GERMAN EMPIRE
OFFICIAL
POSTCARDS
1902
The 1902 postcard page has now been split into four separate pages as it was beginning to get unwieldy. All 1902 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:
POSTCARDS:
P57, P58, P59, P60, P61, P62, P63, P64, P65, P66, P67 and P68
DRUCKSACHE-POSTKARTEN:
DRP1 and DRP2
POSTANWEISUNGEN (POSTAL ORDERS):
A19, A20, A21, A22, A23, and A24
POSTANWEISUNGEN UMSCHLÄGE:
AU47
KARENTBRIEFE:
K11 and K12
ROHRPOSTKARTE:
RP13 and RP14
ROHRPOST UMSCHLÄGE:
RU5
MICHEL P57
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
2Pf
Issued 1902 and measuring 140 x 90mm. The pre-printed stamp is a 2Pf, grey, Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH". The destination address lines are of the long form measuring 121mm with widely spaced lines. "An" is to the left of "Postkarte".
There are two variations of this card:
P57-X: with a type 2 watermark (only letters and Arabic numerals).
P57-Y: without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P57-Y
2Pf grey
2Pf grey
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P58
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
5Pf
Issued 1902 and measuring 140 x 90mm. Germania "DEUTSCHES REICH" stamp, long address form (121mm) with widely spaced lines. "An " or "Nur für die Adresse" on the left under "Postcard". There are two variations of this card: Type 'X' with a watermark 2 (only letters and Arabic numerals) and Type 'Y' without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P58
5Pf green
5Pf green
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P59
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
10Pf
Issued 1902. Pre-printed 10Pf carmine Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH". Inscription to the left reads: "Postkarte | Weltpostverein | Carte Postale | Union Postale universelle". Below this inscription and running vertical is the text "nur für die Adresse". Similar to P62 but with "Postkarte" instead of "Postkarte mit Antworte".
Click here for more details.
Michel P59
10Pf carmine
10Pf carmine
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P60
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
2Pf
Issued 1902. Germania "DEUTSCHES REICH" stamp, long address form (121mm) with widely spaced lines. "An " or "Nur für die Adresse" on the left under "Postcard". There are two variations of this replycard: Type 'X' with a watermark 2 (only letters and Arabic numerals) and Type 'Y' without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P60
2x 2Pf slate grey
2x 2Pf slate grey
MICHEL P61
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
2Pf
Issued 1902. Germania "DEUTSCHES REICH" stamp, long address form (121mm) with widely spaced lines. "An " or "Nur für die Adresse" on the left under "Postcard". There are two variations of this replycard: Type 'X' with a watermark 2 (only letters and Arabic numerals) and Type 'Y' without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P61
2x 5Pf green
2x 5Pf green
MICHEL P62
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
10Pf
Issued 1902. Long address form (121mm) with widely spaced lines. Pre-printed 10Pf carmine Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH". Inscription to the left reads: "Postkarte mit antwort | Weltpostverein | Carte Postale avec réponse payée | Union Postale universelle". Below this inscription and running vertical is the text "nur für die Adresse". Similar to P59 above but now with text "Postkarte mit Antworte" instead of just "Postkarte".
Click here for more details.
Michel P62
2x 10Pf carmine
2x 10Pf carmine
MICHEL P63
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
2Pf
Issued 1902: Now with shorter, Midlength destination address lines (104mm). Postcard P63 features a single 2Pf steel grey / blue pre-printed Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH". The word "Postkarte" is printed on the upper left with "An" and "in" in a line directly below it.
There are two variations of this card:
P63-X: with a type 2 watermark (only letters and Arabic numerals).
P63-Y: without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P63-X
2Pf grey stamp
2Pf grey stamp
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P64
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
5Pf
Issued 1902: Midlength address lines (104mm). Postcard P64 features a single 5Pf green pre-printed Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH". The word "Postkarte" is printed on the upper left with "An" and "in" in a line directly below it. The example below is a P64 Type 'Y' which does not have a watermark, there is also a P64 type 'X' which does have the watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P64-X
5Pf
5Pf
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P65
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
10Pf
Issued 1902: Midlength address lines (104mm). P65 features a 10Pf carmine value stamp and the inscription "Postkarte | Weltpostverein | Carte postale | Union postale universelle" in the upper left-hand corner. Below that inscription are the words "Nur für die Adresse" running vertically up the card, right beside the left-hand edge of the dotted lines.
Click here for more details.
Michel P65-Y
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P66
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
2Pf
Issued 1902: This unused P66 Official replycard was first published in 1902. The card has medium-length pre-printed address lines (104mm) with lines close together. On the sender's side the word "Postkarte" is just above "(Antwort") on the left-hand side of the card. The words "An" and "In" are directly below "Postkarte".
On the Reply card the word "Postkarte" is on the left-hand side, this time without the "(Antwort"). At the bottom left-hand side of the "In" is the inscription "Die angebogene Karte ist fur die Antwort Bestimmt" (This part is for the reply). This replycard only exists in one form and that is without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P66
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P67
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
5Pf
Issued 1902: Midlength address lines (104mm). This replycard has the same design and inscriptions as P66 above. The only difference between the two cards is the value stamp, in this case 5Pf. This replycard only exists in one form and that is without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P67
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P68
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
10Pf
Issued 1902: Midlength address lines (104mm). This replycard features a 10Pf carmine Germania DEUTSCHES REICH pre-printed stamp. This replycard only exists in one form and that is without a watermark.
