GERMAN EMPIRE
OFFICIAL POSTCARDS

Please note the following for this website. Official Postcards are defined as:

1. Postcards of the German Empire issued by the Official German postal Authority, from 1873 until 1945.

2. Postcards that were generally available throughout the entire country and have a pre-printed (Indicia) stamp to cover the cost of postage.

The vast majority of official postcards have no printing on the reverse side so no image of the reverse side is provided, except in the few instances where there was something printed on the reverse of the card.

line

P10, P11, P12, P13, P16, P17, P18 and P19
5Pf VIOLET
"PFENNIG"

Note: Only postcards P10, P12, P16, P18 and reply cards P11, P13, P17 and P19 have this version of pre-printed stamp. This pre-printed stamp is very similar to the earlier issue postcards/reply cards P5, P6 and P7 where the word "PFENNIGE", on the left and right sides of the stamp, has a letter 'E' at the end. The pre-printed stamp on P10-P13 and P16-P19 has a small number '5'.

All of these cards have a 5Pf, violet pre-printed stamp with the value in an ellipse with crown above it. Note on each side of the stamp there is a small '5' at the end of the word "PFENNIG" and no "E".

line

P10
(POSTCARD)

Issued 1880. P10 differs from the other postcards in that it is the only postcard with this particular stamp and no control number on the lower right corner of the card. It does however have gaps in the 4th dotted address line. In addition to the listed gaps in the 4th dotted address line, there are other examples of unintended dots caused by prnting errors. Some of these unintended gaps are found at position L4, 6, 14, 14+15, 16, 17, 24, 29,31, 15+16, 24+25, 25+26, 29+30, R5, 6, 14 and 16. P10 can also be found without print control characters.

A P10 must have the following characteristics:
1) 5pf Violet stamp inscribed 'PFENNIG'. And
2) No control date data on the bottom right-hand corner. And
3) control gaps in 4th dotted address line as below.

P10 - POSTCARD

Valid gap data:
P10: left 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 5+15, left 15 + 25 right, right 5, 10, 15 or 5+10.

line

P11
(REPLY CARD)

Issued 1880. Exactly the same design as P10 above, only now with additional text "Die angebogene Karte is für | die Antwort bestimmt." - 'The reverse of the card is intended for the answer'. This text is to the left of the word "in" at the start of the third dotted address line and directly below the word "An". There are print date control gaps in the 4th dotted address line. In addition to the listed gaps in the 4th dotted address line, there are other examples of unintended dots caused by prnting errors. Some of these unintended gaps are found at position L6, R4, 6, 5+6, 6+7 and others.

A P11 must have the following characteristics:
1) 5pf Violet stamp inscribed 'PFENNIG'. And
2) No control date data on the bottom right-hand corner. And
3) Control gaps in 4th dotted address line as below. And
4) Additional text "Die angebogene Karte is für | die Antwort bestimmt." to the left of the word "in".

P11 - REPLY CARD

Valid gap data:
P11: L5, 10, 15, 25, 30 or R5.

line

P12
(POSTCARD)

Issued 1882. Domestic postcard with print control data on lower right-hand side of the card. P12 exists in four different formats of the print control data and gaps in the 4th dotted address line:
P12-01 has a gap between the month and year and gaps in the 4th address line.
P12-02 does not have a gap in the print control data but does have a gap in the 4th address line.
P12-II/01 has a space between the month and year data but it does not have a gap in the 4th dotted address line.
P12-II/02 no gap in print data and only with date code '785' and no gap in the 4th dotted line.

In addition there were two plates used. Plate 'A' can be identified by "DEUTSCHE REICHSPOST" measuring 54.5mm and "POSTKARTE" measuring 41mm. Plate 'B' can be identified by "DEUTSCHE REICHSPOST" measuring 53mm and "POSTKARTE" measuring 39.5mm. P12/01 were printed using Plate 'A', however P12/02 can be found with Plate 'A' and Plate 'B'.

A P12 must have the following characteristics:
1) 5pf Violett stamp inscribed 'PFENNIG'. And
2) Control date data on the bottom right-hand corner consists of only numbers. And
3) Control gaps in 4th dotted address line
4) Short non-underlined 3rd dotted address line.
5) No 'Wohnungs' Strasse und hausnummer' text at the start of line 4 of the address section.

