GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
TURKEY
STAMPS
1880
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 V44 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 V44
Numeral and/or imperial eagle in oval, so-called "PFENNIG".
Mi V44 a
50Pf
medium grey green
50Pf
medium grey green
VARIATIONS
REQUIRES ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
PLATE FLAWS
Mi V44 PF III
tip of ornament not filled in centre right
tip of ornament not filled in centre right
Mi V44 PF IV
tip of ornament not filled in centre top
tip of ornament not filled in centre top
Mi V44 PF V
top centre of tip open
top centre of tip open
Mi V44 PF VII
white scratch through 'NNG' of 'PFENNIG'
white scratch through 'NNG' of 'PFENNIG'
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
