlftr 
 type to the 20pf already described. J At* 
 the same time the color of this latter 
 value, which had hitherto been printed 
 in blue, was changed to ultramarine. 
 
 About the same time a 2 marks stamp 
 of similar type was issued in place of 
 the 70 kreuzer. Its sale was prohibited 
 to the public and its use was at first 
 confined to the offices of Stuttgart, Ulm, 
 and Heilbronn, though later it was ex- 
 tended to almost every post office in the 
 kingdom. Notwithstanding this pro- 
 hibition the stamp was frequently sold 
 to the public, as appears from a post- 
 office circular of August 18th, 1879, and 
 in November of that year the stamp 
 was printed in vermilion on orange 
 colored paper, and on the back "un- 
 verkauflich" (not to be sold) was printed 
 in ultramarine. 
 
 The 50pf was at first printed in grey 
 but in February, 1878, consequent on 
 an agreement made with the Imperial 
 Post-office at Berlin, its color was 
 changed to grey-green. 
 
 All values exist in a number of more 
 or less striking shades and specialists 
 will also find that most of them exist 
 with yellow and white gum, the latter 
 representing the later printings. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1875-79. Perf. 
 
 49. 3pf green, Scott's No. 55 or 55a. 
 
 50. 5pf violet, Scott's No. 56. 
 
 51. lOpf rose, Scott's No. 57. 
 
 52. 20pf blue, Scott's No. 58a. 
 
 53. 20pf ultramarine, Scott's No. 58. 
 
 54. 25pf brown, Scott's No. 59. 
 
 55. 50pf grey, Scott's No. 60. 
 
 56. 50pf grey-green, Scott's No. 61. 
 
 57. 2mk orange, Scott's No. 62. 
 
 58. 2mk vermilion on orange, Scott's No. 
 
 THE THIRTEENTH ISSUE. 
 
 On November 1st, 1881, a 5 mark 
 stamp was issued and though this was 
 chiefly intended for telegraphic purposes 
 it was also available for postal use. 
 The design was similar to that of the 
 preceding series except that the central 
 circular portion was uncolored, and the 
 numeral of value was printed on it in 
 black by a second operation. This value 
 was reported with central numeral in- 
 verted some years ago and though the 
 
 101 
 
error is listed in Scott's^- catalogue I 
 cannot -fthcT that its px?$tehcf was ever 
 
 auttienj jcAted: , " 
 
 On' January 1st, 1883, the 2 mark 
 stamp was also issued with value in 
 black on an uncolored ground. The 
 value is known in two distinct shades 
 and is also known imperforate, a sheet 
 having been accidentally issued in this 
 condition. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1881-83. Perf. 11^x11. 
 
 59. 2 marks orange and black, Scott's No. 
 
 64 or 64a. 
 
 60. 5 marks blue and black, Scott's No. 65. 
 
 THE FOURTEENTH ISSUE. 
 
 Early in the year 1890 the colors of 
 the 3, 5, 25, and 50 pfennige values were 
 changed to conform with those of the 
 corresponding denominations of Ger- 
 many, while in 1893 a new value, 2 
 pfennige, was issued. The design and 
 perforation remained exactly as before. 
 The 5pf is said to exist imperforate. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1890-93. Perf. 
 
 61. 2pf grey, Scott's No. 66. 
 
 62. 3pf brown, Scott's No. 67. 
 
 63. 5pf green, Scott's No. 68 or 68a. 
 
 64. 25pf orange, Scott's No. 69 or 69a. 
 
 65. 50pf red-brown, Scott's No. 70 or 70a. 
 
 THE FIFTEENTH ISSUE. 
 
 In 1900 the set was enriched by the 
 addition of 30 and 40pf values. The 
 design was exactly like that of the other 
 values of the series, but, like the mark 
 denominations, the numerals of value 
 were printed at a second operation in 
 black on a plain ground. These were 
 the last stamps issued by Wurtemberg 
 for general use for in 1902 its postal 
 system was united with that of the Im- 
 perial government. A paragraph in 
 Alfred Smith's Monthly Circular re- 
 ferred to the matter as follows : 
 
 An agreement has been concluded 
 between the Imperial Postal Adminis- 
 tration and that of Wurtemberg by 
 which the postal systems are to be 
 united for a definite period of four 
 years from April 1st, 1902, after 
 which it will be subject to a notice of 
 
 one year on either side. On the date 
 mentioned the separate issues of each 
 country will give place to a uni- 
 fied series inscribed "DEUTSCHES 
 REICH." 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1900. Perf. 11^x11. 
 
