GERMAN COLONIES
MARIANEN
STAMPS
1900

The German protectorate in the Marianas Islands started from the 18th June 1899 with the German Post Office starting from 18th November 1899.

The Marianas Islands are located in the Pacific Ocean Southwest of Japan. They were purchased from Spain along with the Caroline Islands on 8th Feb 1899. Official appropriation was on 18th June 1899 and the flag was raised on Saipan on 17th November 1899. The first postal agency on Saipan opened on 18th November 1899 with the first stamp issue being Michel Nr 1I to 6I, hence there were no forerunners on the Marianas as there were for other colonies. The Saipan post office remained the only post office in the Marianas up until the start of the First Wolrd War. The Japanese occupied and took control over the islands on 14th October 1914.

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MICHEL 1II
REGULAR ISSUE GERMAN EMPIRE

May 1900. Michel Nr 45 to 50 with black 56˚ diagonal Typography overprint, so-called "crown/eagle". No watermark.

Mi 1II
3Pf
dark Ochre brown

Quantity Issued: Unknown

Valid Until: 30th Sep 1901

"Deutsche Seepost / Australische Hauptlinie" cancels (usually 28.1.01 and 3.2.01) as well as "Deutsche Seepost / Ost-Australische Hauptlinie" cancels (usually 5.10.00) are fake since these ships never sailed into port.

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