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 V46a, V46b and V46c
Forerunner: Issued 1890/1891: Interior Service Numeral in oval - 1889 Michel 46.
Mi V46
5Pf
green (see variations).
5Pf
green (see variations).
VARIATIONS
Mi V46a
green.
green.
Mi V46b
yellowish green.
yellowish green.
Mi V46c
bright opal green.
bright opal green.
PLATE FLAWS
MiV46 I
line on bottom of "C" in "REICHSPOST".
line on bottom of "C" in "REICHSPOST".
MiV46 II
lower curve of second "S" in "REICHSPOST" with wide break.
lower curve of second "S" in "REICHSPOST" with wide break.
MiV46 III
thick line ("comet") below the right upper ornament.
thick line ("comet") below the right upper ornament.
VALID FORERUNNER POSTMARKS
Michel V46a, V46b and V46c
"1"
"SHANGHAI KDPAg"
(Until beginning June 1894)
(V46a thru V46c)
"SHANGHAI KDPAg"
(Until beginning June 1894)
(V46a thru V46c)
"2"
Small "SHANGHAI"
(From June 1894)
(V46c only)
Small "SHANGHAI"
(From June 1894)
(V46c only)
"3"
"SHANGHAI"
(From 18.7.98 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"SHANGHAI"
(From 18.7.98 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"4"
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST a"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST a"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"5"
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST b"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"SHANGHAI DEUTSCHE POST b"
(1.12.98 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"6"
"TIENTSIN KAISERL.DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR"
(1.4.93 to Nov 1899)
(V46c only)
"TIENTSIN KAISERL.DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR"
(1.4.93 to Nov 1899)
(V46c only)
"7"
"TIENTSIN DEUTSCHE POST a"
(15.10.99 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"TIENTSIN DEUTSCHE POST a"
(15.10.99 to 31.8.00)
(V46c only)
"8"
"TSCHIFU DEUTSCHE POST"
(1.1.00 to 31.8.000)
(V46c only)
"TSCHIFU DEUTSCHE POST"
(1.1.00 to 31.8.000)
(V46c only)
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
(1)
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 25/5 95"
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 25/5 95"
(2)
Mi V46
Cancelled "KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POSTSAGANTUR SHANGHAI 5/3 92"
Mi V46
Cancelled "KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POSTSAGANTUR SHANGHAI 5/3 92"
(3)
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 18/12 96"
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 18/12 96"
(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.
(2) This stamp is cancelled with the first Shanghai cancel. Inscribed 'KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI' this cancel was used from 28th Aug 1896 until 1st Jun 1894.
(3) This stamp is cancelled with the second Shanghai cancel. Inscribed simply 'SHANGHAI' this cancel was used from 8th Jun 1894 until 5th Dec 1898.
(4)
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 20/9 95"
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 20/9 95"
(5)
Mi V46c and V47b
Cancelled
"KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POSTAGANTUR SHANGHAI 25/6 92"
Mi V46c and V47b
Cancelled
"KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POSTAGANTUR SHANGHAI 25/6 92"
(6)
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 14/2 98"
Mi V46
Cancelled "SHANGHAI 14/2 98"
(4) This stamp is cancelled with the second Shanghai cancel. Inscribed simply 'SHANGHAI' this cancel was used from 8th Jun 1894 until 5th Dec 1898.
(5) These stamp are cancelled with the first Shanghai cancel. Inscribed 'KAISERLICH DEUTSCHE POSTAGENTUR SHANGHAI' this cancel was used from 28th Aug 1896 until 1st Jun 1894.
(6) This stamp is cancelled with the second Shanghai cancel. Inscribed simply 'SHANGHAI' this cancel was used from 8th Jun 1894 until 5th Dec 1898.
