GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
TURKEY
STAMPS
1884
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 M44 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.
STAMPS VALID for POSTAGE
(Replaced by New Issue)
MICHEL M44
Circle and/or Imperial eagle in oval, so-called "PFENNIG" with cancel date starting from Feb 1884.
Mi M44
50Pf
green
(Variations)
50Pf
green
(Variations)
VARIATIONS
Mi M44 a
50Pf
medium grey green
50Pf
medium grey green
Mi M44 b
50Pf
dark olive
(from 1887)
50Pf
dark olive
(from 1887)
Mi M44 c
50Pf
bright olive green to bright green olive
(from 1887)
50Pf
bright olive green to bright green olive
(from 1887)
Mi M44 d
50Pf
dark grey green
(from 1889)
50Pf
dark grey green
(from 1889)
PLATE FLAWS
REQUIRES ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
