GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
CHINA
SEEPOST
Seepost Mail is mail that was cancelled onboard ship where stamps of the German Empire were available for sale. The details below enable tracing of a particular mail item to a particular route and ship.
In addition to civilian mail carried on these routes there was also Navy mail which carried a "MARINE SCHIFFSPOST" cancel and employed a similar numbering system.
During the Boxer Rebellion period from Jun 1900 to Aug 1901 many German civilian ships were commandeered to assist with transporting troops from various locations to China. Almost all ships had some form of post office onboard and was allowed to cancel mail. Each cancel was numbered and the origin of cancelled mail can be trraced back to an individual ship. Unfortunately the numbers were not always assigned to the same ship, so it is important to be able to see the cancel date and number in order to determine which ship franked a particular item.
OST-ASIATISCHE (HAUPT)-LINIE
(East Asiatic (Main)-Line)
German Empire Stamps cancelled "OST-ASIATISCHE HAUPTLINIE". Identifiers 'a' through 'g'. The identifier 'a', 'b', 'c', etc did not typically stay with the same ship. Once a ship returned to port the stamp was returned to the central store where it was held until required. If a ship stayed in port for a long duration, for example to undergo repairs, it was not unusual for the stamp that had previously been used on that ship to be re-issued to a different ship that was about to leave port.
"OST-ASIATISCHE HAUPTLINIE a"
Indicator 'a' was used on the following ships:
(1)
ODER
30th Jun 1886 to 23rd Mar
ODER
30th Jun 1886 to 23rd Mar
Indicator 'b' was used on the following ships:
(1)
NECKAR
28th Jul 1886 to 5th Mar 1887
NECKAR
28th Jul 1886 to 5th Mar 1887
(2)
PRUβEN
1st Jun 1887 to 10th Jun 1892
PRUβEN
1st Jun 1887 to 10th Jun 1892
(3)
NECKAR
17th Aug 1892 to 10th Aug 1893
NECKAR
17th Aug 1892 to 10th Aug 1893
(4)
BAYERN
13th Sep 1893 to 6th Aug 1894
BAYERN
13th Sep 1893 to 6th Aug 1894
(5)
DARMSTADT
15th Aug 1894 to 20th Mar 1895
DARMSTADT
15th Aug 1894 to 20th Mar 1895
(6)
KARLSRUHE
27th Mar 1895 to 7th Jul 1895
KARLSRUHE
27th Mar 1895 to 7th Jul 1895
(7)
SACHSEN
6th Nov 1895 to 28th Oct 1906
SACHSEN
6th Nov 1895 to 28th Oct 1906
(8)
PREUßEN
19th Dec 1906 to 3rd Sep 1907
PREUßEN
19th Dec 1906 to 3rd Sep 1907
(9)
YORCK
23rd Oct 1907 to 16th Jun 1908
YORCK
23rd Oct 1907 to 16th Jun 1908
(10)
PRINZESS ALICE
31st Dec 1908 to 21st Apr 1909
PRINZESS ALICE
31st Dec 1908 to 21st Apr 1909
(11)
YORCK
5th May 1909 to 23rd Aug 1909
YORCK
5th May 1909 to 23rd Aug 1909
(12)
PRINZESS ALICE
12th Jan 1910 to 5th May 1910
PRINZESS ALICE
12th Jan 1910 to 5th May 1910
(13)
ROON
5th Oct 1911 to 20th Jan 1912
ROON
5th Oct 1911 to 20th Jan 1912
(14)
LÜTZOW
8th Feb 1912 - 1st Aug 1914
