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 M52, 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 M52
REGULAR ISSUE GERMAN EMPIRE

Issued: 29th Mar 1900. Inscribed "REICHSPOST", Regular Issue. "Denomination in oval" This stamp is unwatermarked and perf 13½ x 14¼ produced on sheets 10 x 5.