Click here for more details.
Michel P68
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL DRP1
DRUCKSACHE-POSTKARTEN
2Pf
Issued 1902 in Württemberg by special order. Reduced print postage for Wurttemberg for local and neighbouring post. The card is inscribed "Drucksache" on the left-hand side with "An" directly below and "in" further to the right at the start of the solid line in the destination section.
Michel DRP1
2Pf grey
2Pf grey
MICHEL DRP2
DRUCKSACHE-POSTKARTEN
3Pf
Issued 1902 in Württemberg by special order. Reduced print postage for Wurttemberg for long distance post.The card is inscribed "Drucksache" on the left-hand side with "An" directly below and "in" further to the right at the start of the solid line in the destination section.
Michel DRP2
3Pf brown
3Pf brown
MICHEL A19
OFFICIAL POSTANWEISUNGEN
10Pf
Issued: 1902. 10Rpf carmine Germania "DEUTSCHES REICH" stamp. Issued 1902: Two-part forms, format 160 x 110 mm. Not suitable for use in Bavaria. Featuring Germania stamps now inscribed 'DEUTSHCES REICH'.
Click here for more information.
Michel A19
10Pf carmine
10Pf carmine
MICHEL A20
OFFICIAL POSTANWEISUNGEN
20Pf
Issued: 1902. 20Rpf blue Germania "DEUTSCHES REICH" stamp. similar design to A19 above.
Click here for more information.
Michel A20
20Pf blue
20Pf blue
MICHEL A21
NOT USED
MICHEL A22
NOT USED
MICHEL A23
NOT USED
MICHEL A24
NOT USED
MICHEL AU47
POSTANWEISUNGEN UMSCHLÄGE
20Pf
Issued: 1902. This instruction envelope was only issued for use in Württemberg, the numbering follows that of the Württemberg instruction envelopes.
This envelope features a Germania value stamp with a hatched background. The design is like Württemberg AU46 with the heading "Post=Anweisung". The card is cream-colored to light brownish and measures 148 x 112mm.
Michel AU47
20Pf blue
20Pf blue
MICHEL K11 **
OFFICIAL KARTENBRIEF
10Pf
Issued 1902 with a pre-printed 10Pf Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH". This is the first of five Kartenbrief to feature a 10Pf, Germania pre-printed stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH".
The text 'An' is below and to the left of 'Kartenbrief' and the distance from the first dotted address line to the 4th dotted address is 37mm (later K12 to K14 is 33mm).
Distinguishing features:
i) 'An' is below and to the left of 'Kartenbrief'
ii) distance between 1st and 4th dotted address lines is 37mm
Click here for more information.
Michel K11
10Pf carmine
10Pf carmine
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL K12 **
OFFICIAL KARTENBRIEF
10Pf
Issued 1902 with a pre-printed 10Pf Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH". This is the second of five Kartenbrief to feature a 10Pf, Germania pre-printed stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH".
The words 'Kartenbrief', 'An' and 'in' are all now in a vertical line and the distance from the first dotted address line to the 4th dotted address line is 33mm. The disctance from the Tear-off (perforation holes) to the edge of the card is 6mm, and the distance from one set of perforated lines to the other is 127mm wide. Note K12 is very similar to K13 and K14.
Distinguishing features:
i) No Watermark and
ii) distance from side edge to perforation holes is 6mm and
iii) distance from left-hand perforation to the right-hand perforation is 127mm.
Click here for more information.
Michel K12
10Pf carmine
10Pf carmine
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL RP13
OFFICIAL ROHRPOSTKARTE
25Pf
Issued 1st Apr 1902 and measuring 125 x 88mm. Inscribed 'Rohrpost=Karte' with a 25RPf Germania stamp inscribed 'DEUTSCHES REICH'. This card does not have a watermark and the card is dark pinkish in colour. Similar design to the 1908 issue Michel RP15 and 1915 Michel RP17 .
Click RP13 here for more details.
Michel RP13
25RPf yellowish-brown
25RPf yellowish-brown
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL RP14
OFFICIAL ROHRPOSTKARTE
25Pf
Issued 1st Apr 1902 and measuring 125 x 88mm. Inscribed 'Rohrpost=Karte' with two 25RPf Germania stamps inscribed 'DEUTSCHES REICH'. This card does not have a watermark and the card is dark pinkish in colour. Similar design to the 1908 issue Michel RP16 and 1915 Michel RP18
Click RP14 here for more details.
Michel RP14
2x 25RPf yellowish-brown
2x 25RPf yellowish-brown
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL RU5
OFFICIAL ROHRPOSTUMSCHLÄGE
30Pf
Issued in 1902, this Ruhrpost envelope is the first of three Ruhrpost envelopes to feature a 30Pf Germania stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH", the others being the 1903 RU6 and the 1912 issue RU7. These envelopes measure 126 x 81mm and for RU5 the lower flap is under the side flaps and is rose coloured.
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Michel RU5
30Pf dark blue
30Pf dark blue
FROM MY COLLECTION