 66. 30pf orange and black, Scott's No. 71. 
 
 67. 40pf rose and black, Scott's No. 72. 
 
 MUNICIPAL SERVICE STAMPS. 
 
 With the exception of a few stamps 
 issued by Bavaria in 1908 for the use 
 of Railway Officials Wurtemberg is the 
 only German State that has issued a 
 regular series of official stamps. These 
 fall into two classes those for general 
 use and those for the use of municipali- 
 ties. The latter class, known as Mu- 
 nicipal Service stamps, was first issued 
 on July 1st, 1875, for use on the official 
 correspondence of municipalities within 
 the kingdom of Wurtemberg. The rate 
 of postage was fixed at 5 pfennige ir- 
 respective of the weight of the letters. 
 A stamp of this value printed in mauve 
 like the ordinary 5pf stamp then cur- 
 rent was issued in a special design. 
 In the centre is a diamond of solid color 
 on which a large "5" surrounded by 
 "POST-FREI-MARKE PFENNIG" is 
 shown. Around this is a lozenge shaped 
 band inscribed "PORTO PFLIGHTIGE 
 DIENST SACHE" meaning "Service 
 matter liable to postage." In each of 
 the four angles are small oval shields 
 showing three stag's horns on their left 
 and three lions on their right hand 
 sides. The design is completed by a 
 thick frame line. These stamps, like 
 those for ordinary use, were printed in 
 sheets of 100, the dies and plates being 
 manufactured at the Mint in Stuttgart 
 and the printing taking place under the 
 supervision of the Post-office. Imperfo- 
 rate specimens are known of this 5pf 
 stamp. A lOpf stamp of similar design 
 was issued about the same time for use 
 on parcels and money orders. 
 
 In 1890 the color of the 5pf was 
 changed to green to conform with the 
 change of color in the corresponding 
 value of the ordinary set. Several dis- 
 tinct shades of this variety may be 
 found. 
 
 On January 10th, 1897, a new value 
 of 3 pfennige in brown was issued and 
 in 1900 a 2pf in grey and a 25pf in 
 orange appeared. The design of all 
 three was similar to that of the first 5pf. 
 
 In 1906 all five denominations were 
 overprinted with a crown above the 
 dates "1806-1906" in commemoration of 
 the centenary of Wurtemberg's being 
 raised to the dignity of a Kingdom. 
 
 102 
 
In 1906 some of the values began to 
 appear on paper watermarked with a 
 multiple device of crosses and circles 
 and by the following year all values 
 had appeared on this new paper and 
 two new values 20 and 50 pfennige 
 were also issued. The stamps on this 
 watermarked paper were printed by the 
 German Imperial Printing Office, at 
 Berlin, and apparently the plates for 
 the two new values were also made in 
 Berlin. These stamps are still in use 
 for the agreement between the Imperial 
 Administration and that of Wurtem- 
 berg regarding the unified series of 
 stamps affected those for public use 
 onlv. 
 
 Reference List. 
 
 1875-1900. Perf. 11^x11. 
 
 66. 2pf grey, Scott's No. 218. 
 
 67. 3pf brown, Scott's No. 215. 
 
 68. opf mauve, Scott's No. 201. 
 
 69. 5pf green, Scott's No. 216 or 217. 
 
 70. lOpf rose, Scott's No. 202. 
 
 71. 25pf orange, Scott's No. 220. 
 
 1806 - 1906 
 
 1906. Overprinted in black. Perf. 
 
 72. 2pf grey, Scott's No. 224. 
 
 73. 3pf brown, Scott's No. 226. 
 
 74. opf green, Scott's No. 228. 
 
 75. lOpf rose, Scott's No. 229. 
 7>. 25pf orange, Scott's No. 233. 
 
 1906-7. Wmk. Crosses and circles. Perf. 
 
 77. 2pf grey, Scott's No. 238. 
 
 78. 3pf brown, Scott's No. 239. 
 70. 5pf green, Scott's No. 240. 
 
 80. lOpf rose, Scott's No. 241. 
 