LÜTZOW
8th Feb 1912 - 1st Aug 1914
Indicator 'c' was used on the following ships:
(1)
DRESDEN
29th May 1889 to 15th Sep 1889
DRESDEN
29th May 1889 to 15th Sep 1889
(2)
BRAUNSCHWEIG
11th Dec 1889 to 4th Jan 1891
BRAUNSCHWEIG
11th Dec 1889 to 4th Jan 1891
(3)
STUTTGART
1st Apr 1891 to 22nd Jul 1891
STUTTGART
1st Apr 1891 to 22nd Jul 1891
(4)
NECKAR
6th Jan 1892 to 8th May 1892
NECKAR
6th Jan 1892 to 8th May 1892
(5)
OLDENBURG
26th Jun 1892 to 7th Oct 1892
OLDENBURG
26th Jun 1892 to 7th Oct 1892
(6)
PRUßEN
7th Dec 1892 to 9th Jul 1894
PRUßEN
7th Dec 1892 to 9th Jul 1894
(7)
GERA
18th Jul 1894 to 23rd Feb 1895
GERA
18th Jul 1894 to 23rd Feb 1895
(8)
PRUßEN
27th Feb 1895 to 1st Aug 1906
PRUßEN
27th Feb 1895 to 1st Aug 1906
(9)
PRINZ LUDWIG
16th Aug 1906 to 20th Jul 1914
PRINZ LUDWIG
16th Aug 1906 to 20th Jul 1914
Indicator 'd' was used on the following ships:
(1)
BAYERN
9th Feb 1887 to 17th Feb 1893
BAYERN
9th Feb 1887 to 17th Feb 1893
(2)
OLDENBERG
21st Jun 1893 - 30th Oct 1895
OLDENBERG
21st Jun 1893 - 30th Oct 1895
(3)
DARMSTADT
10th Aug 1898 to 21st Nov 1898
DARMSTADT
10th Aug 1898 to 21st Nov 1898
(4)
KÖNIG ALBERT
4th Oct 1899 to 16th Feb 1903
KÖNIG ALBERT
4th Oct 1899 to 16th Feb 1903
(5)
PRINZ HEINRICH
28th May 1903 to 14th Sep 1903
PRINZ HEINRICH
28th May 1903 to 14th Sep 1903
(6)
KÖNIG ALBERT
15th Oct 1903 to 31st Jan 1904
KÖNIG ALBERT
15th Oct 1903 to 31st Jan 1904
(7)
OLDENBURG
3rd Mar 1904 to 15th Jul 1904
OLDENBURG
3rd Mar 1904 to 15th Jul 1904
(8)
PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH
13th Oct 1904 to 23rd Feb 1908
PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH
13th Oct 1904 to 23rd Feb 1908
(9)
DERFFLINGER
1st Jul 1908 to 28th Jul 1914
DERFFLINGER
1st Jul 1908 to 28th Jul 1914
Indicator 'e' was used on the following ships:
(1)
NECKAR
27th Jul 1887 to 25th Apr 1891
NECKAR
27th Jul 1887 to 25th Apr 1891
(2)
DARMSTADT
22nd Jul 1891 to 12th Nov 1891
DARMSTADT
22nd Jul 1891 to 12th Nov 1891
(3)
BRAUNSCHWEIG
25th Apr 1893 to 6th Sep 1893
BRAUNSCHWEIG
25th Apr 1893 to 6th Sep 1893
(4)
BAYERN
12th Sep 1894 to 24th Dec 1894
BAYERN
12th Sep 1894 to 24th Dec 1894
(5)
KARLSRUHE
15th Nov 1899 to 8th Mar 1900
KARLSRUHE
15th Nov 1899 to 8th Mar 1900
(6)
HAMBURG
21st Mar 1900 to 22nd May 1904
HAMBURG
21st Mar 1900 to 22nd May 1904
(7)
GNEISENAU
6th Jul 1904 to 24th Oct 1904
GNEISENAU
6th Jul 1904 to 24th Oct 1904
(8)
ROON
10th Nov 1904 to 30th Dec 1906
ROON
10th Nov 1904 to 30th Dec 1906
(9)
BAYERN
13th Mar 1907 to 1st Jul 1907
BAYERN
13th Mar 1907 to 1st Jul 1907
(10)
PRINZESS ALICE
29th Sep 1907 to 18th May 1908
PRINZESS ALICE
29th Sep 1907 to 18th May 1908
(11)
SCHARNHORST
3rd Jun 1908 to 30th Sep 1906
SCHARNHORST
3rd Jun 1908 to 30th Sep 1906
(12)
BÜLOW
21st Oct 1908 to 24th Nov 1912
BÜLOW
21st Oct 1908 to 24th Nov 1912
(13)
BREMEN
12th Dec 1912 to 2nd Apr 1913
