GERMAN EMPIRE
OFFICIAL
POSTCARDS
1914
The 1914 postcard page has now been split into four separate pages as it was beginning to get unwieldy. All 1914 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:
P95, P96, P97, P98, P99, P100, P101, P102 and P103
KARENTBRIEFE:
K15
MICHEL P95
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
3Pf
Elimination of the watermark. Similar design to P89. The postcards have the word "postkarte" to the right of the vertical divider. Printed on dark cardboard.
Click here for more details.
Michel P96
3Pf brown
3Pf brown
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P96
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
5PF
Elimination of the watermark. Similar design to P90. The postcards have the word "postkarte" to the right of the vertical divider. Printed on dark cardboard.
Click here for more details.
Michel P96
5Pf green
5Pf green
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P97
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
10Pf
Elimination of the watermark. Similar design to P91. The postcards have the word "postkarte" to the right of the vertical divider. Printed on dark cardboard.
Click here for more details.
Michel P97
10Pf carmine
10Pf carmine
MICHEL P98
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
5Pf
Elimination of the watermark. Similar design to P92. The postcards have the word "postkarte" to the right of the vertical divider. No longer does "mit Antworte" or "antwort" have brackets and also without the watermark. Printed on dark cardboard.
Click here for more details.
Michel P98
5Pf green
5Pf green
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P99
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
10Pf
Similar design to P93. This replycard has the words "Postkarte | mit Antwortkarte" directly above the vertical divider. No longer does "mit Antworte" or "Antwort" have brackets and also without the watermark. Printed on dark cardboard.
Click here for more details.
Michel P99
2x 10Pf carmine
2x 10Pf carmine
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P100
OFFICIAL KRIEGSKARTE
5Pf
This official postcard was published for the Red Cross 'Deutsche Roten Kreuzes', in the form of a "Deutsche Kriegskarte" - 'German War Card 1914'. On the reverse of the card is a portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The card is inscribed "Deutsches Kriegskarte 1914" in the centre of the card. On the left-hand side is the Red Cross logo surrounded by the inscription "Auf Befehl S.M Des Kaisers | zu Gunsten des Roten Kreuzes" - 'By order of the Emperor's SM | in favor of the Red Cross'.
There is another inscription on the lower left-hand side of the card which reads "Central-Komitee vom Roten Kreuz, Berlin W.35. | Tiefdruck der Rotophot A.G., Berlin" - 'Central Committee of the Red Cross, Berlin W.35. | Gravure printing by Rotophot AG, Berlin'. There are two versions of this card: P100-A where this inscription measures 36mm and P100-B where it measures 45mm.
The value stamp was printed on the card as an addition process, so there is quite a large variation in the position of the value stamp, relative to the top and side of the postcard. The German Red Cross also issued cards without a value stamp.
The remaining unused P100's were used up by the application of an imprint "Amtlich entwertet" (Officially Devalued), between 2 bars with iron crosses and imprinted with "Feldpostkarte".
Click here for more details.
Michel P100
5Pf green
5Pf green
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P101
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
3Pf
Issued: 1914. Special postcard in favor of the Red Cross in Württemberg, on the reverse patient carrier, on white card. The card is inscribed "Offizielle Postkarte | des Wurtt. Landesvereins v. Roten Kreuz 1914" on the top left-hand pane.
The remainder of the P101-P103 were used up in 1919 when a round official stamp was imprinted on the value stamp, and they were used up as official forms.
Click here for more details.
Michel P101
3Pf brown
3Pf brown
MICHEL P102
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
5Pf
Issued: 1914. Special postcard in favor of the Red Cross in Württemberg, on the reverse patient carrier, on white card. The card is inscribed "Offizielle Postkarte | des Wurtt. Landesvereins v. Roten Kreuz 1914" on the top left-hand pane.
The remainder of the P101-P103 were used up in 1919 when a round official stamp was imprinted on the value stamp, and they were used up as official forms.
Click here for more details.
Michel P102
5Pf green
5Pf green
MICHEL P103
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
10Pf
Issued: 1914. Special postcard in favor of the Red Cross in Württemberg, on the reverse patient carrier, on white card. The card is inscribed "Offizielle Postkarte | des Wurtt. Landesvereins v. Roten Kreuz 1914" on the top left-hand pane.
The remainder of the P101-P103 were used up in 1919 when a round official stamp was imprinted on the value stamp, and they were used up as official forms.
Click here for more details.
Michel P103
10Pf carminen
10Pf carminen
MICHEL K15
OFFICIAL KARTENBRIEF
10Pf
Issued in 1914. The design is the same as the 1907 Michel K14 but now without the watermark. This is the final card of five cards to feature a 10Pf, carmine, GERMANIA pre-printed stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH".
Click here for more details.
Michel K15
10Pf carmine
10Pf carmine