 81. 20pf blue, Scott's No. 253. 
 
 82. 25pf orange, Scott's No. 242. 
 
 83. 50pf lake, Scott's No. 254. 
 
 OFFICIAL STAMPS. 
 
 Until April 1st, 1881, the correspond- 
 ence of the ministerial offices was con- 
 veyed free of postage, but at that time 
 the privilege was taken away and a 
 series of special stamps was issued for 
 use on all official correspondence. M. 
 Moens described their issue as follows: 
 
 Official stamps for franking cor- 
 respondence connected with the busi- 
 ness of the State, churches, schools, 
 and public benevolent institutions were 
 issued, in part, on the first of April 
 last, in terms of a decree, dated 26th 
 March, 1881, of the Ministry of 
 Churches and Schools. Article 3 of 
 this Decree sets forth that "Delivery 
 of these stamps shall be made against 
 printed acknowledgments of their re- 
 ceipt upon forms to be furnished by 
 the post-office department. At the 
 end of every month the post-office 
 authorities shall prepare a statement 
 of number of receipts in their pos- 
 session for stamps issued, and shall 
 submit it to our Department for ex- 
 amination and payment." 
 The values at 'first issued were 3, 5, 
 10, and 20 pfennige and these were fol- 
 lowed on April 18th by 25 and 50 
 pfennige. The colors correspond to 
 those of similar denomination of the 
 ordinary series then current. The de- 
 sign, which is the same for all, shows 
 uncolored labels on all four sides and a 
 fifth one crossing the centre of the 
 stamps obliquely from the left lower to 
 the right upper corner. The labels at 
 the sides are inscribed "K. WURTT." 
 at the left, "*POST*" at the top, 
 "PFENNIG" at the right, and the value 
 in words at the bottom. The diagonal 
 label contains the words "AMTLICHER 
 VERKEHR" meaning "Official Busi- 
 ness." On each side of the central 
 label are escutcheons, containing the 
 .numerals of value, resting on an orna- 
 mental background. 
 
 In 1882 a new value of 1 mark printed 
 in yellow was added to the series. 
 
 In 1890 the colors of the 3, 5, and 
 25pf were altered to conform with those 
 of the ordinary stamps and at the same 
 time the color of the 1 mark was 
 changed to violet. Shortly afterwards 
 the color of the 5pf was also altered 
 and in 1900 a 2pf stamp was added to 
 the series. 
 
 In 1903 30 and 40 pfennige stamps 
 were issued and these, like the ones for 
 ordinary use were printed at two opera- 
 tions with the value in each case in 
 black. 
 
 In 1906 all ten values were overprinted 
 in a similar manner to the Municipal 
 Service stamps in commemoration of the 
 hundredth anniversary of Wurtemberg's 
 existence as a kingdom, and in 1906-7 
 all denominations were issued on the 
 watermarked paper used for the Mu- 
 nicipal Service stamps of the same date. 
 These latter were printed in Berlin by 
 the German Imperial Printing Office and 
 they are still in use. 
 
 J03 
 
Reference List. 
 
 1881-82. Perf. 11^x11. 
 
 84. 3pf green, Scott's No. 203. 
 
 85. 5pf mauve, Scott's No. 204. 
 
 86. lOpf rose, Scott's No. 205. 
 
 87. 20pf blue, Scott's No. 206. 
 
 88. 25pf brown, Scott's No. 207'. 
 
 89. 50pf grey-green, Scott's No. 208. 
 
 90. Imk yellow, Scott's No. 209. 
 
 1890-1903. Perf. 
 
 91. 2pf grey, Scott's No. 219. 
 
 92. 3pf brown, Scott's No. 210. 
 
 93. 5pf green, Scott's No. 211. 
 
 94. 25pf orange, Scott's No. 212. 
 
 95. SOpf orange and black, Scott's No. 221. 
 
 96. 40pf carmine and black, Scott's No. 222. 
 
 97. SOpf red-brown, Scott's No. 213. 
 
 98. Imk violet, Scott's No. 214. 
 
 1906. 
 99. 
 
 100. 
 101. 
 102. 
 103. 
 104. 
 105. 
 106. 
 107. 
 108. 
 
 1906-7. 
 
 109. 
 110. 
 111. 
 112, 
 113. 
 114. 
 . 115. 
 116. 
 117. 
 118. 
 