BREMEN
12th Dec 1912 to 2nd Apr 1913
(14)
SCHARNHORST
17th Apr 1913 to 9th Aug 1913
SCHARNHORST
17th Apr 1913 to 9th Aug 1913
(15)
KLEIST
3rd Sep 1913 to 21st Jul 1914
KLEIST
3rd Sep 1913 to 21st Jul 1914
Indicator 'f' was used on the following ships:
(1)
BRAUNSWEIG
22nd Sep 1886 to 30th Mar 1889
BRAUNSWEIG
22nd Sep 1886 to 30th Mar 1889
(2)
STUTTGART
11th Nov 1891 to 1st Mar 1892
STUTTGART
11th Nov 1891 to 1st Mar 1892
(3)
NÜRNBERG
27th Apr 1892 to 15th Jun 1892
NÜRNBERG
27th Apr 1892 to 15th Jun 1892
(4)
GENERAL WERDER
21st Jun 1892 to 18th Aug 1892
GENERAL WERDER
21st Jun 1892 to 18th Aug 1892
(5)
DARMSTADT
12th Oct 1892 to 24th Jan 1893
DARMSTADT
12th Oct 1892 to 24th Jan 1893
(6)
OLDENBURG
1st Mar 1893 to 11th Jun 1893
OLDENBURG
1st Mar 1893 to 11th Jun 1893
(7)
SACHSEN
8th Nov 1893 to 18th Jan 1895
SACHSEN
8th Nov 1893 to 18th Jan 1895
(8)
BAYERN
30th Jan 1895 to 2nd Sep 1895
BAYERN
30th Jan 1895 to 2nd Sep 1895
(9)
PRINZ HEINRICH
11th Sep 1895 to 9th Mar 1902
PRINZ HEINRICH
11th Sep 1895 to 9th Mar 1902
(10)
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
19th Mar 1902 to 12th Nov 1902
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
19th Mar 1902 to 12th Nov 1902
(11)
DARMSTADT
26th Nov 1902 to 20th Mar 1903
DARMSTADT
26th Nov 1902 to 20th Mar 1903
(12)
ROON
15th Apr 1903 to 28th Aug 1904
ROON
15th Apr 1903 to 28th Aug 1904
(13)
SEYDLITZ
26th Oct 1904 to 15th Feb 1905
SEYDLITZ
26th Oct 1904 to 15th Feb 1905
(14)
DARMSTADT
27th Apr 1905 to 15th Aug 1905
DARMSTADT
27th Apr 1905 to 15th Aug 1905
(15)
GNEISENAU
9th Nov 1905 to 15t Jul 1907
GNEISENAU
9th Nov 1905 to 15t Jul 1907
(16)
GOEBEN
31st Jul 1907 to 29th Jul 1914
GOEBEN
31st Jul 1907 to 29th Jul 1914
Indicator 'g' was used on the following ships:
(1)
NÜRNBERG
25th Aug 1886 to 31st Mar 1887
NÜRNBERG
25th Aug 1886 to 31st Mar 1887
(2)
SACHSEN
6th Apr 1887 to 12th May 1893
SACHSEN
6th Apr 1887 to 12th May 1893
(3)
GERA
19th Jul 1893 to 5th Nov 1893
GERA
19th Jul 1893 to 5th Nov 1893
(4)
KARLSRUHE
31st Jan 1894 to 10th Sep 1894
KARLSRUHE
31st Jan 1894 to 10th Sep 1894
(5)
PRINZ HEINRICH
2nd Jan 1895 to 5th Aug 1895
PRINZ HEINRICH
2nd Jan 1895 to 5th Aug 1895
(6)
KARLSRUHE
14th Aug 1895 to 8th Jul 1896
KARLSRUHE
14th Aug 1895 to 8th Jul 1896
(7)
BAYERN
15th Jul 1896 to 9th Sep 1906
BAYERN
15th Jul 1896 to 9th Sep 1906
(8)
BÜLOW
26th Sep 1906 to 13th Jan 1907
BÜLOW
26th Sep 1906 to 13th Jan 1907
(9)
ZIELEN
31st Jan 1907 to 19th Mar 1908
ZIELEN
31st Jan 1907 to 19th Mar 1908
(10)
BÜLOW
26th Mar 1908 to 13th Jul 1908
BÜLOW
26th Mar 1908 to 13th Jul 1908
(11)
LÜTZOW
29th Jul 1908 to 23rd Sep 1911
LÜTZOW
29th Jul 1908 to 23rd Sep 1911
(12)
GNEISENAU
7th Aug 1913 to 29th Nov 1913
GNEISENAU
7th Aug 1913 to 29th Nov 1913
CHINA SEEPOST
OST-ASIATISCHE LINIE
