GERMAN POST OFFICES ABROAD
STAMPS of CHINA
Germany opened its first post office in China in Shanghai on 16th Aug 1886 and retained postal services throughout China until the First World War when China declared war on Germany on 16th Mar 1917 effectively bringing to an end the German presence in China.
The post offices were a significant way for Germany to protect its trade interests in the region and at its height there were almost 20 post offices in operation. Having a postal service created legitimacy and a way for missionaries, traders and German soldiers to keep in contact with people back home. It also gave an excuse for the German military to keep a presence in the region and deter other nations from interfering.
In the initial years regular issue German Empire, Crone / Adler (Crown / Eagle), German Empire stamps were used and these are referred to as forerunners or Vorlaufer. As the colony became more established German post offices in China were supplied with stamps overprinted 'China' as was the case in other parts of the empire where individual colonies were supplied with their own overprinted stamps, for example 'Kamerun'. In addition it wasn't unusual for collectors and dealers back home in Germany to send their stamps as well as other postal items to China to have them cancelled with an exotic cancel. The only method of determining if a forerunner was used in China is by the cancellation that was used. There is no such thing as a mint or unused forerunner.
For details on the various issues available in China during the German colonial period please click on one of the dates below.
1886 1890 1898 1900 1901 1905 1906 - - -