 Overprinted in black. Perf. 
 
 2pf grey, Scott's No. 224. 
 
 3pf brown, Scott's No. 225. 
 
 5pf green, Scott's No. 227. 
 lOpf rose, Scott's No. 230. 
 20pf blue. Scott's No. 231. 
 25pf oran?e, Scott's No. 232. 
 SOpf orange and black, Scott's No. 234. 
 40pf carmine and black, Scott's No. 235. 
 50pf red-brown, Scott's No. 236. 
 
 Imk violet, Scott's No. 237. 
 
 Wmk. Crosses and circles. Perf. 
 
 2pf grey, Scott's No. 243. 
 
 3pf brown, Scott's No. 244. 
 
 5pf green. Scott's No. 245. 
 lOpf rose, Scott's No. 246. 
 20pf blue, Scott's No. 247. 
 25pf orange, Scott's No. 248. 
 30pf orange and black, Scott's No. 249. 
 40pf carmine and black, Scott's No. 250. 
 50pf red -brown, Scott's No. 251. 
 
 Imk violet, Scott's No. 252. 
 
 REPRINTS. 
 
 Few stamps have been more reprinted 
 than the first three issues of Wurtem- 
 berg, and few Governments have shown 
 greater docility in supplying enterprising 
 dealers and collectors, to order, with 
 supplies of the stamps in every abnor- 
 mal color that could be desired by the 
 most morbid imagination. The so- 
 called reprints of the first issue are, in 
 fact, nothing better than official counter- 
 feits. None of the printing plates were 
 in existence when these imitations were 
 made in 1864, nor were the dies, except 
 
 the central portions and the frames 
 without the inscriptions. These latter 
 were, therefore, set up again, and small 
 plates constructed consisting of six or 
 twelve electrotypes. In the imitations 
 the letters of "Wurttemberg" and 
 "Freimarke" are smaller than in the 
 originals, the letter "W" is 1 l / 2 mm. 
 from the left side-line of the label in- 
 stead of 1 mm. as in the genuine, and 
 the lower bunch of grapes in each of the 
 two ornaments in the lower tablet are 
 complete whereas in the originals they 
 are not complete. These "reprints" 
 should hardly confuse the most inexperi- 
 enced collector. Mr. Westoby tells us 
 that "In 1865 a further printing was 
 made on paper of various thicknesses, 
 and of all the colors of the rainbow. 
 The printing seems to have been special- 
 ly confined to the 1 kreuzer, though the 
 other values are recorded as . existing. 
 The reprinting was made on the condi- 
 tion that the reprints should not be used 
 postally." 
 
 In 1864 all the values of the Arms 
 series were reprinted and some of these 
 are apt to prove rather confusing. 
 None of the original "Dickinson" paper 
 with orange thread used for the stamps 
 of 1857 remained in stock and though a 
 supply of silk-thread paper was obtained 
 from the Bavarian Administration the 
 color of the thread was different, being 
 red. The 6kr is known with yellow 
 thread and various values in fancy 
 colors are reported as existing with 
 green silk thread. The color of the 
 thread, therefore, is sufficient test in 
 detecting whether the specimen is an 
 original or a reprint. The detection of 
 the reprints on paper without silk thread 
 is a more difficult matter for the colors 
 of the originals were very closely copied 
 and there is no appreciable difference 
 in the paper. The original plates of 
 1857 did not exist, however, so that the 
 plates employed for the rouletted stamps 
 current at the time the reprints were 
 manufactured were evidently used. On 
 these the stamps were much more wide- 
 ly spaced than in the originals, the dis- 
 tance between the stamps measuring 
 about 2 mm. instead of Y^ mm. as in the 
 genuine. In the case of pairs, there- 
 fore, the reprints are at once distin- 
 guishable and specimens with unduly 
 large margins may also be condemned 
 without hesitation. 
 
 None of the later issues were re- 
 printed. 
 
ADDENDA. 
 
 BERGEDORF. 
 