German Empire Stamps cancelled "OST-ASIATISCHE LINIE". Identifiers 'a' through 'f'. The identifier 'a', 'b', 'c', etc did not typically stay with the same ship. Once a ship returned to port the stamp was returned to the central store where it was held until required. If a ship stayed in port for a long duration, for example to undergo repairs, it was not unusual for the stamp that had previously been used on that ship to be re-issued to a different ship that was about to leave port.
OST-ASIATISCHE LINIE 'e'
Indicator 'a' was used on the following ships:
(1)
OLDEBBURG
13th Dec 1899 to 211th Dec 1900
OLDEBBURG
13th Dec 1899 to 211th Dec 1900
(2)
KIAUTSCHOU
25th Dec 1900 to 15th Feb 1904
KIAUTSCHOU
25th Dec 1900 to 15th Feb 1904
(3)
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
26th May 1904 to 30th Dec 1904
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
26th May 1904 to 30th Dec 1904
(4)
SCHARNHORST
10th Apr 1907 to 29th Jul 1907
SCHARNHORST
10th Apr 1907 to 29th Jul 1907
(5)
ROON
28th Aug 1907 to 3rd Dec 1907
ROON
28th Aug 1907 to 3rd Dec 1907
(6)
PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH
11th Mar 1908 to 27th Apr 1913
PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH
11th Mar 1908 to 27th Apr 1913
Indicator 'b' was used on the following ships:
(1)
PRINZ HEINRICH
1st May 1902 to 19th Aug 1902
PRINZ HEINRICH
1st May 1902 to 19th Aug 1902
(2)
STUTTGART
11th Dec 1902 to 27th Jul 1903
STUTTGART
11th Dec 1902 to 27th Jul 1903
(3)
SEYDLITZ
5th Aug 1903 to 14th Aug 1904
SEYDLITZ
5th Aug 1903 to 14th Aug 1904
(4)
PRINZESS ALICE
31st Aug 1904 to 20th Apr 1906
PRINZESS ALICE
31st Aug 1904 to 20th Apr 1906
(5)
SEYDLITZ
9th May 1906 to 10th Mar 1907
SEYDLITZ
9th May 1906 to 10th Mar 1907
(6)
PRINZ HEINRICH
18th Jul 1907 to 28th Jul 1908
PRINZ HEINRICH
18th Jul 1907 to 28th Jul 1908
(7)
PRINZESS ALICE
26th Aug 1908 to 12th Dec 1908
PRINZESS ALICE
26th Aug 1908 to 12th Dec 1908
(8)
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
16th Dec 1908 to 18th Dec 1909
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
16th Dec 1908 to 18th Dec 1909
(9)
ROON
4th May 1910 to 22nd Aug 1910
ROON
4th May 1910 to 22nd Aug 1910
(10)
PRINZESS ALICE
8th Sep 1910 to 31st Jul 1914
PRINZESS ALICE
8th Sep 1910 to 31st Jul 1914
Indicator 'c' was used on the following ships:
(1)
WEIMAR
7th Feb 1900 to 10th Oct 1900
WEIMAR
7th Feb 1900 to 10th Oct 1900
(2)
PRINZESS IRENE
30th Oct 1900 to 2nd Mar 1903
PRINZESS IRENE
30th Oct 1900 to 2nd Mar 1903
(3)
ZIETEN
18th Mar 1903 to 10th Nov 1903
ZIETEN
18th Mar 1903 to 10th Nov 1903
(4)
GERA
10th Dec 1903 to 20th Mar 1904
GERA
10th Dec 1903 to 20th Mar 1904
(5)
ZIETEN
13th Apr 1904 to 15th Aug 1906
ZIETEN
13th Apr 1904 to 15th Aug 1906
(6)
PRINZESS ALICE
30th Aug 1906 to 22nd Apr 1907
PRINZESS ALICE
30th Aug 1906 to 22nd Apr 1907
(7)
ROON
25th Apr 1907 to 21st Dec 1907
ROON
25th Apr 1907 to 21st Dec 1907
