GERMAN EMPIRE
OFFICIAL
POSTCARDS
1875
All 1875 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:
P5, P6
STRIEFBÄNDER (WRAPPERS):
S5
UMSCHLÄGE (ENVELOPES):
U7, U8 and U9
MICHEL P5
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
5 'PFENNIGE'
Issued 1st Jan 1875 and measuring 140 x 90mm this official postcard features a violet 'number in ellipse with crown' value stamp of 5Pf, and is inscribed "PFENNIGE" (with an 'E').
This card exists in three variations. P5I/01 has a gap in the 3rd dotted address line, P5I/02 has a gap in the 4th dotted address line and P5II is without a gap in either the 3rd or 4th dotted address line. The Pre-printed stamp is the same as the adhesive Michel 32 stamp.
Click here for more details.
MICHEL P5-II
5 PFENNIGE VIOLET
(No gaps in dotted lines)
5 PFENNIGE VIOLET
(No gaps in dotted lines)
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P6
OFFICIAL REPLY CARD
5 'PFENNIGE'
Issued 1st Jan 1875 and featuring a violet 5Pf 'Number in ellipse with Crown' pre-printed stamp inscribed "PFENNIGE" (with an 'E'). The pre-printed stamp is the same as Michel 32 . P6 does not have any print control date, neither does it have any gaps in the dotted address lines. The top-centre of the answer side of the card is inscribed:
DEUTSCHE REICHSPOST.
POSTKARTE.
(RÜCKANTWORT.)
POSTKARTE.
(RÜCKANTWORT.)
Click here for more details.
MICHEL P6
REPLY CARD
2x 5 PFENNIGE VIOLET STAMP
REPLY CARD
2x 5 PFENNIGE VIOLET STAMP
MICHEL S5 **
OFFICIAL STREIFBÄNDER
3 PFENNIGE
Issued in 1875 and measuring 352 x 66mm this wrapper has a green, 'Number in Ellipse with crown' value stamp of 3Pf and is inscribed "PFENNIGE' (with an 'E'). There are two types differentiated by the colour: Type 'a' is blue-green and Type 'b' is yellow-green.
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MICHEL S5
3Pf PFENNIGE GREEN
3Pf PFENNIGE GREEN
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL U7 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
10 'PFENNIGE'
Issued in 1875 and designed by H.G. Schilling. The value stamp is an embossed 'small eagle in a circle' and the currency designation is "PFENNIGE" (with an 'E').
There were two different variations depending on the size of the envelope.
U7-A: measures 146 x 83.5mm.
U7-B: measures 146.5 x 116.5mm.
Click here for more details.
MICHEL U7-A
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL U8 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
10 'PFENNIGE'
Issued in Nov 1875 and very similar to U7 above. U8 can be differentiated from U7 by both the design of the flap and the size of the envelope.
U8 has a flap with a much straighter design that that of U7 which comes to a more pronounced point.
This time there are also two variations again dependent on the size of the envelope.
U8-A: measures 143 x 83.5mm
U8-B: measures 146.5 x 116.5mm.
Click here for more details.
MICHEL U8A
10 PFENNIGE - RED
10 PFENNIGE - RED
MICHEL U9 **
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
10 'PFENNIGE'
Dec 1875. Again very similar to U7 and U8 above on white paper and now with only one variation. The length of the envelope is 146 x 83.5mm and the design of the flap has almost no contouring. It is possible to mistake U9 for a heavily faded piece of U11A. As U9 is much rarer than U7 and U8 it commands a higher price and therefore has been faked.
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MICHEL U9
10 PFENNIGE - RED
10 PFENNIGE - RED
