GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
TURKEY
STAMPS
1908
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 1 and V50SP). 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.
MICHEL 50SP
REGULAR ISSUE GERMANIA
& REPRESENTATIVE IMAGES
(Overprinted SPECIMEN)
Issued 5th Aug 1908. Regular issues German Empire stamps Germania and representative illustrations, all "PEACE" Printings. Inscribed "DEUTSCHES REICH" with diagonal black overprint in Antigua typeface. Lozenge / Diamond watermark with new currency "Centimes".
Mi 50SP
25 Centimes on 20Pf
bright lilac ultramarine
25 Centimes on 20Pf
bright lilac ultramarine
VARIATIONS
REQUIRES ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
PLATE FLAWS
REQUIRES ADDITIONAL RESEARCH
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION