GERMAN EMPIRE
OFFICIAL
POSTCARDS
1873
All 1873 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:
OFFICIAL POSTCARDS:
P1, P2, P3 and P4
UMSCHLÄGE (ENVELOPES):
U5 and U6
MICHEL P1 *
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
½ GROSCHEN
Issued: 1st Jan 1873. P1 is the only postcard to feature a ½ Groschen eagle in large ellipse pre-printed stamp, and a flower border. The card measures 140 x 90mm and is on brown card stock. This card should not be confused with a Michel P3 (F) and can easily be distinguised by the design of the border.
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Michel P1
½ Groschen, brown
½ Groschen, brown
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P2 *
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
2 KREUZER
Issued: 1st Jan 1873. P2 is the only postcard to feature a 2 Kreuzer eagle in large ellipse pre-printed stamp, and a flower border. The card measures 140 x 90mm and is on brown card stock. This card should not be confused with a Michel P4 (F) and can easily be distinguised by the design of the border.
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Michel P2
2 Kreuzer brown
2 Kreuzer brown
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P3 *
OFFICIAL REPLY CARD
½ GROSCHEN
Issued Oct 1873: P3 is a reply card featuring a ½ Groschen pre-printed eagle in ellipse stamp on both sides of the card. It is the only reply card issued that features a ½ Groschen pre-printed stamp and has a wavy border. Many reply cards are found that only have half of the card (either the 'Message', 'F' or the 'Reply', 'A' portion), these should not be confused with the postcards that have an almost identical design but different border.
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MICHEL P3
Reply Card
2x ½ Groschen, brown
Reply Card
2x ½ Groschen, brown
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P4 *
OFFICIAL REPLY CARD
2 KREUZER
Issued Oct 1873: P4 is a reply card featuring a 2 Kreuzer eagle in ellipse pre-printed stamp on both sides of the card. It is the only reply card issued, that features a 2 Kreuzer pre-printed stamp, and has a wavy border. Many reply cards are found that only have half of the card (either the 'Message', 'F' or the 'Reply', 'A' portion), these should not be confused with the postcards that have an almost identical design but different border.
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MICHEL P4
Reply Card
2x 2 Kreuzer, brown
Reply Card
2x 2 Kreuzer, brown
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL U5 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
1 GROSCHEN
Issued: 1873. This envelope is very similar to Michel U3. 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" (large shield/breastlate) 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.
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MICHEL U5
1 Groschen, rose stamp
1 Groschen, rose stamp
MICHEL U6 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
3 KREUZER
Issued: 1873. 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" (large shield/breastplate) series. THere is only one version of this envelope and is Type 'A', 147 x 84mm.
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MICHEL U6
3 Kreuzer, rose stamp
3 Kreuzer, rose stamp
