My Postcards & Covers

GERMAN COLONIES
NEU-GUINEA
OFFICIAL POSTCARDS

This page lists official postcards issued during the period of the German colony in Neu-Guinea which operated from 15th Feb 1888 until the beginning of 1915. The first section on Vorlaufer represent postcards from the German Empire that were not issued specifically for Neu-Guinea, but were initially intended for use in Germany and were then used in the colonies. The only differnce between a domestically used postcard and a vorlaufer from the colonies is the postmark.

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VORLAUFER
NEU-GUINEA COMPANY

MICHEL 1
PACKETMARKE

Issued 1888. Value stamp: Lion walking, above it the value and inscription: "GUINEA COMPAGNIE PROTECTED AREA", black, blue-gray and measuring 184 x 135mm.

Michel 1
2 Mark

VORLAUFER MICHEL VP14, VP15 and VP19
'PFENNIG' INSCRIPTION

MICHEL VP14

Issued 1888. This postcard is the same as the 1886 Michel P14 postcard issued in Germany and has a pre-printed 1880 issue Michel 41 stamp.

Michel VP14
10Pf red

MICHEL VP15
(REPLY CARD)

Issued 1888. This postcard is the same as the 1886 Michel P15 postcard issued in Germany and has a pre-printed 1880 issue Michel 41 stamp.

Michel VP15
Reply Card
2x 10Pf red

MICHEL VP18

Issued 1888. This postcard is the same as the 1887 Michel P18 postcard issued in Germany and has a pre-printed 1880 issue Michel 40 stamp.

Michel VP18
5Pf violet

VORLAUFER MICHEL VU13A and VU13B
(CROWN / EAGLE)

MICHEL VU13A and VU13B

Issued 1889. This is a Michel U13 envelope with a local Neu-Guinea cancellation.

Michel VU13A and VU13B
10Pf carmine

MICHEL VS8
(RIBBON)

Issued 1889. Ribbon measuring 162 x 230mm. The same as Michel S8 .

Michel VS8
3Pf brown

MICHEL VP20, VP24, VP28, VP30, VP32 and VP36

Issued 1889 to 1891. VP20 the same as Michel P20 . VP24 the same as Michel P24 . VP28 the same as Michel P28 . VP30 the same as Michel P30 . VP32 the same as Michel P32 . VP36 the same as Michel P36 .

Michel VP20, VP24, VP28, VP30, VP32 and VP36
5Pf green

MICHEL VP22, VP26 and VP31

VP22 the same as Michel P22 . VP26 the same as Michel P26 . VP31 the same as Michel P31 .

Michel VP22, VP26 and VP31
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green

MICHEL VP21, VP25 and VP35

VP21 the same as Michel P21 . VP25 the same as Michel P25 . VP35 the same as Michel P35 .

Michel VP21, VP25 and VP35
10Pf carmine

MICHEL VP23 and VP27

VP23 the same as Michel P23 . VP27 the same as Michel P27 .

Michel VP23 and VP27
Reply Card
10Pf carmine

MICHEL P1 to P4
CROWN / EAGLE
('Deutsch Neu-Guinea' Overprint)

1898. Letter next to the print date, without watermark, P1 without print date but with watermark. All with diagonal two-line overprint 'Deutsch | Neu-Guinea' from bottom left-hand corner to top right-hand corner of the stamp.

MICHEL P1

Issued 1898. With watermark but no print date in bottom right-hand corner.

Michel P1
5Pf green

MICHEL P2

Issued 1898. With print date and letter on bottom right-hand corner and no watermark.

Michel P2
10Pf carmine

MICHEL P3
REPLY CARD

Issued 1898. This postcard measures 140 x 90mm. Inscribed 'Deutsch-Neu-Guinea' on two diagonal lines in black overprint. The original stamp is a green German Empire Issue 5Pf crown/eagle stamp inscribed 'REICHSPOST'. There is no date on the bottom right-hand corner of the card. P3 is also available without an imprint on the question card (998 f). The example below shows the 'Answer' side of the card.

Michel P3
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green

MICHEL P4

Issued 1898. With print date and letter on bottom right-hand corner and no watermark.

Michel P4
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine

MICHEL P5 to P7
CROWN / EAGLE
('Deutsch Neu-Guinea' Overprint)

MICHEL P5

Issued 1899. With date but without letter or watermark.

Michel P5
10Pf carmine

MICHEL P6

Issued 1899. Inscribed 'Deutsch-Neu-Guinea' on two diagonal lines in black overprint. The original stamp is a green German Empire Issue 5Pf crown/eagle stamp inscribed 'REICHSPOST'. The envelope itself has the issue date at the bottom right corner but it is without a letter and there is no or watermark.

Michel P6
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green

MICHEL P7

Issued 1899. With date but without letter or watermark.

Michel P7
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine

MICHEL P8 to P16
IMPERIAL YACHT
(1900/1919)

1900. Inscribed "DEUTSCHE-NEU-GUINEA".

P8 to P16 were issued from 1900 and depict the Kaiser's yacht with the inscription 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA' in an arc across the top. The postcards were issued to coincide with the new stamps which have the same design as the pre-printed stamps on these postcards. Unfortunately there are a lot of Fake versions of these postcards available on the internet. Not only Neu-Guinea postcards have been forged, but also all other colonial issues of these postcards as well. However the forgeries and the real versions can be differentiated by looking closely at the pre-printed stamps. Below are two close up views of forged postcards (the genuine one is the NEU-GUINEA image and the forged is the TOGO image) in the Kaiser's yacht series to assist with determining which are fake and which are genuine.

Genuine

Forged

The genuine stamp has clearly defined white lines running up the two smoke stacks (chimneys), two parallel lines on each chimney. The fake versions are much less visible and almost disappear on the second smoke stack. The horizontal shading lines each side of the denomination are also much clearer on the genuine stamp. Finally the smoke emitting from the genuine chimneys is much sharper than the blurred smoke of the fake version.

If you are looking to buy any of these postcards on the internet and the image posted is too small for you to make a positive identification, then it should be noted that the fake postcards look much newer and fresher than the genuine items. These postcards are over 100 years old and should not look like they are fresh of the printing press.

MICHEL P8

Michel P8
5Pf green

MICHEL P9

Issued 1900. The pre-printed stamp is inscribed 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA' and is 10Pf, carmine, german Empire Imperial Yacht issue stamp only available in the colonies. The card has a border and the inscriprtion 'Postkarte - Weltpostverein | Carte postale - Union postale universelle'.

Michel P9
10Pf carmine

MICHEL P10

Michel P10
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green

MICHEL P11

Michel P11
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine

MICHEL P12

Issued 1907. Postcard without border.

Michel P12
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine

MICHEL P13

Issued 1913. Inscribed 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'. "Postkarte" printed to the right of the vertical bar. Diamond watermark.

Michel P13
5Pf green

MICHEL P14

Issued 1919. Inscribed 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'. "Postkarte" over the tick mark. Without watermark.

Michel P14
5Pf green

MICHEL P15

Issued 1919. Inscribed 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'. "Postkarte" over the tick mark. Without watermark.

Michel P15
10Pf carmine

MICHEL P16

Issued 1919. Inscribed 'DEUTSCH-NEUGUINEA'. "Postkarte" over the tick mark. Without watermark.

Michel P16
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine

PRIVATE ISSUE

MICHEL PP3

Michel PP3
5Pf green

MICHEL P1 to P6
BRITISH OCCUPATION

MICHEL P1

Issued 1915. The same as P9 above with 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA' inscription, black overprinted 'G.R.I' and new currency in Pence.

Michel P1
1d on 5Pf green

MICHEL P2

Issued 1915. The same as P9 above with 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA' inscription, black overprinted 'G.R.I' and new currency in Pence.