P12/01
5 82 (L30)

P12/02
785 (L30)

Valid Control Dates and gaps:
P12-01: 1 82(L5, 10, 15 25 or L5+R5), 2 82(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 3 82(L5, L10, L30 or R5). 4 82(L5, 15, 30 or R5). 5 82(L5, 10, 30 or L5+30), 6 82(L5, 10, 15, R5 or R15), 7 82(L5, 10, 30, R5 or R15), 8 82(L15, 30, R5 or R15), 9 82(L5, 10, 25, R5, 10 or 15), 10 82(L5, 15, 25, 30 or R5), 11 82(L5, 10, 15 or R5), 12 82(L5, 10, 30, R5, 10 or 15), 1 83(L5, 10, 15 or R5), 2 83(L5, 10, 15, 30), 3 83(L10, 15, 5+15 or R5), 4 83(L5, 15, 30 or R5), 5 83(L5, 10, 15 or R5), 6 83(L5, 15, 30, R5 or 15), 7 83(L10, 15, 30 or R5), 8 83(L5, 10, 15, R5 or 15), 9 83(L10, 15, 30, R5, 15 or L10+R5), 10 83(L5, 10, 15, 30, R5, L5+10 or L15+R5), 11 83(L5, 10, R5 or R15), 12 83(L5, 10, 15, 30, L5+10 or R5), 1 84(L5, 10, L20+R15, 25, 30, R5 or 15), 2 84(L10, 15, R5 or R15), 3 84(L5, 10, 15, 25, 30, R5 or R15)

P12-02: 384(L15), 484(L5, 15, 30, R5 or R15), 584(L5, 15, R5 or R15), 684(L5, 15, 30 or R15), 784(L5, 15, 30, R5 or 15), 884(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 984(L5, 30, R5 or R15), 1084(L5, 10, 15, 30, R5, 15 or L10+20), 1184(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 1284(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 185(L5, 10, 15, 30, R5 or R15), 285(L5, 15, 30, R5 or 15), 385(L5, 10, 30 or R15), 485(L5, 15, 30 or R15), 585(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R5), 685(L5, 15, 30, R5 or 30), 785(L5, 10, 30, Rr, 15), 885(L5, 15, 30, R5, 15), 985(L5, 10, 15, 30, R5, 15), 1085(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 1185(L5, L15, R5 or 15), 1285(L5, 10, 15, R5 or 15), 186(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 286(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 386(L5, 10, 30 or R15), 486(L5, 15, 30 or R15), 586(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 686(L10, 15, 30, R5 or 15), 786(L5, 10, 15, R5 or 15), 886(L5, 10, 30, R5 or 15), 986(L5, 10, 15, 30 or R15), 1086(L5, 10, 30, R5 or 15), 1186(L5, 10, 15 or 30). 1286(L5, 10, 15, 30, R5 or R15), 187(L5, 30 or R15), 287(L10 or 30).

P12-II/01: 3 82, 8 82, 2 83, 6 83, 9 83 and 1 84 (no gaps in dotted address line)

P12-II/02: 785 (no gaps in dotted address line)

In addition to the normal gaps listed above, gap errors are often found where instead of the correct dot, the preceding or following dot has been removed, or two adjacent dots are missing, as well as irregular gaps in different address lines in addition to the normal gaps.

line

P13
(REPLY CARD)

Issued 1882. Domestic reply card with print control data on lower right-hand side of the card. Unlike P12 there is no version with a gap between the month and year of the print control data. The easiest way to determine which version of the card you have is by the date, P13/01 and P13/02 have different print date codes.

P13 exists in two different formats of the print control data and gaps in the 4th dotted address line:
P13-01 has a gap at position R5 of the 4th dotted address line and print control date (see below).
P13-02 has a gap at position R5 or L30 of the 4th dotted address line.and print control date (see below).

P13/02
REPLY CARD

Valid Control Dates and gaps:
P13-01: All have a gap at position R5 of the 4th dotted address line as well as one of the following dates - 682, 782, 882, 982, 1082, 1282, 183, 283, 383, 783, 883, 983, 1083, 384
P13/02: (1) gap at position R5 and date code - 484, 584, 684, 784, 884, 984, 1284, 185, 385, 485, 785, 885, 985, 1085, 1185, 1285, 186, 286 OR (2) a gap at position L30 and date code - 386, 486, 686, 786, 886, 986, 1186, 1286, 187.

line

P16
(POSTCARD)

Issued: 1887: Domestic postcards with changed layout. Now with 'Wohnung | (Strasse und | Hausnummer)' note in the address field at the start of the 4th dotted address line and a short (non-underlined) 3rd dotted address line.

A P16 must have the following characteristics:
1) 5pf Violet stamp inscribed 'PFENNIG'. And
2) Control date data on the bottom right-hand corner only '287'allowed. And
3) Control gap in 4th dotted address line.
4) Short non-underlined 3rd dotted address line.
5) New 'Wohnung | (Strasse und hausnummer)' text at the start of line 4 of the address section.

P16
287(L15)

Valid Control Data:
P16: 287 with gaps at (L10, 15 or R15).

line

P17
(REPLY CARD)

Issued: 1887: Domestic postcards with changed layout (the same as P16 above). Now with 'Wohnung | (Strasse und | Hausnummer)' note in the address field at the start of the 4th dotted address line and a short (non-underlined) 3rd dotted address line. P17 has additional "Die angebogene Karte ist für | die Antworte bestimmt" text not found on P16.

