GERMAN EMPIRE
OFFICIAL
POSTCARDS
1889
All 1889 Official postcards are now on this page. Official postcards are cards that were issued by the Reich’s post office, had pre-printed (indicia) stamps and were widely available throughout German towns and cities.
Secondly Printed to Private Order postcards are postcards that were generally issued by entities that were advertising an event or commemorating an anniversary, and also had pre-printed stamps, but were not widely available throughout Germany (most were only available at the event they were commemorating).
Thirdly Other postcards are postcards that fall into the same general category as printed to private order however they do not have pre-printed stamps.
Finally, Miscellaneous postcards is where you will find postcards that do not fit into the first three categories (i.e. they are not official, they do not have pre-printed stamps, and they do not commemorate an event).
Quick Links:
POSTCARDS:
P20, P21, P22 and P23
UMSCHLÄGE (ENVELOPES):
U13
STREIFBÄNDER (WRAPPER):
S8
ROHRPOSTKARTE:
RP8, RP9
POSTANWEISUNGEN (POSTAL ORDER):
A8
MICHEL P20
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
5 PFENNIG
Issued:1889. Measures 140 x 90mm.
Distinguishing Features:
1. 5Pf Green pre-printed value stamp with number in circle and inscribed "REICHSPOST"
2. Distance between dotted address lines 10:11:11mm.
3. "An" directly above "in" on the left.
4. Control Print Data: Yes, number only (see below).
5. Watermark: No
6. Gap in 4th Address line: Yes.
Click here for more details.
Michel P20
5Pf green stamp
5Pf green stamp
FROM MY COLLECTION
Variations:
P20 Fd I : Misprint: Print date "089" instead, "1089" without or with part of the foot of the "1".
P20 Fd II : Misprint: Without print date data.
P20 Fd III: Misprint: Without "An".
P20 PF III: Plate Flaw. Thick white line under the upper right curl
MICHEL P21
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
10 PFENNIG
Issued:1889. Distance between the dotted lines of the Address almost the same spacing (10: 11: 11mm). There are three types for P21:
Type I: gap in the 4th address line
Type II: without gap in the 4th address line
Type III: as Type II above but the remarks are higher up (see variations below).
Click here for more details.
Michel P21 I
10Pf carmine stamp
10Pf carmine stamp
P21 I: gaps at the following postions - L5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or R5.
MICHEL P22
OFFICIAL REPLY CARD
5 PFENNIG
Issued:1889. Only the question part has the printing date data.
Distinguishing Features:
1. 2x 5Pf Green pre-printed value stamp with number in circle and inscribed "REICHSPOST"
2. Distance between dotted address lines 10:11:11mm.
3. "An" directly above "in" on the left.
4. Control Print Data: Yes (only on question part), number only (see below).
5. Watermark: No
6. Gap in 4th Address line: Yes.
Click here for more details.
Michel P22
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green stamp
Reply Card
2x 5Pf green stamp
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL P23
OFFICIAL REPLY CARD
10 PFENNIG
Issued:1889. P23 does not have any print control date data or gaps in the 4th dotted address line.
Click here for more details.
Michel P23
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine stamp
Reply Card
2x 10Pf carmine stamp
MICHEL U13
OFFICIAL UMSCHLÄGE
10 PFENNIG
Issued 1889. Envelope with pre-printed 1889 Michel 47 eagle in circle, 10 Pf stamp. Not for use in Bavaria or Wurttemburg. There are two versions of U13 as follows:
Type A: flap format 4
Type B: flap format 1.
Click here for more details.
U13-A
FROM MY COLLECTION
U13-B
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL S8 **
OFFICIAL STREIFBÄNDER
3 PFENNIG
Issued 1889. Measures 162 x 230mm. Envelope with pre-printed 1889 Michel 45 number in circle, 3Pf, brown stamp.
Click here for more details.
Michel S8
FROM MY COLLECTION
S8 PF I: On the value stamp the upper part of the right roll of tape, open at the bottom left.
MICHEL RP8
OFFICIAL ROHRPOSTKARTE
25 PFENNIG
Issued Nov 1889. Large Eagle in Circle value stamp, letterpress mesasuring 125 x 88mm.
Click RP8 here for more details.
Michel RP8
25Pf brown-yellow stamp
25Pf brown-yellow stamp
FROM MY COLLECTION
RP8 PF II: 'I' of 'REICHSPOST' open at the top.
MICHEL RP9
OFFICIAL ROHRPOST REPLY KARTE
25 PFENNIG
Issued 1889. Large Eagle in Circle value stamp.
Click RP9 here for more details.
Michel RP9
2x 25Pf brown-yellow stamp
2x 25Pf brown-yellow stamp
FROM MY COLLECTION
MICHEL A8
OFFICIAL POSTANWEISUNGEN
20 PFENNIG
1st Oct 1889. "Post=Antweisung". Eagle in Circle measuring 160 x 110mm. The third line of text reads "auf die Summe ...... Mark .......Pf", There were two versions of this postal order:
A8 Type I: Penny grid: loops to the right (789-393)
A8 Type II: Penny grid: loops to the left (792-393).
Click here for more information.
Michel A8 Type II
20Pf blue stamp
20Pf blue stamp
