GERMAN FOREIGN POST OFFICES
TURKEY
POSTCARDS
Germany had post offices operating in Turkey from 1st Mar 1870 until 30th Sep 1914. Initially stamps of the North German Confederation were used, followed by German Empire issued stamps and then finally stamps overprinted specific to Turkey. Postal items from the North German Confederation as well as German Empire stamps without overprints are known as Vorlaufer or forerunners. These items are exactly the same as the stamps and postcards used in Germnay however they have Turkish cancellations such as 'Constantinopel' and 'Smyrna'.
Quick Links: NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION, PFENNIGE, PFENNIG, CROWN / EAGLE, PARA Overprint, REICHSPOST, DEUTSCHES REICH
VORLAUFER
NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION
VU1 and VU31
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Issued in 1870 and featuring stamps of the North German Confederation.MICHEL VU1
Michel VU1
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
MICHEL VU 31
Michel VU31
2 GROSCHEN blue stamp
2 GROSCHEN blue stamp
VORLAUFER
NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION
VU1B
Issued in 1872 and featuring German Empire stamps with eagle holding a small shield.
MICHEL VU1B
Michel VU1B
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
VORLAUFER
NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION
VU3B and 5B
Issued in 1872 and featuring German Empire stamps with eagle holding a large shield.
MICHEL VU3B
Michel VU3B
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
VORLAUFER
NORTH GERMAN CONFEDERATION
VU5B
Michel VU5B
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
1 GROSCHEN rose stamp
VORLAUFER
GERMAN EMPIRE
VU7B, VU10B, VU11B & VS5
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Issued in 1872 and featuring German Empire stamps with 'PFENNIGE' Inscription. VORLAUFER
MICHEL VU7B, VU10B & VU11B
Michel VU7B, VU10B & VU11B
10Pf red stamp
10Pf red stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VS5
Michel VS5
3Pf green stamp
3Pf green stamp
VORLAUFER
GERMAN EMPIRE
VU12A & B, VP8, VP9, VP11
VP13, VP 14 & VP15
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Issued in 1872 and featuring German Empire stamps with 'PFENNIG' Inscription. VORLAUFER
MICHEL VU12A & 12B
Michel VU12A & VU12B
10Pf red stamp
10Pf red stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP8
Michel VP8
10Pf red stamp
10Pf red stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP9
Michel VP9
Reply Card
2x 10Pf red stamp
Reply Card
2x 10Pf red stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP10, VP12, VP16 & VP18
Michel VP10, VP12, VP16 & VP18
5Pf violet stamp
5Pf violet stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP11, VP13 & VP19
Michel VP11, VP13 & VP19
5Pf violet stamp
5Pf violet stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP14
Michel VP14
10Pf red stamp
10Pf red stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP15
Michel VP15
Reply Card
2x 10Pf red stamp
Reply Card
2x 10Pf red stamp
VORLAUFER
GERMAN EMPIRE
VU13A & B, VS8, VP20 to VP36
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Issued in 1872 and featuring German Empire stamps with crown / eagle design. VORLAUFER
MICHEL VU13A & 13B
Michel VU13A & VU13B
10Pf carmine stamp
10Pf carmine stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VS8
Michel VS8
3Pf brown stamp
3Pf brown stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP20, VP24, VP28, VP30
VP32 and VP36
Michel VP20, VP24, VP28, VP30
VP32 and VP36
5Pf green stamp
VP32 and VP36
5Pf green stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP22, VP26 and VP31
Michel VP22, VP26 and VP31
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green stamp
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP21, VP25 and VP35
Michel VP21, VP25 and VP35
10Pf carmine stamp
10Pf carmine stamp
VORLAUFER
MICHEL VP23 and VP27
Michel VP23 and VP27
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine stamp
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine stamp
GERMAN EMPIRE
CROWN / EAGLE
('PARA' Overprint)
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Featuring German Empire crown / eagle stamp with black horizontal overprint 'PARA' with denomination either side.MICHEL U1A
This postcard measures 147 x 84mm. Envelope. 1889 Black value print in Antigua font.
Michel U1A
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL U1B
This postcard measures 147 x 114mm
Michel U1B
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL S1
Issued in 1900. This postcard measures 148 x 300mm Michel S1
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL P1 and P2
GERMAN EMPIRE
CROWN / EAGLE
('PARA' Overprint)
1889 black overprint in Antigua font. Measuring 140 x 90mm. Featuring German Empire crown / eagle stamp with black horizontal overprint 'PARA' with denomination either side.
MICHEL P1
P1 exists in three different types. Type I has a gap in the four lines, Type II is without the gap and Type III the same as Type II but the remarks are higher (left starts 25.5 instead of 18mm above the inner edge of the lower frame).
Michel P1
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P2
Michel P2
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply card
carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply card
carmine stamp
MICHEL P3 and P4
GERMAN EMPIRE
CROWN / EAGLE
('PARA' Overprint)
1891 black overprint in Antigua font. Measuring 140 x 90mm. Featuring German Empire crown / eagle stamp with black horizontal overprint 'PARA' with denomination either side. The same as P1 and P2 but now with print date and letters.
MICHEL P3
Michel P3
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P4
Michel P4
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply card
carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply card
carmine stamp
MICHEL P5, P5I and P6
GERMAN EMPIRE
CROWN / EAGLE
('PARA' Overprint)
1899 black overprint in Antigua font. Measuring 140 x 90mm. Featuring German Empire crown / eagle stamp with black horizontal overprint 'PARA' with denomination either side. With print date and letters (except P5I).