 The following interesting letter is 
 self explanatory: 
 My dear Mr. Poole : 
 
 Surely no reader of MEKEEI/S WEEK- 
 LY has enjoyed more than I, your ex- 
 cellent article on the stamps of Berge- 
 dorf; and as I feel sure that the article 
 will be reprinted in pamphlet form for 
 easy reference, will you allow me to 
 furnish a few corrections, which I trust 
 you will accept in the spirit in which 
 they are made, viz. : in the interest of 
 Philately, whose ardent followers we 
 both are. It is true, I was a mere boy 
 at the time the stamps of Bergedorf 
 were issued, still as the P. O. was on 
 the ground floor of the house my father 
 occupied with his family, I was in and 
 out of the office whenever out of school, 
 helping in a boyish way and very much 
 interested in everything that went on 
 there, and even in those days I was a 
 stamp collector. In fact when my father 
 went to Hamburg to see Mr. Fuchs to 
 confer about stamps for Bergedorf, he 
 took with him my collection (stamps 
 pasted flat in a copy book no printed 
 albums then) to discuss designs and 
 colors. I remember distinctly telling 
 him to beware of such stamps as the 
 then current ikr Austria, which under 
 artificial light could hardly be distin- 
 guished. 
 
 I pass over your description of how 
 Bergedorf became finally the property 
 of Lubeck and Hamburg jointly, for to 
 go into a description like I find in a 
 Chronicle of Bergedorf, issued there in 
 1894 and a copy of which is before me, 
 would be taking too much time and 
 space, and I will come at once to the 
 postal history as I find it recorded 
 there and of part of which I have per- 
 sonal knowledge. 
 
 The Counts of Thurn and Taxis, who 
 held the postal privilege in Germany 
 for centuries, tried to open a P. O. 
 there in 1788, but it was discontinued 
 almost at once, as it had been estab- 
 lished without the consent of the Senates 
 of Lubeck and Hamburg. In 1838 a 
 Prussian P. O. was established there 
 with my father as postmaster, he being 
 
 sent there by the Prussian Minister of 
 Posts, which lasted until March 31st, 
 1847 ; Prussia having notified the au- 
 thorities that it desired to terminate its 
 contract. The completion of the railway 
 from Hamburg to Berlin doing away 
 with the necessity to convey as hereto- 
 fore the mails by postchaise. On April 
 1st, 1847, the P. O. was opened under 
 the auspices of the Government of the 
 two cities L. and H., and remained in 
 that way until December 31st, 1867, 
 when in its place, it became a part of the 
 North German Postal Confederation and 
 finally, in 1870, part of the Imperial Ger- 
 man Post. 
 
 I have not with me the article written 
 by me in the Virginia Philiatelist, but 
 think I explained in it how Bergedorf 
 was governed by a delegation of the 
 Senates of both Lubeck and Hamburg, 
 called in Bergedorf the "Visitation" to 
 whom, in the week which they spent 
 each summer in Bergedorf, all matters 
 were referred to for adjustment, consti- 
 tuting as it were a court of last resort, 
 so the report you mentioned as being 
 made in 1859 was to them and nothing 
 further was done that year, than to 
 order the preparation of stamps for se- 
 lection and one sheet of each value was 
 struck off. In 1860 the visitation did 
 nothing further about the adoption of 
 stamps for Bergedorf, but when they 
 were there again during the summer 
 of 1861, it was ordered that stamps 
 should be issued, but the colors of the 
 half and the three shilling did not please 
 them and they were ordered to be 
 printed in the colors as described in 
 the order of October, 17th, 1861. 
 
 In urging the issuing of stamps and 
 to show how they would appear when 
 on letters, there were cut from each of 
 the five sheets printed, a block of six 
 and each block pasted on a large sheet 
 of blank paper, and I think the original 
 block of six of the half shilling is now 
 in the Postal Museum in Berlin. Those 
 found in Lubeck's archives are evidently 
 a similar set probably furnished by my 
 father to the Lubeck delegates in 1860, 
 and I have no doubt if Hamburg's ar- 
 
 105 
 
chives were searched, a like find would 
 be made there. The time from mid- 
 summer 1861 to November 1st, 1861, was 
 necessary to have the stamps printed, 
 for I am sure that up to that time only 
 one sheet of each denomination had 
 been furnished to my father by Mr. 
 Fuchs in Hamburg, who had the con- 
 tract to lithograph the stamps. 
 
