- Kiautschou Post Offices
- Kiautschou Feldpost
- Kiautschou Navy Post
- Kiautschou Seepost
- Kiautschou Bahnpost
GERMAN COLONIES
KIAUTSCHOU
STAMPS
1898 / 1901
Kiauchau was a Grerman leased territory in China from 6th Mar 1898 with the German post beginning 26th Jan 1898. The Bay of Kiauchau is located to the southeast of Beijing (then Peking) on the south coast of Shandong Province (then Shantung). The capital is present day Qingdao, formely named Tsintau (Tsingtau). In 1897 the Chinese government signed a 99 year lease agreement with the German government however the lease ended at the outset of the First World War on 7th Nov 1914.
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 V6I
FORERUNNERS (V)
From 1898 / 1901. The German post offices in kiauchau used German Empire stamps. Michel 1I to 6I with diagonal "China" overprint at 45˚. Michel 1II to 6II the same as 1I to 6I but with steeper overprint.
Mi V6I
50Pf
bright reddish brown
50Pf
bright reddish brown