MICHEL P5
Michel P5
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P5I
Michel P5I
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P6
Michel P6
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply card
carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply card
carmine stamp
MICHEL U2 and U3
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'REICHSPOST'
ENVELOPES
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MICHEL U2
1904. Black, horizontal type II imprint (extra serifs on 'A's). With or without private factory watermark (Swan between water lilies) white, 157 x 124mm. There are two Types: Type X with watermark and Type 'Y' without watermark. Michel U2
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL U3
1905. Black Gothic overprint, white envelope, without watermark and measuring 157 x 124mm. Michel U3
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL S2 and S3
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'REICHSPOST'
STRINGERS
MICHEL S2
1901. Measures 148 x 300mm. Type I overprint (No serifs on the letters 'A' on 'PARA'). Michel S2
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL S3
1904. Measures 148 x 300mm. Type II overprint (additional serifs on the letters 'A' on 'PARA'). Michel S3
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL P7 and P8
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'REICHSPOST'
POSTCARDS
1900. P7 and P8 have Type I overprint (No serifs on the letters 'A' on 'PARA'). Similar to P5 and P6 but now with 56 (instead of 60) or 74 (instead of 70mm) long third and fourth dotted lines.
MICHEL P7
TYPE I OVERPRINT
Michel P7
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P8
TYPE I OVERPRINT
Type I overprints do not have extra serifs on the 'A' of 'PARA'.
Michel P8
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply Card
carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf
Reply Card
carmine stamp
MICHEL P9
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'REICHSPOST'
POSTCARDS
TYPE II overprint
1903. Type II overprint (extra serifs on 'A' of 'PARA').
MICHEL P9
Michel P9
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P10
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'REICHSPOST'
POSTCARDS
TYPE III overprint
1905. Type III overprint (gothic font).
MICHEL P10
For P10 III there are test prints for 10 PARA on 5 Pf, 10 + 10 PARA on 5 + 5 green and for 20 + 20 PARA on 10 + 10 Pf carmine on cards of the Germania-Reichspost issue. Michel P10
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 PARA on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL U4, PU1 and PU2
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
ENVELOPES
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MICHEL U4
1905. With Type III gothic overprint and measuring 157 x 124mm. Michel U2
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL PU1
PRIVATE ISSUE
Michel PU1
1 Piaster on 20Pf blue stamp
1 Piaster on 20Pf blue stamp
MICHEL PU2
PRIVATE ISSUE
Michel PU2
2 Piaster on 40Pf carmine / black stamp
2 Piaster on 40Pf carmine / black stamp
MICHEL S4 and S5
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
STRINGERS
MICHEL S4
1905. Measures 148 x 300mm. Type III overprint (gothic font). Michel S4
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL S5
1908. Measures 148 x 300mm. Type III overprint (gothic font) and diamond watermark. Michel S3
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
10 PARA on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL P11 and P12
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
POSTCARDS
1900. P11 and P12 have Type III overprint (No serifs on the letters 'A' on 'PARA').
MICHEL P11
TYPE III OVERPRINT
P11 exists in two versions, Type 'X' has a diamond watermark and Type 'Y' doesn't hve any watermark.
Michel P11
20 Para on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 Para on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P12
TYPE III OVERPRINT
Type III overprint (gothic font).
Michel P12
20 Para on 10Pf
Reply Card
carmine stamp
20 Para on 10Pf
Reply Card
carmine stamp
MICHEL P13
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
POSTCARDS
TYPE III overprint
1907.. Type III overprint (gothic font).
MICHEL P13
Michel P13
20 Para on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 Para on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P14 to P16
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
POSTCARDS
TYPE III overprint
1907/08. Printed only with the word 'Postkarte' and with diamond shaped watermark.
MICHEL P14 to P16
Michel P14 to P16
20 Para on 10Pf carmine stamp
20 Para on 10Pf carmine stamp
FRENCH SECTOR
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
ENVELOPES
1908/1914. Printed with black, diagonal, 'Centimes' overprint. The total length fluctuates, as does the distance between the new digits and the word 'Centimes'.
MICHEL U5
Michel U5
5 Centimes on 5Pf green stamp
5 Centimes on 5Pf green stamp
MICHEL PU3
PRIVATE ISSUE
Michel PU3
5 Centimes on 5Pf green stamp
5 Centimes on 5Pf green stamp
FRENCH SECTOR
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
STRINGERS
MICHEL S6
STRINGER
Michel S6
5 Centimes on 5Pf green stamp
5 Centimes on 5Pf green stamp
FRENCH SECTOR
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
POSTCARDS P17 and P18
1907/08. Only printed with 'Postkarte' on the left-hand side.
MICHEL P17
POSTCARD
Michel P17
10 Centimes on 10Pf carmine stamp
10 Centimes on 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL P18
POSTCARD
Michel P18
Reply Card
10 Centimes on 10Pf carmine stamp
Reply Card
10 Centimes on 10Pf carmine stamp
FRENCH SECTOR
GERMANIA INSCRIBED 'DEUTSCHES REICH'
POSTCARDS P19
1912. Only printed with 'Postkarte' on the right-hand side.
MICHEL P19
POSTCARD
Michel P19
10 Centimes on 10Pf carmine stamp
10 Centimes on 10Pf carmine stamp