 You judge from the wording of the 
 last paragraph in the report of 1859, 
 that there must have been a Danish P. 
 O. in Bergedorf, but there never was. 
 Danish stamps of the value of four skil- 
 lings (Scott's 7 and 9) had been sold 
 at the Bergedorf P. O. for a number of 
 years for the reason that Denmark, 
 recognizing the usefulness of having 
 mail matter prepaid by stamps, made 
 a difference in the rates of prepaid by 
 stamps and prepaid in cash or unpaid let- 
 ters, for while a letter from Bergedorf 
 to the Duchies of Schleswig, Holstein 
 and Lanenburg (not Luxemburg as 
 you have it, and Oldenburg must also 
 be a mistake as that never belonged to 
 Denmark) then under Danish Dominion 
 as well as Denmark proper, when pre- 
 paid by stamps cost only 1% schilling 
 currency, if prepaid in money or sent 
 unpaid cost two schillings. The stamps 
 were furnished by the Royal Danish P. 
 O. in Hamburg. 
 
 I see that you have the signature of 
 my father misplaced under the decree of 
 October 17th, 1861. Nothing should be 
 after the (signed) Paalzow. There was 
 no Imperial Post in existence at that 
 time so he could not well have been a 
 Director of Post. It belongs, however, 
 under the letter to Mr. Moens, March 
 29, 1873, for then he was Director of 
 Imp. Post and former Postmaster of the 
 L. H. office in Bergedorf. 
 
 Another misprint is in naming the 
 Vierlande. You enumerate, Neuen- 
 gramm, Altengramm which should both 
 be spelled without r, viz. : Neuengamm, 
 Altengamm. 
 
 Then you speak about the issuance of 
 stamps in Lubeck and Hamburg, Janu- 
 ary 1st, 1859, and continue that, "shortly 
 after these labels appeared letters posted 
 in the Bergedorf district were required 
 to be prepaid with Hamburg stamps." 
 This is incorrect, for while it is a fact 
 that a very few Hamburg stamps have 
 been used in Bergedorf at that time, 
 their use was never officially sanctioned 
 and there was no requirement for even 
 prepayment of any correspondence. 
 
 Having explained how all matters con- 
 
 cerning Bergedorf were settled by the 
 "Visitation" throws light upon the last 
 paragraph of my father's letter to Mr. 
 Moens. As your translation reads: 
 "The pourparlers and discussions were 
 never exchanged directly between the 
 Bergedorf authorities and myself, and 
 were mostly carried on verbally, which 
 shows that there can be no documents 
 on this subject." To make it clear 
 there should be added after exchanged 
 "in writing" and after myself instead of 
 "and" should be "but," for it is a fact 
 that all conferences on the subject of 
 issuing stamps were only held during 
 the time the "Visitation" was in Berge- 
 dorf. 
 
 Your mention of the fact that the 
 obliterating stamp was also acquired by 
 Mr. Moens leads me to add one little 
 piece of information, which may be of 
 use to some one who has Bergedorf 
 stamps cancelled in the following man- 
 ner and which perhaps have been thrown 
 aside as counterfeit or as bearing a 
 false cancellation. The obliterating 
 stamp was made of brass and was a 
 perfect square having five straight, equi- 
 distant lines on it, so that an ordinary 
 cancellation would have been something 
 like this 
 
 I know that in a number of instances I 
 have seen the clerks and have done so 
 often myself, use the cancelling stamp 
 twice, the second time reversed so that 
 the postage stamp was cancelled not by 
 straight lines, but by small squares. 
 This explains such cancellation and 
 should give a stamp so obliterated a 
 good philatelic standing. Again assur- 
 ing you that all the foregoing has not 
 been written in a censorious spirit, but 
 with the sincere desire to throw as much 
 light as possible upon the subject treated 
 and to bury forever the claim of the 
 essays of the half schilling black on vio- 
 let and the three schilling black on rose 
 as legitimate postage stamps, for they 
 were never issued as such. 
 
 Very sincerely yours, 
 
 JOHN PAALZOW. 
 
 1C6 
 
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 BERKELEY 
 
 Return to desk from which borrowed. 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 NOV17 1947 
 JAN 6 1948 
 
 APR 21A953L 
 
 1956 EC 
 
 REC'D LD 
 
 NOV 1 J956 
 
 EC'D LD 
 
 AN 5 1957 
 
 REC'D 
 
 6 19B8 
 
 LC)AN 
 
 LD 21-100m-9,'47(A5702sl6)476 
 
M80838 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNIA UBRARY