GERMAN EMPIRE
1914
MICHEL P100
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
5Pf GERMANIA
This official postcard was published for the Red Cross 'Deutsche Roten Kreuzes', in the form of a "Deutsche Kriegskarte" - 'German War Card'. On the reverse of the card is a portrait of Kaiser Wilhelm II. The card is inscribed "Deutsches Kriegskarte 1914" in the centre of the card. On the left-hand side is the Red Cross logo surrounded by the inscription "Auf Befehl S.M Des Kaisers | zu Gunsten des Roten Kreuzes" - 'By order of the Emperor's SM | in favor of the Red Cross'.
There is another inscription on the lower left-hand side of the card which reads "Central-Komitee vom Roten Kreuz, Berlin W.35. | Tiefdruck der Rotophot A.G., Berlin" - 'Central Committee of the Red Cross, Berlin W.35. | Gravure printing by Rotophot AG, Berlin'. The value stamp was printed on the card as an addition process, so there is quite a large variation in the position of the value stamp, relative to the top and side of the postcard.
Unsold P100's were used up by the application of an imprint "Amtlich entwertet" (Officially Devalued), between 2 bars with iron crosses and imprinted with "Feldpostkarte".
There are four variants of the official P100 postcard as follows:
P100-A-I where the above inscription measures 36mm and the artists name appears below the Kaiser's image.
P100-A-II where the inscription measures 36mm but the artists name deos not appear below the Kaiser's image
P100-B-I where the above inscription measures 45mm and the artists name appears below the Kaiser's image.
P100-B-II where the inscription measures 45mm but the artists name deos not appear below the Kaiser's image
In addition to the official P100 postcard this card also exists with a number of other variations, all without pre-printed stamp as follows
No. 1 P100-A-I but without the pre-printed stamp
No. 2 P100-A-I but without the pre-printed stamp or the '1914' Date
No. 3 P100-B-I without pre-printed stamp or the '1914' date
No. 4 P100-B-I but without the pre-printed stamp but with additional text
No. 5 P100-B-II but without the pre-printed stamp
No. 6 P100-B-II but without the pre-printed stamp or the '1914' Date
MICHEL P100-A-I
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. 5Pf Germania pre-printed stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH"
2. Inscription length is 36mm
3. Artist's name appears below the image of the Kaiser.
(1)
P100-A-I
P100-A-I
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P100-A-II
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. 5Pf Germania pre-printed stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH"
2. Inscription length is 36mm
3. Artist's name does NOT appear below the image of the Kaiser.
(1)
P100-A-II
P100-A-II
FROM MY COLLECTION
(2)
P100-A-II
P100-A-II
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P100-B-I
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. 5Pf Germania pre-printed stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH"
2. Inscription length is 45mm
3. Artist's name appears below the image of the Kaiser.
(1)
P100-B-I
P100-B-I
MICHEL P100-B-II
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. 5Pf Germania pre-printed stamp inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH"
2. Inscription length is 45mm
3. Artist's name does NOT appear below the image of the Kaiser.
(2)
P100-B-II
P100-B-II
FROM MY COLLECTION
"AMTLICH ENTWERTET"
Unused P100's were later re-used with the addition of an imprint "Amtlich entwertet" (Officially Devalued), between 2 bars with iron crosses and imprinted with "Feldpostkarte" (3)
P100-B AMTLICH ENTWERTET
P100-B AMTLICH ENTWERTET
No. 1
MICHEL P100-A-I
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. No pre-printed stamp.
2. Inscription length is 36mm
3. Artist's name appears below the image of the Kaiser.
P100-A-I
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP
FROM MY COLLECTION
No. 2
MICHEL P100-A-I
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP
OR '1914' DATE
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. No pre-printed stamp.
2. Inscription length is 36mm
3. Artist's name appears below the image of the Kaiser.
4. Reverse reads 'Deutsche Kreigskarte' without '1914'
P100-A-I NO STAMP/NO DATE
COMING SOON
No. 3
MICHEL P100-B-I
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP
OR '1914' DATE
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. No pre-printed stamp.
2. Inscription length is 45mm
3. Artist's name appears below the image of the Kaiser.
4. Reverse reads 'Deutsche Kreigskarte' without '1914'
(1)
P100-B-I
WITHOUT STAMP/DATE
P100-B-I
WITHOUT STAMP/DATE
FROM MY COLLECTION
(2)
P100-B-I
WITHOUT STAMP/DATE
P100-B-I
WITHOUT STAMP/DATE
FROM MY COLLECTION
No. 4
MICHEL P100-B-I
WITHOUT STAMP/ WITH ADDITIONAL TEXT
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. No pre-printed stamp.
2. Inscription length is 45mm
3. Artist's name appears below the image of the Kaiser.
4. Reverse with additional text 'Hauptvertrieb: Gustav Liersch & Co., Berlin SW. 48'.
(1)
P100-B-I NO STAMP/EXTRA TEXT
P100-B-I NO STAMP/EXTRA TEXT
FROM MY COLLECTION
(2)
P100-B-I NO STAMP/EXTRA TEXT
P100-B-I NO STAMP/EXTRA TEXT
FROM MY COLLECTION
No. 5
MICHEL P100-B-II
WITHOUT STAMP
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. No pre-printed stamp.
2. Inscription length is 45mm
3. Artist's name does NOT appear below the image of the Kaiser.
P100-B-II WITHOUT STAMP
COMING SOON
No. 6
MICHEL P100-B-II
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP
OR '1914' DATE
IDENTIFYING FEATURES:1. No pre-printed stamp.
2. Inscription length is 45mm
3. Artist's name does NOT appear below the image of the Kaiser.
4. Reverse reads 'Deutsche Kreigskarte' without '1914'
P100-B-II
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP/DATE
WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP/DATE