My Postcards & Covers

GERMAN OFFICES ABROAD
MOROCCO
POSTCARDS

From 20th Dec 1899 until 5th Aug 1914 German Moroccan postcards have a French currency, then from 6th Aug 1914 until 11th Jun 1919 they are produced in Spanish currency. The german post offices in the french zone of Morocco were closed on 5th Aug 1914, while the post offices in the Spanish zone remained in operation until 16 jun 1919.

VORLAUFERS
FORERUNNERS

Vorlaufers or forerunners are German Empire Issue stamps and postcards that were printed for use in Germany but have a colonial cancellation. For example the postcard shown below is a typical forerunner. The postcard is an 1878 Michel P8 for use in Germany but it has been cancelled in Constantinopel, Morocco. The colonies did not have ther own stamps and postcards until 1899/1900 when the German postal agency overprinted German Empire issues with the colony's name e.g. 'Morocco'. Up until that time any mail sent from the colonies had to use the existing stamps and postcards from Germany. Vorlaufers are fairly common and examples exist for all of the colonies.

Moroccan Forerunner

MICHEL PI to PIV
(diagonal 'Marocco' overprint)

These two postcards (PI and PII) and two reply cards (PIII and PIV) were issued from 1899-1900 and each of them measures 140 x 90mm (reply cards folded). The pre-printed stamps are German Empire issue Crown/Eagle designs with a diagonal one-line 'Morocco' overprint running from the bottom left-hand corner of the stamps up to the top right-hand corner.

MICHEL PI

Michel PI
5Pf green stamp

MICHEL PII

Michel PII
10Pf carmine stamp

MICHEL PIII

Michel PIII
Reply card
2x 5Pf green stamps

MICHEL PIV

Michel PIV
Reply card
2x 10Pf carmine stamps

MICHEL P1 to P4
(Diagonal 'Marocco' Overprint and currency)

These two postcards (Michel P1 and P2) and 2 reply cards (P3 and P4) were issued in 1899 and have a black two-line diagonal overprint running from the bottom left-hand side of the stamp up to the top right-hand side. The text reads 'Marocco' and the currency is 'Centimos'. The stamps are pre-printed German Empire crown/eagle stamps.

MICHEL P1

Michel P1
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P2

Michel P2
10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamp

MICHEL P3

Michel P3
Reply Card
2x 5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamps

MICHEL P4

Michel P4
Reply Card
2x 10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamps

MICHEL P5 to P8
GERMANIA 'REICHSPOST' STAMP
(Overprinted 'Marocco' and Currency)

These two postcards (Michel P5 and P6) and two reply cards (Michel P7 and P8) feature Germania stamps inscribed "REICHSPOST" along the bottom of the stamp. The pre-printed stamps are also overprinted 'Marocco' and the currency (now SPanish) in black running in two lines along the bottom of the stamp.

MICHEL P5

Michel P5
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P6

Michel P6
10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamp

MICHEL P7

Michel P7
Reply Card
2x 5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P8

Michel P8
Reply Card
2x 10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamp

MICHEL P9 to P12
GERMANIA 'DEUTSCHES REICH' STAMP
(Overprinted 'Marocco' and Currency)

Issued 1905 to 1919. These two postcards (Michel P9 and P10) and two reply cards (Michel P11 and P12) feature Germania stamps, this time inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH" along the bottom of the stamp. The pre-printed stamps are also overprinted 'Marocco' and the currency (in Spanish) in black running in two lines along the bottom of the stamp. The overprint is now in a more styalised Gothic font when compared to the earlier overprints.

MICHEL P9

Michel P9
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P10

Michel P10
10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamp

MICHEL P11

Michel P11
Reply Card
2x 5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P12

Michel P12
Reply Card
2x 10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamp

MICHEL P13 and P14

These two postcards were issued in 1907 and are the same as P9 and P10 but now with diamond watermarks, address lines are 104mm long as before

Michel P13

Michel P13
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamps

MICHEL P14

Michel P14
10 centimos on 10Pf carmine stamps

MICHEL P15

Issued 1909 and the same as Michel P13 but now with 85mm long address lines.

Michel P15
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P16 and P17

Issued 1911 to 1915. With "Postkarte" on the right, and modified black horizontal imprint 'Morokko' and currency in two lines along the bottom of the stamp. Now with diamond watermark.

MICHEL P16

Michel P16
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P17

P17 was only sold at the collector's counter in Berlin.

Michel P17
10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamp

MICHEL P18

Issued 1917. Similar to P16 above but now without the watermark. P18 was only sold at the collector's counter in Berlin.

Michel P18
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P19 and P20

Issued 1919. The word 'Postkarte' now measures 23mm long and is positioned in the middle above the dividing line. P19 and P20 were only sold at the collector's counter in Berlin.

MICHEL P19

Michel P19
5 Centimos on 5Pf green stamp

MICHEL P20

Michel P20
Reply Card
2x 10 Centimos on 10Pf carmine stamp