GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
CHINA
STAMPS
1890
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 V45a, V45b, V45c, V45d and V45e
Forerunner: Issued 1890/1891: Interior Service Numeral in circle - 1889 Michel 45.
MiV45
3Pf
yellowish brown (see variations).
3Pf
yellowish brown (see variations).
VARIATIONS
MiV45a
yellowish brown (1890-/91)
yellowish brown (1890-/91)
MiV45b
medium brown (1891-May 98).
medium brown (1891-May 98).
MiV45c
light ochre brown (1897-May 98).
light ochre brown (1897-May 98).
PLATE FLAWS
MiV45 I
break in the lower right circle.
break in the lower right circle.
VALID FORERUNNER POSTMARKS
Michel V45a, V45b, V45c, V45d and V45e
"1"
"SHANGHAI KDPAg"
(Until beginning June 1894)
(V45a and V45b only)
"SHANGHAI KDPAg"
(Until beginning June 1894)
(V45a and V45b only)
"2"
Small "SHANGHAI"
(From June 1894)
(V45b, V45c, V45d, V45e only)
Small "SHANGHAI"
(From June 1894)
(V45b, V45c, V45d, V45e only)
"3"
"SHANGHAI"
(From 18.7.98 to 31.8.00)
(V45b, V45c, V45d, V45e only)
"SHANGHAI"
(From 18.7.98 to 31.8.00)
(V45b, V45c, V45d, V45e only)
"4"
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST a"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V45c, V45d and V45e only)
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST a"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V45c, V45d and V45e only)
"5"
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST b"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V45c, V45d and V45e only)
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST b"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V45c, V45d and V45e only)
"6"
"TIENTSIN KAISERL.DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR"
(1.4.93 to Nov 1899)
(V45b thru V45e only)
"TIENTSIN KAISERL.DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR"
(1.4.93 to Nov 1899)
(V45b thru V45e only)
"7"
"TIENTSIN DEUTSCHE POST a"
(15.10.99 to 31.8.00)
(V45c thru V45e only)
"TIENTSIN DEUTSCHE POST a"
(15.10.99 to 31.8.00)
(V45c thru V45e only)
"8"
"TSCHIFU DEUTSCHE POST"
(1.1.00 to 31.8.000)
(V45c thru V45e only)
"TSCHIFU DEUTSCHE POST"
(1.1.00 to 31.8.000)
(V45c thru V45e only)
"9"
"HANKAU"
(1.4.00 to 17.4.00)
(V45c thru V45e only)
"HANKAU"
(1.4.00 to 17.4.00)
(V45c thru V45e only)
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
(1)
V45b
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 11/2 98"
V45b
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 11/2 98"
(1) This stamp is cancelled with the second Shanghai cancel. Inscribed simply 'SHANGHAI' this cancel was used from 8th Jun 1894 until 5th Dec 1898.
