German Foreign Post Offices
China
Stamps of 1898
The first German postal agency in China was opened in Shanghai on 16th Aug 1886 following the arrival of the Reichspost Steamship 'Oder' on the same day. Postal connections from Germany to China were performed once every 4 weeks from Bremerhaven to Shanghai via Antwerp, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Columbo, Singapore and Hong Kong using the East Asia Main Line ('Ostasiatische Hauptlinie'). From 1893 Genoa and Naples were added to the route and its frequency was increased to once every two weeks in 1899. The East Asia Main Line was further expanded in 1899 with the inclusion of Hong Kong, Hiogo and Nagasaki when the East Asia Branch Line ('Ostasiatische Zweiglinie') service was terminated. Yokohama was also added at this time.
German postal institutions were gradually extended and eventually included the following cities:
SHANGHAI (changed spelling to SCHANGHAI from early 1905) 16 Aug 1886 to 16 Mar 1917.
TIENTSIN: 1st Apr 1893 to 16 Mar 1917.
TSCHIFU: 1 Jan 1900 to 16 Mar 1917.
HANKAU: 1 Apr 1900 to 16 Mar 1917.
FUTSCHAU: 18 Jun 1900 to 16 Mar 1917.
PEKING: 11 Sep 1900 to 15 Mar 1917.
TONGKU: 1 Nov 1900 to 30 Apr 1906.
SCHANHAIKWAN: 1 Sep 1901 to 31 Oct 1902.
TSCHINKIANG: 28 Oct 1901 to 16 Mar 1917.
TSCHINWANGTAU: 1 Dec 1901 to 10 Mar 1906.
TSCHIANGLING: 14 Dec 1901 to 22 Mar 1902.
NANLIU: 22 Mar 1902 to 1 Jun 1902.
WEIHSIEN: 1 Jun 1902 to Sep 1914.
CANTON: 2 Jun 1902 until 16 Mar 1917.
AMOY: 12 Jun 1902 until 16 Mar 1917.
NANKING: 1 Jan 1903 until 16 Mar 1917.
ITSCHANG: 21 Feb 1903 until Nov 1908.
TSCHINGTSCHOUFU (Railway Post): 15 Jun 1903 until 31 Dec 1905.
TSCHOUTSUN (Railway Post): 15 Nov 1903 until 31 Dec 1905.
TSINANFU: 16 Mar 1904 until 16 Mar 1917.
SWATAU: 17 May 1904 until 16 Mar 1917.
Michel M45 to M50
Valid Postage Replaced by New Issue
Issued June 1898. The German Post Offices in China used regular German Empire issues. Crown or Eagle with cancel date from June 1898.
Michel 1I to 6I
"China" Overprint at 45˚
Issued Marh/June 1898. The German Post Offices in China used regular German Empire issues. Crown or Eagle, so-called "crown/eagle" with black diagonal "China" overprint (45˚).
Michel 1II to Michel 6II
"China" Overprint at 56˚
Issued Dec 1898. the same as Michel 1II to Michel 6II but with steeper with black diagonal "China" overprint (56˚). Printed Typography, perf comb 13¾. Valid for postage until 31st March 1902.