(8)
ZIETEN
13th Aug 1908 to 6th Dec 1908
ZIETEN
13th Aug 1908 to 6th Dec 1908
(9)
PRINZESS ALICE
9th Sep 1909 to 29th Dec 1909
PRINZESS ALICE
9th Sep 1909 to 29th Dec 1909
(10)
YORCK
21st Apr 1910 to 8th Aug 1910
YORCK
21st Apr 1910 to 8th Aug 1910
(11)
GNEISENAU
26th Jul 1911 to 14th Nov 1911
GNEISENAU
26th Jul 1911 to 14th Nov 1911
(12)
KLEIST
22nd Feb 1912 to 14th Oct 1912
KLEIST
22nd Feb 1912 to 14th Oct 1912
(13)
PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH
14th May 1913 to 1st Aug 1914
PRINZ EITEL FRIEDRICH
14th May 1913 to 1st Aug 1914
Indicator 'd' was used on the following ships:
(1)
STUTTGART
10th Jan 1900 to 29th May 1902
STUTTGART
10th Jan 1900 to 29th May 1902
(2)
GERA
18th Sep 1902 to 5th Jan 1903
GERA
18th Sep 1902 to 5th Jan 1903
(3)
PRINZ HEINRICH
21st Jan 1903 to 12th Apr 1903
PRINZ HEINRICH
21st Jan 1903 to 12th Apr 1903
Indicator 'e' was used on the following ships:
(1)
PRINZ HEINRICH
30th Sep 1903 to 11th Mar 1907
PRINZ HEINRICH
30th Sep 1903 to 11th Mar 1907
(2)
KLEIST
15th Aug 1907 to 17th Feb 1913
KLEIST
15th Aug 1907 to 17th Feb 1913
(3)
BÜLOW
6th Mar 1913 to 1st Aug 1914
BÜLOW
6th Mar 1913 to 1st Aug 1914
Indicator 'f' was used on the following ships:
(1)
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
18th Jan 1905 to 6th May 1905
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
18th Jan 1905 to 6th May 1905
(2)
SCHARNHORST
22nd May 1905 to 10th Sep 1905
SCHARNHORST
22nd May 1905 to 10th Sep 1905
(3)
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
27th Sep 1905 to 7th Oct 1908
PRINZREGENT LUITPOLD
27th Sep 1905 to 7th Oct 1908
(4)
YORCK
15th Dec 1909 to 3rd Apr 1910
YORCK
15th Dec 1909 to 3rd Apr 1910
(5)
YORCK
24th Aug 1910 to 2nd Aug 1914
YORCK
24th Aug 1910 to 2nd Aug 1914
Indicator 'f' was stolen somewhere between Singapore and Aden whilst being used on the Prinz Heinrich in 1903. For the remainder of the voyage a violet coloured cachet was used inscribed 'Reichspostdampfer Prinz Regent', often referred to as the 'Prinz Heinrich Provisional'
"Reichspostdampfer Prinz Heinrich"
'Prinz Heinrich Provisional'
'Prinz Heinrich Provisional'
The ships of the North German Lloyd Company plying the East Asia Main Line stopped at various ports along the way and were permitted to disembark mail at these ports. Hong Kong, Singapore and the Japanese ports of Nagasaki, Moji and Yokohama were all part of the system. This mail had to be franked with the postage stamps of the country in which the port was located and all were required to be handstamped with the name of the port along with the word 'Franco' e.g. 'Singapore Franco'. In addition for mail arriving in Singapore there was a requirement to add an additional 'LATE FEE' stamp along with an additional 10 cent fee. This fee was applicable regardless of the weight of the item.