Michel P2
2d on 10Pf rose

MICHEL P3
(REPLY CARD)

Issued 1915. 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA' inscription with black overprinted 'G.R.I' and new currency in Pence.

Michel P3
Reply Card
2x 1d on 5Pf green

MICHEL P4
(REPLY CARD)

Issued 1915. 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA' inscription with black overprinted 'G.R.I' and new currency in Pence.

Michel P4
Reply Card
2x 2d on 10Pf rose

MICHEL P5

Issued 1915. 'DEUTSCH-NEU-GUINEA' inscription with black overprinted 'G.R.I' and new currency in Pence. The previous overprint 2d overprinted with 1d.

Michel P5
1d on 2d on 10Pf rose

MICHEL P6

Issued 1915. Very rare version of Neu-Guinea postcards. 'DEUTSCHE-NEU-GUINEA' inscription with black overprinted 'G.R.I' and new currency in Pence. The previous overprint 2d overprinted with 1d. Like P5 above but now with an additional "Sold At" overprint.

Michel P6
1d on 2d on 10Pf rose

GERMAN COLONIES NEU-GUINEA OFFICIAL POSTCARDS

VORLAUFER NEU-GUINEA COMPANY

MICHEL 1 PACKETMARKE

VORLAUFER MICHEL VP14, VP15 and VP19 'PFENNIG' INSCRIPTION

MICHEL VP14

MICHEL VP15 (REPLY CARD)

MICHEL VP18

VORLAUFER MICHEL VU13A and VU13B (CROWN / EAGLE)

MICHEL VU13A and VU13B

MICHEL VS8 (RIBBON)

MICHEL VP20, VP24, VP28, VP30, VP32 and VP36

MICHEL VP22, VP26 and VP31

MICHEL VP21, VP25 and VP35

MICHEL VP23 and VP27

MICHEL P1 to P4 CROWN / EAGLE ('Deutsch Neu-Guinea' Overprint)

MICHEL P1

MICHEL P2

MICHEL P3 REPLY CARD

MICHEL P4

MICHEL P5 to P7 CROWN / EAGLE ('Deutsch Neu-Guinea' Overprint)

MICHEL P5

MICHEL P6

MICHEL P7

MICHEL P8 to P16 IMPERIAL YACHT (1900/1919)

MICHEL P8

MICHEL P9

MICHEL P10

MICHEL P11

MICHEL P12

MICHEL P13

MICHEL P14

MICHEL P15

MICHEL P16

PRIVATE ISSUE

MICHEL PP3

MICHEL P1 to P6 BRITISH OCCUPATION

MICHEL P1

MICHEL P2

MICHEL P3 (REPLY CARD)

MICHEL P4 (REPLY CARD)

MICHEL P5

MICHEL P6

This page was last updated 30-Aug-2021 07:19

GERMAN COLONIES
NEU-GUINEA
OFFICIAL POSTCARDS

VORLAUFER
NEU-GUINEA COMPANY

MICHEL 1
PACKETMARKE

VORLAUFER MICHEL VP14, VP15 and VP19
'PFENNIG' INSCRIPTION

MICHEL VP15
(REPLY CARD)

VORLAUFER MICHEL VU13A and VU13B
(CROWN / EAGLE)

MICHEL VS8
(RIBBON)

MICHEL P1 to P4
CROWN / EAGLE
('Deutsch Neu-Guinea' Overprint)

MICHEL P3
REPLY CARD

MICHEL P5 to P7
CROWN / EAGLE
('Deutsch Neu-Guinea' Overprint)

MICHEL P8 to P16
IMPERIAL YACHT
(1900/1919)

MICHEL P1 to P6
BRITISH OCCUPATION

MICHEL P3
(REPLY CARD)

MICHEL P4
(REPLY CARD)

This page was last updated
30-Aug-2021 07:19