WEIMAR REPUBLIC
STAMPS
1923
The Weimar Republic stamps of 1923 reveal a fascinating insight into the meltdown of the German economy which had started 2 years earlier in 1921. In 1923 things went massively out of control as hyperinflation ravaged the country. The cost to send a postcard abroad rose from 15Pf in October 1919 to 200 billion Marks by 1st Dec 1923, an unbelievable increase in the price of a stamp. Despite this huge increase, letters and postcards remained the principal form of communication for families and friends both inside the country and overseas. For more information on this fascinating subject check out hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic on Wikipedia.
MICHEL 258 to 260
RHEIN-and-RUHR ASSISTANCE
Issued: 19th Feb 1923. These stamps are the same as Michel 238, Michel 242 and Michel 196 but now with black typography 'Rhein=Ruhr=hilfe' overprint. Sheets (10x10), Waffle (network) watermark. Michel 258 and 259 are perf K14:14¼, Michel 260 is perf K14.
MICHEL 261 and 262
WARTBURG CASTLE and COLOGNE CATHEDRAL
Issued: May/Jul 1923. Regular issue Wartburg Castle and Cologne Cathedral. Produced by the Government Printing Office, engraved Michel 261 (5x10), Michel 262 (10x5), Michel 261 vertical waffle (network) watermark, Michel 262 horizontal waffle (network) watermark. Perf K14.
MICHEL 263 to 267
AIRMAIL ISSUE
WOOD PIGEON (III)
Issued: May/Jun 1923. Wood Pigeon (III), designed by Prof. Aufseesser, typography (10x5 + 10x5 horizontal gutter between). Watermarked waffle (network) and perf K13:13¾. The design is the same as the 1922 Michel 210 to 218 (I) and Michel 235 to 237 (II) issues but now with new colours and values.
MICHEL 268 to 273
REGULAR ISSUE 'NUMBER in CIRCLE'
Issued: Mar/Aug 1923. Regular Issue 'Number in Circle'. Printed typography on sheets (10x10) and coils with waffle (network) watermark. Perf 14:14¼.
MICHEL 274 to 276
REGULAR ISSUE 'NUMBER in CIRCLE'
Issued: 15th to 20th Sep. Regular Issue 'Number in Circle'. Printed typography on sheets (10x10) with waffle (network) watermark. Perf K14:14¼.
PROVISIONAL ISSUES of the HIGH INFLATION PERIOD
24th Aug to 30th Nov 1923
This period represents the height of the hyper-inflationary period in Germany and can be seen in the almost weekly increases in postal rates, leaving large reserves of already printed stamps unusable.
In order to resolve this problem the Government Printing Office was tasked with overprinting existing stocks of unused stamps. However the demand was so high that the Reich's Ministry of Post had to authorise regional post offices to assist with the task. Locally produced sheets can be recognised by the different overprints on the upper margin, although this is more difficult with individual stamps (hence why some collectors prefer to collect upper margin examples).
The overprint fonts themselves do not vary as the templates were provided by the Reich's Ministry of Post, so they are all the same. However some font defects are common to certain Post Office's printings and so can be used to determine where a certain stamp was printed. In addition minor differences in the overprinted ink colour and 'glossiness' can help to determine the source.