So-called 'Ocean Letters' were also permitted during the voyage and these items had an additional label inscribed "Radio Telegramm nimmt jedes Telegrafenamt an. Vermittlung: Deutsche Betriebsgesellschaft für drahtiose Telegrafie (Debeg) Berlin S.W 61", roughly translated as "Every telegraph office accepts radio telegrams. Mediation: German operating company for wireless telegraphy (Debeg) Berlin S.W 61 "".
CHINA SEEPOST
OST-ASIATISCHE ZWEIGLINIE und
LOKAL-LINIEN
(East Asia Branch Line and Local Lines)
German Empire Stamps cancelled "OST-ASIATISCHE ZWEIGLINIE". Identifiers 'a' and 'b'. Identifier 'a' was a philatelically inspired cancel used from Aug 1886 to 24th Apr 1899.
(1)
OST-ASIATISCHE ZWEIGLINIE 'a'
OST-ASIATISCHE ZWEIGLINIE 'a'
(2)
OST-ASIATISCHE ZWEIGLINIE 'b'
OST-ASIATISCHE ZWEIGLINIE 'b'
Identifier 'a' was used as follows:
(1)
STETTIN
Aug 1886 to Feb 1887
STETTIN
Aug 1886 to Feb 1887
(2)
WERDER
feb 1887 to Jun 1892
WERDER
feb 1887 to Jun 1892
(3)
NURNBERG
Jun 1892 to May 1895
NURNBERG
Jun 1892 to May 1895
(4)
HOHENZOLLERN
May 1895 to Apr 1899
HOHENZOLLERN
May 1895 to Apr 1899
Identifier 'b' usage unknown
CHINA SEEPOST
SHANGHAI - TIENTSIN
German Empire Stamps cancelled "DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN". Identifiers '*', 'NO IDENTIFIER' and 'a' to 'd'.
(1)
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'without identifier'
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'without identifier'
(2)
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'*'
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'*'
(3)
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'a'
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'a'
(4)
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'b'
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'b'
(5)
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'c'
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'c'
(6)
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'd'
"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST | SHANGHAI-TIENTSIN"
'd'
CHINA SEEPOST
YANGTSE-LINIE
German Empire Stamps cancelled "CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI". Identifiers: 'NO IDENTIFIER' and 'a' to 'd'.
(1)
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'without identifier'
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'without identifier'
(2)
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'a'
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'a'
(3)
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'b'
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'b'
(4)
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'c'
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'c'
(5)
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'd'
"CHINA SEEPOST | YANGTSE-LINI"
'd'