GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
CHINA
STAMPS
1886
The first German postal agency in China was opened in Shanghai on 16th Aug 1886 following the arrival of the Reichspost Steamship 'Oder' on the same day. Postal connections from Germany to China were performed once every 4 weeks from Bremerhaven to Shanghai via Antwerp, Port Said, Suez, Aden, Columbo, Singapore and Hong Kong using the East Asia Main Line ('Ostasiatische Hauptlinie'). From 1893 Genoa and Naples were added to the route and its frequency was increased to once every two weeks in 1899. The East Asia Main Line was further expanded in 1899 with the inclusion of Hong Kong, Hiogo and Nagasaki when the East Asia Branch Line ('Ostasiatische Zweiglinie') service was terminated. Yokohama was also added at this time.
Original Shanghai Post Office - photo courtesy of David Ray
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 "China"), 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 V39 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.
MICHEL V37 to V44
VORLAUFER
(Forerunners)
The German Post Offices in china used regular German Empire issues (these stamps are only known with a "KDPAG SHANGHAI" cancel). Numeral in oval (Michel 37) and number and/or eagle in oval (Michel V39 to V44) so-called "Pfenning".
------ These forerunners are only known with the "KDPAG SHANGHAI" cancel -------
VALID FORERUNNER POSTMARKS
The SHANGHAI KDPAg is only valid from 28/8 1886 thru Jun 1894.
