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.
POSTCARD P156, P162, P164 and P165
REPLYCARDS P158, P163, P166 and P167
There are four official postcards: P156, P162, P164 (this is series of 26 postcards) and P165 and four official replycards: P158, P163, P166 and P167, with this 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp.
P156
(POSTCARD)
Issued: Mar 1924. This postcard measures 140 x 90mm and can be found in two versions: P156-I has straight edges whereas P159-II has a serrated edge. The word "postkarte" is to the right of the vertical divider and the word 'Absender' is found on the top left-hand corner of the card.
A P156 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) "Postkarte" to the right of the vertical dividing line. And
(3) Dividing line consists of a single vertical line. And
(4) Measures 140 x 90mm.
P156-II
POSTCARD
POSTCARD
P158
(REPLYCARD)
Issued: Mar 1924. P158 only exists with straight edges and has the same format as postcard P158. The words "Postkarte | mit Antwortkarte" is to the right of the vertical divider and the word 'Absender' is found on the top left-hand corner of the front of the card. The reply side of the card has the words "Postkarte | (Anwortkarte)" to the right of the vertical dividing line.
A P158 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) "Postkarte | mit Antwortkarte" to the right of the vertical dividing line. And
(3) Dividing line consists of a single vertical line.
P158
REPLYCARD
REPLYCARD
P158 I F: P158 exists where the "5" on the right-hand side of the value stamp is missing.
P162
(POSTCARD)
Issued: Mar 1925. The same design as P156 but larger size, measures 148 x 105mm and now with three vertical dividing lines and two versions: P162-I has straight edges whereas P162-II has a serrated edge. The word "postkarte" is to the right of the vertical divider and the word 'Absender' is found on the top left-hand corner of the card.
A P162 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) "Postkarte" to the right of the vertical dividing line. And
(3) Dividing line consists of a three vertical lines. And
(4) Measures 148 x 105mm.
P162
POSTCARD
POSTCARD
P163
(REPLYCARD)
Issued: Mar 1925. The same design as P162 with three vertical dividing lines but now with three additional lines of text in the sender section and two new lines on the bottom of the destination pane. There are two versions: P163-I has straight edges whereas P163-II has a serrated edge. The words "Postkarte | mit Antwortkarte" are to the right of the vertical divider on the front of the card and "Postkarte | (Antwortkarte)" is on the reply side of the card.
The new text in the sender pane reads "Wohnort: | Straβe, hausnummer, | Bebaudetail, Stockwerk" - 'Place of residence: | Street, house number, | Building detail, floor'. The new text at the bottom of the destination pane reads "Straβe, hausnummer, | Bebaudetail, Stockwerk" - 'Street, house number, | Building detail, floor'."
A P163 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) "Postkarte | mit Antworte" to the right of the vertical dividing line. And
(3) Dividing line consists of a three vertical lines. And
(4) Additional text on sender's and destination panes. And
(5) Fraktur 'S'
P163
REPLYCARD
REPLYCARD
P164
(POSTCARD)
Issued: 17th Feb 1926. This is a series of 26 picture postcards all of which feature the 5PF stylised eagle and an image of a place of interest within Germany. Click here for more details and to see the complete series.
A P164 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) A picture of a place of interest within Germany.
P164
POSTCARD
POSTCARD
P165
(POSTCARD)
Issued: Mar 1925. Revised design which features a three line vertical divider with the word "Postkarte" to the right. Also with 4 lines of sender address text and two lines of destination text. Design very similar to replycard P163. Note the 'S' of "Straβe" and "Stockwerk" has a fraktur 'S' (unlike P167 which has a Roman style 'S'). There are two versions of P165: P165-I has striaght edges and P165-II has a serrated edge.
A P165 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) Three lines of vertical divider. And
(3) Four lines of sender details and 2 lines of destination details. And
(4) The 'S' of "Straβe" and "Stockwerk" are fraktur style
P165
POSTCARD
POSTCARD
P166
(REPLYCARD)
Issued: Mar 1925. Revised design which features a three line vertical divider with the words "Postkarte | mit Antwortkarte" to the right. Also with 4 lines of sender address text and two lines of destination text. Design very similar to replycard P163. Note the 'S' of "Straβe" and "Stockwerk" has a fraktur 'S' (unlike P167 which has a Roman style 'S').
A P166 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) Three lines of vertical divider. And
(3) Four lines of sender details and 2 lines of destination details. And
(4) The 'S' of "Straβe" and "Stockwerk" are fraktur style
P166
REPLYCARD
REPLYCARD
P167
(REPLYCARD)
Issued: 1926. Revised design which features a three line vertical divider with the words "Postkarte | mit Antwortkarte" to the right. Also with 4 lines of sender address text and two lines of destination text. Design very similar to replycard P163. Note the 'S' of "Straβe" and "Stockwerk" has a Roman style 'S' (unlike P166 which has a fraktur style 'S'). P167 exists in two versions; P167-I has straight edges and P167-II has a serrated edge.
A P167 must have the following characteristics:
(1) 5Pf Stylised eagle pre-printed stamp. And
(2) Three lines of vertical divider. And
(3) Four lines of sender details and 2 lines of destination details. And
(4) The 'S' of "Straβe" and "Stockwerk" are Roman style
P167-I
REPLYCARD
REPLYCARD
MAIN REFERENCE SOURCES
1. MICHEL GANZSACHEN DEUTSCHLAND 2018. ISBN: 978-3-95402-225-02. 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
