GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
TURKEY
STAMPS
1875
Forerunners are stamps of the German Empire that were in circulation in foreign countries and the colonies without any special identification (i.e. not overprinted "Turkey"), until issue of their own stamps. 'Proper' forerunners were officially delivered to post offices and were sold from postal counters, stamps that were not used or not officially issued are non-proper forerunners (e.g. Michel V39 and V43). All forerunners and interim stamps can only be recognised by the cancellation and as such there is no such thing as an unused forerunner.
The first German Post Office in Turkey was opened in Constantinople on 1st Mar 1870. The stamps of the North German Confederation were the first to be used in Turkey. The Constantinople Office was opened as the "North German Postal Agency" and was renamed the "German Empire Post Office" on 6th May 1871 and served the so-called European Quarter of the city. A second branch post office was opened in the city district of Stambul in the Turkish Quarter.
FORERUNNERS (V)
MICHEL V34
Circle or imperial eagle in oval, so-called "PFENNIGE" (with an 'E', unlike Michel V42 'PFENNIG' without the 'E').
MiV34
20Pf
light ultramarine
(variations)
20Pf
light ultramarine
(variations)
VARIATIONS
MiV34 a
20Pf
light to dark ultramarine
20Pf
light to dark ultramarine
MiV34 b
20Pf
bright cobalt blue
20Pf
bright cobalt blue
PLATE FLAWS
Mi34 PF I
upper edge of stamp flattened
upper edge of stamp flattened
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
Mi V34
Cancelled
"KAIS.DEUTSCH.P.A.CONSTANTINOPEL 12-IN
13/6 76"
Cancelled
"KAIS.DEUTSCH.P.A.CONSTANTINOPEL 12-IN
13/6 76"