A P16 must have the following characteristics:
1) 5pf Violet stamp inscribed 'PFENNIG'. And
2) Control date data on the bottom right-hand corner only '287'allowed. And
3) Control gap in 4th dotted address line.
4) Short non-underlined 3rd dotted address line.
5) New 'Wohnung | (Strasse und hausnummer)' text at the start of line 4 of the address section. And
6) New "Die angebogene Karte ist für | die Antworte bestimmt" text

P17 - REPLY CARD

Valid Control Data:
P17: 287 with gap at (L30).

line

P18
(POSTCARD)

Issued: 1887: Domestic postcards with changed layout. Now with 'Wohnung | (Strasse und | Hausnummer)' note in the address field at the start of the 4th dotted address line and a longer and underlined 3rd dotted address line. Two variations of P18 include: P18-I with a numerical print control date and gaps in the 4th dotted address line. P18-II also with numerical print control data but without any gap in the 4th dotted address line.

A P18 must have the following characteristics:
1) 5pf Violett stamp inscribed 'PFENNIG'. And
2) Control date data on the bottom right-hand corner only numbers. And
3) Control gap in 4th dotted address line.
4) Extended and now underlined 3rd dotted address line.
5) 'Wohnung | (Strasse und hausnummer)' text at the start of line 4 of the address section.

P18-I
887(L15)

P18-II
889 (no gap)

Valid control data and gap variations:
P18 I: 287 (L30, R15), 387 (L5, L15, L30, R5. R15), 487 (L5, L10, L15, L30, R5, L15+R10), 587 (L5, L15. L30, R5, R15), 687 (L5, L10, L15, L30, R5), 787 (L5, L10, L20, L30, R15), 887 (L5, L10, L15, L30, R5, R15), 987 (L5, L10, L15, L30, R5), 1087 (L5, L10, L15, L30, R15), 1187 (L5, L10, L30, R5), 1287 (L5, L10, L15, L20, L30, R15), 188 (L5. L10, L15, L30, R20), 288 (L5, L10, L30, R15, R20), 388 (L5, L10, L20, R15. R20), 488 (L5, L10, R5, R15), 588 (L5, L10, L30, R5, R20), 688 (L5, L15, L20, R5, R15, R20), 788 (L5, L30, R5, R15), 888 (L5, L10, L15, L20, L30, R20, L5+R15), 988 (L5, L10, L30, R5, R15), 1088 (L15, L30, R5, R15, R20), 1188 (L5, L10, L20, L30), 1288 (L10, L15, L20, L30, R15), 189 (L5, L10, L15, L30), 289 (L5, L10, L20, R5, R20, R25), 389 (L5, L15, L30, R15, R20, R25), 489 (L5, L10, L15, L30, R15, L20+R5), 589 (L5, L10, L20, L30, R5, R15, R20), 689 (L5, L15, L20, L30, R5), 789 (L5, L10, L20, L30, R15, R20, R25), 889 (L30), 989 (L5, L20, R15).

P18 II: 1187, 889

P18 Fd: (L5, L30, R15)

line

P19
(REPLY CARD)

Issued: 1887: Domestic postcards with changed layout (The same as P18 above). Now with 'Wohnung | (Strasse und | Hausnummer)' note in the address field at the start of the 4th dotted address line and a longer and underlined 3rd dotted address line.

A P19 must have the following characteristics:
1) 5pf Violet stamp inscribed 'PFENNIG'. And
2) Control date data on the bottom right-hand corner only numbers. And
3) Control gap in 4th dotted address line.
4) Extended and now underlined 3rd dotted address line.
5) 'Wohnung | (Strasse und hausnummer)' text at the start of line 4 of the address section.

P19 - REPLY CARD

Valid control data and gap variations:
P19: All cards have a gap at position L30 and one of the following date codes: 387, 487, 587, 687, 787, 887, 987, 1087, 1187, 1287, 188, 388, 588, 688, 788, 888, 988, 1088, 1188, 1288, 189, 289, 389, 489, 689 and 789.
P19 Fd: gap at position L30.

P19 Fd is a misprint.

line

MAIN REFERENCE SOURCES

1. MICHEL GANZSACHEN DEUTSCHLAND 2018. ISBN: 978-3-95402-225-0
2. BOREK GANZSACHEN-SPEZIAL-KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND ab 1933. ISBN: 3-87091-060-7
3. MICHEL BILDPOSTKARTEN- UND MOTIVGANSACHEN KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND 1997. ISBN: 3-87858-631-0
4. GANZSACHEN-HANDBUCH DES "DITTEN REICHES" 1933-1945 by FRECH. ISBN: UNKNOWN

GERMAN EMPIRE OFFICIAL POSTCARDS

P10, P11, P12, P13, P16, P17, P18 and P19 5Pf VIOLET "PFENNIG"

P10 (POSTCARD)

P11 (REPLY CARD)

P12 (POSTCARD)

P13 (REPLY CARD)

P16 (POSTCARD)

P17 (REPLY CARD)

P18 (POSTCARD)

P19 (REPLY CARD)