GERMAN EMPIRE
OFFICIAL
POSTCARDS
1872
All 1872 Official postcards are now on this page. Official postcards are cards that were issued by the Reich’s post office, had pre-printed (indicia) stamps and were widely available throughout German towns and cities.
Secondly Printed to Private Order postcards are postcards that were generally issued by entities that were advertising an event or commemorating an anniversary, and also had pre-printed stamps, but were not widely available throughout Germany (most were only available at the event they were commemorating).
Thirdly Other postcards are postcards that fall into the same general category as printed to private order however they do not have pre-printed stamps.
Finally, Miscellaneous postcards is where you will find postcards that do not fit into the first three categories (i.e. they are not official, they do not have pre-printed stamps, and they do not commemorate an event).
Quick Links:
STREIFBÄNDER (WRAPPERS):
S1, S2, S3 and S4
UMSCHLÄGE (ENVELOPES):
U1, U2, U3 and U4
MICHEL S1 **
OFFICIAL STREIFBÄNDER
⅓ GROSCHEN
1872. Eagle with SMALL SHIELD, white and measuring 352 x 66mm. Embossed stamp, Eagle without ribbons. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 2 from 1872 issue of "Kleinem Brustschild" (Small Breastplate/Shield) series. S1 is the same as Michel S3, only this wrapper has an eagle with a small shield, and S3 has an eagle with a large shield.
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MICHEL S1
⅓ Groschen, green stamp
⅓ Groschen, green stamp
MICHEL S2 **
OFFICIAL STREIFBÄNDER
1 KREUZER
1872. Eagle with SMALL SHIELD, white and measuring 352 x 66mm. Embossed stamp, Eagle without ribbons. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 7 from 1872 issue of "Kleinem Brustschild" (Small Breastplate/Shield) series. S1 is the same as Michel S4, only this wrapper has an eagle with a small shield, and S3 has an eagle with a large shield.
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MICHEL S2
1 Kreuzer, green stamp
1 Kreuzer, green stamp
MICHEL S3 **
OFFICIAL STREIFBÄNDER
⅓ GROSCHEN
1st Jun 1872. Eagle with LARGE SHIELD, white and measuring 352 x 66mm. Embossed stamp. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 17 from 1872 issue of "Groβer Brustschild" (Large Breastplate/Shield) series. S3 is the same as Michel S1, only this wrapper has an eagle with a large shield, and S1 has an eagle with a small shield.
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MICHEL S3
⅓ Groschen, green stamp
⅓ Groschen, green stamp
MICHEL S4 **
OFFICIAL STREIFBÄNDER
1 KREUZER
1st Jun 1872. Eagle with LARGE SHIELD, white and measuring 352 x 66mm. Embossed stamp. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 23 from 1872 issue of "Groβer Brustschild" (Large Breastplate/Shield) series. S4 is the same as Michel S2, only this wrapper has an eagle with a large shield, and S2 has an eagle with a small shield.
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MICHEL S4
1 Kreuzer, green stamp
1 Kreuzer, green stamp
MICHEL U1 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
1 GROSCHEN
1st Jan 1872 with SMALL SHIELD. Not for use in Bavaria or Wurttemburg. Denomination 1 Groschen. There are two formats: Type 'A' measures 147 x 84mm, Type 'B' measures 148 x 115mm. There are two variations: Type 'I' where the denomination '1' measures 3.5mm high and Type 'II' where the denomination '1' measures 4mm high. Embossed stamp, Eagle without ribbons. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 4 from 1872 issue of "Kleiner Brustschild" (Small Breastplate/Shield) series. This envelope is the same as Michel U3 only U3 has a large shield.
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MICHEL U1
1 Groschen
1 Groschen
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL U2 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
3 KREUZER
1st Jan 1872 with SMALL SHIELD. Not for use in Bavaria or Wurttemburg. Denomination 1 Groschen. There are two formats: Type 'A' measures 147 x 84mm, Type 'B' measures 148 x 115mm. Denomination 3 Kreuzer. Eagle with SMALL shield. Embossed stamp, Eagle without ribbons. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 9 from 1872 issue of "Kleiner Brustschild" (Small Breastplate/Shield) series. This envelope is the same as Michel U4 only U4 has a large shield.
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MICHEL U2
3 Kreuzer, rose stamp
3 Kreuzer, rose stamp
MICHEL U3 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
1 GROSCHEN
Sep 1872 with LARGE SHIELD. Not for use in Bavaria or Wurttemburg. There are two sizes: Type 'A' measures 147 x 84mm and Type 'B' measures 148 x 115mm. Denomination 1 Groschen. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 19 from 1872 issue of "Groβer Brustschild" series. There are two variations: Type 'I' where the denomination '1' measures 3.3 to 3.5mm high and Type 'II' where the denomination '1' measures 3.7 to 4mm high. This envelope is the same as Michel U1 only U3 has a large shield.
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MICHEL U3
1 Groschen, rose stamp
1 Groschen, rose stamp
MICHEL U3B
1 Groschen, rose stamp
1 Groschen, rose stamp
MICHEL U4 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
3 KREUZER
Sep 1872 with LARGE SHIELD. Not for use in Bavaria or Wurttemburg. Denomination 3 Kreuzer. Eagle with LARGE shield. Embossed stamp, Eagle WITH ribbons. The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 25 from 1872 issue of "Groβer Brustschild" series. This envelope is the same as Michel U2 only U4 has a large shield.
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MICHEL U4
3 Kreuzer, rose stamp
3 Kreuzer, rose stamp
