NAZI GERMANY
POSTCARDS
My HANSAPOSTA STAMP EXHIBITION
(12th to 20th Oct 1935)

There were 5 different postcards published for the 1935 Hansaposta Stamp Exhibition, each with a different denomination HINDENBURG MEDALLION pre-printed stamp (a 3Pf, 5Pf, 6Pf, 10Pf and a 15Pf).

In addition there are two versions of each value. With the Type I version the text "12. - 20. Oktober 1935" is 32mm long and starts below the 'N' and stops below the second 'S' of 'HANSAPOSTA'.

In the Type II version the text is 43mm long, starting below the first 'A' and ending almost under the 'T' of 'HANSAPOSTA'. [1]

There was also a special cancel used to commemorate the exhibition and it is inscribed "HAMBURG 1 | Hansaposta | 1935" and features the same 'water carrier' character as the postcards and envelopes. This cancel was only available during the exhibition from the 12th to the 20th Oct and was the only special cancel used [2]

The character featured on these postcards and envelopes is Hans Hummel (real name Johann Wilhelm Bentz), who lived in Hamburg from 21st Jan 1787 until 15th Mar 1854. Hummel was a water carrier in Hamburg's Neustadt district and is considered the creator of the Hamburg greeting "Hummel, Hummel - Mors, Mors". The term Hummel, Hummel was a mocking term used by the local children against Bentz, who was unable to defend himself due to his heavy load, so he would reply 'Mor, Mors' which is a short form of "Klei mi an'n Mors" or in today's terms 'kiss my ass'.

Today the term 'Hummel, Hummel' is more often used at sporting events where the fans chant the words 'Hummel, hummel' and the reply back is 'Mors, mors' [3]