GERMAN COLONIES
KAMERUN
POSTCARDS
The area of the Kamerun under German control was occupied on 14th Jul 1884. The first post office was set up in Duala on 1st Feb 1887 and remained in operation until early 1916. There were a total of 53 Post Offices in all with the last one opening in Ngoa on 12th Jan 1915.
VORLAUFER
Initally postcards printed in Germany with Empire issue pre-printed stamps were used in the Kamerun. Eventually postcards with pre-printed stamps inscribed 'Kamerun' were made available. These early un-inscribed postcards are knwon as Vorlaufer and can only be differentiated from postcards used in Germany by the postmark. There is no such thing as an unused Kamerun vorlaufer. Their usage was from 1st Feb 1887 until 1897 and the only viable cancellations are from 'KAMERUN', 'KRIBI' and 'VIKTORIA'.Vorlaufer pre-printed stamps are either the 1880 German Empire pfennig or the later 1889 issue Crown/Eagle stamps.
MICHEL P1 to P7
KRONE/ADLER - Crown/Eagle
(1897-1900)
P1 to P4 can have angles for the overprint between 45 and 53 degrees.
MICHEL P1
Printed 1897. This card measures 140 x 90mm. Features a single 5RPf green krone/adler stamp. P1 has a diagonal 'Kamerun' overprint from bottom-left to top-right of the stamp as well as a watermark but no print date.
MICHEL P1
MICHEL P2
Printed 1897. This card measures 140 x 90mm. Features a single 10RPf green krone/adler stamp. P2 has a diagonal 'Kamerun' overprint from bottom-left to top-right of the stamp as well as a print date but no watermark. MICHEL P2
Look out for P2 PF III which has a plate fault where the right part of the currency "PF" has a short foot.
MICHEL P3
(Answer Card)
Printed 1897. This card measures 140 x 90mm. Features two 5RPf green krone/adler stamps. P3 has a diagonal 'Kamerun' overprint from bottom-left to top-right of the stamp as well as a print date but no watermark. P3 is an answer, or reply card, so can be found either as a single half of the card or as a complete piece with both halves still joined together.
MICHEL P3
There is minor version of P3 that is blackish-green.
MICHEL P4
(Answer Card)
Printed 1897. This card measures 140 x 90mm. Features two 10RPf carmine krone/adler stamps. P4 has a diagonal 'Kamerun' overprint from bottom-left to top-right of the stamp as well as a print date but no watermark. P4 is an answer, or reply card, so can be found either as a single half of the card or as a complete piece with both halves still joined together.
MICHEL P4
MICHEL P5
Printed 1899. This card measures 140 x 90mm. Features a single 10RPf carmine krone/adler stamp. The same as P1 but this card has a print date but no letter and is without watermark.MICHEL P5
Look out for P5 PF III which has a plate fault where the right part of the currency "PF" has a short foot.
MICHEL P6
Printed 1899. This card measures 140 x 90mm. Features two 5RPf green krone/adler stamps. The same as P3 but this card has a print date but no letter and is without watermark.MICHEL P6
MICHEL P7
Printed 1899. This card measures 140 x 90mm. Features two 10RPf carmine krone/adler stamps. The same as P4 but this card has a print date but no letter and is without watermark.MICHEL P7
Michel P7 Fd is a variation with a white line in the frame.
MICHEL P8 to P21
KAISER's YACHT SERIES
There are a large number of forged postcards from the Kaiser Yacht series for all of the German colonies. These include single as well as answer cards. The forgeries are recognizable by the smooth cardboard. The hatching around the numerals is messy and blotchy, as is the smoke from the chimney. The vertical white line doesn't reach the top of the second chimney. Overall, the cards look too fresh.
MICHEL P8
Printed from 1900 to 1919 with pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.
MICHEL P8
MICHEL P9
Printed from 1900 to 1919 with pre-printed, carmine, 10RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.MICHEL P9
MICHEL P10
Printed from 1900 to 1919 with two pre-printed, green, 5Pf Kaier's yacht stamps.MICHEL P10
MICHEL P11
Printed from 1900 to 1919 with two pre-printed, carmine, 10Pf Kaier's yacht stamps.MICHEL P11
MICHEL P12 & P13
KAISER's YACHT SERIES
MICHEL P12
Printed from 1902 with pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.MICHEL P12
MICHEL P13
Printed from 1902 with two pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamps.MICHEL P
MICHEL P14 & P15
KAISER's YACHT SERIES
MICHEL P14
Printed from 1904 with pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.MICHEL P14
MICHEL P15
Printed from 1908 with pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.MICHEL P15
MICHEL P16 & P17
KAISER's YACHT SERIES
MICHEL P16
Printed from 1912/17 with pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.MICHEL P16
MICHEL P17
Printed from 1912/17 with two pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamps.MICHEL P17
MICHEL P18 & P21
KAISER's YACHT SERIES
MICHEL P18
Printed from 1917/19 with a pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.MICHEL P18
MICHEL P19
Printed from 1917/19 with a pre-printed, carmine, 10RPf Kaier's yacht stamp.MICHEL P19
MICHEL P20
Printed from 1917/19 with two pre-printed, green, 5RPf Kaier's yacht stamps.MICHEL P20
MICHEL P21
Printed from 1917/19 with two pre-printed, carmine, 10RPf Kaier's yacht stamps.MICHEL P19
MICHEL PP1 & PP2
PRIVATE POSTCARD
MICHEL PP1
Printed 1899. Features a single 5RPf green krone/adler pre-printed stamp. MICHEL PP1
MICHEL PP2
Printed 1899. Features a single 10RPf carmine krone/adler pre-printed stamp. MICHEL PP2
MICHEL PP3 & PP4
PRIVATE POSTCARD
MICHEL PP3
Printed 1917/19. Features a single 3RPf brown pre-printed stamp. MICHEL PP3
MICHEL PP4
Printed 1917/19. Features a single 5RPf carmine pre-printed stamp. MICHEL PP4
MICHEL P1 to P3
BRITISH OCCUPATION
MICHEL P1
Printed 1915. Features a single ½d on 5RPf green pre-printed stamp overprinted C.E.F. MICHEL P1
MICHEL P2
Printed 1915. Features a single 1d on 10RPf carmine pre-printed stamp overprinted C.E.F. MICHEL P2
MICHEL P3
Printed 1915. Features two ½d on 5RPf green pre-printed stamps overprinted C.E.F. MICHEL P3