GERMAN EMPIRE PRIVATE POSTCARDS
THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY A WORK IN PROGRESS
Please note the following for this website. Private Postcards are defined as:1. Postcards of the German Empire issued by private organisations that have pre-printed stamps and usually publicise a social event, commemorate an anniversary or were only available at limited outlets.
The format of the naming convention for private postcards is as follows e.g. PP123-Z-4-56.
The 'PP' indicates the card is a private postcard.
The following 1, 2 or 3 digits represents the design and value of the pre-printed stamp. e.g. a "PP1" indicates the card has a ½ Groschen Brutschild Stamp, a 'PP34' has a 10Pf Germania pre-printed stamp and a 'PP122' has a 3Pf Hindenburg Medallion stamp (see images below).
The 'Z' determines the format of the card, see explanation below for card types.
The '4' indicates the series assigned to the card, the earlier the card the lower number that has been assigned.
The '56' only appears with cards that have variations within the designation, for example: PP122-C-27-01 where the text is "Deutsche Arbeit" and PP122-C-27-02 has the text "Deutsche Familie".
Card Types
Type 'A': Defined as a card that does not have a picture or additional text when compared to the related Official Postcard or cards with a text form that does not indicate who published the card or the reason why the card was issued. They can differ from the official cards in one of the following features:- The card material itself (type of card paper, size, thickness or color).
- The arrangement of the different parts of the form.
- The font of one or more of the texts used on the card.
- Missing features of the card for example the official card may have text not present on the private postcard.
Type 'B': Cards for companies or associations with details of the institutions concerned, if they do not fall under other categories as event cards, and individual advertising cards from the advertising card booklets listed under G.
Type 'C': These are the most common type of private cards and are defined as postcards issued to commemorate an event (including corporate or club events e.g. stamp exhibitions, etc), provided the date of the event falls within the time frame when the value stamp was valid for use. It does not matter whether the date appears on the front or on the back of the card and it can also be in numberic form e.g. '21-2-35' or in words 21st February 1935'.
Type 'D': Postcards issued to commemorate an event (including company or club events) that either does not have a date, or the date inscribed on the card falls outside the date of the validity of the pre-printed value stamp.
Type 'E': Postcards with other representations (except location views) that do not allow an exact determination of the issue date or occasion. This category is pretty much anything that doesn't fit in the categories above.
Type 'F': Postcards with views of places or landscapes or that only depict people (without any other information).
Type 'G': Postcards from companies advertising their products.
Type 'Z': Official proofs for officially issued postcards that might conceivably be mistaken for private postcards.
POSTCARDS
(POSTKARTE)
(1)
PP1
½ GROSCHEN
(ORANGE)
SHIELD
PP1
½ GROSCHEN
(ORANGE)
SHIELD
(2)
PP2
½ GROSCHEN
(BROWN)
SHIELD
PP2
½ GROSCHEN
(BROWN)
SHIELD
(3)
PP3
2 KREUZER
(BROWN)
SHIELD
PP3
2 KREUZER
(BROWN)
SHIELD
(4)
PP4
5 PFENNIGE
(VIOLET)
NUMBER and CROWN
PP4
5 PFENNIGE
(VIOLET)
NUMBER and CROWN
(5)
PP5
10Pf
(RED)
SMALL EAGLE
PP5
10Pf
(RED)
SMALL EAGLE
(6)
PP6
5 PFENNIG
(VIOLET)
NUMBER and CROWN
PP6
5 PFENNIG
(VIOLET)
NUMBER and CROWN
(7)
PP7
2Pf
(GREY)
CROWN/CIRLCE
REICHSPOST
PP7
2Pf
(GREY)
CROWN/CIRLCE
REICHSPOST
(8)
PP8
3Pf
(BROWN)
CROWN/CIRCLE
REICHSPOST
PP8
3Pf
(BROWN)
CROWN/CIRCLE
REICHSPOST
(9)
PP9
5Pf
(GREEN)
CROWN/CIRCLE
REICHSPOST
PP9
5Pf
(GREEN)
CROWN/CIRCLE
REICHSPOST
(10)
PP10
10Pf
(RED)
LARGE EAGLE
REICHSPOST
PP10
10Pf
(RED)
LARGE EAGLE
REICHSPOST
(11)
PP11
2Pf
(GREY)
GERMANIA
REICHSPOST
PP11
2Pf
(GREY)
GERMANIA
REICHSPOST
(12)
PP12
NOT USED
PP12
NOT USED
(13)
PP13 / PP14
3Pf
(BROWN)
GERMANIA REICHSPOST
PP13 / PP14
3Pf
(BROWN)
GERMANIA REICHSPOST
(14)
PP15
5Pf
(GREEN)
GERMANIA REICHSPOST
PP15
5Pf
(GREEN)
GERMANIA REICHSPOST
(15)
PP18
2Pf + 3Pf
(BLUE + BROWN)
GERMANIA REICHPOST
PP18
2Pf + 3Pf
(BLUE + BROWN)
GERMANIA REICHPOST
(16)
PP19
5Pf
(GREEN)
GERMANIA REICHSPOST
PP19
5Pf
(GREEN)
GERMANIA REICHSPOST
(17)
PP20, PP21, PP22
2Pf
(GREY)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP20, PP21, PP22
2Pf
(GREY)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(18)
PP23, PP24
3Pf
(BROWN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP23, PP24
3Pf
(BROWN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(19)
PP25
3Pf + 3Pf
(BROWN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP25
3Pf + 3Pf
(BROWN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(20)
PP26
3Pf + 5Pf
(BROWN + GREEN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP26
3Pf + 5Pf
(BROWN + GREEN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(21)
PP27 - PP30
5Pf
(GREEN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP27 - PP30
5Pf
(GREEN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(22)
PP31
7½Pf
(ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP31
7½Pf
(ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(23)
PP32
10Pf
(RED)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP32
10Pf
(RED)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(24)
PP34, PP35
10Pf
(ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP34, PP35
10Pf
(ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(25)
PP36
15Pf
(BROWN-LILAC)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP36
15Pf
(BROWN-LILAC)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(26)
PP37
30Pf
(BLUE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP37
30Pf
(BLUE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(27)
PP38
40Pf
(RED)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP38
40Pf
(RED)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(28)
PP39
75Pf
(DARK VIOLET)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP39
75Pf
(DARK VIOLET)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(29)
PP40
1½ MARK
(RED LILAC)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP40
1½ MARK
(RED LILAC)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(30)
PP41, PP42, PP43
3Pf + 2Pf
(BROWN + BARS)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP41, PP42, PP43
3Pf + 2Pf
(BROWN + BARS)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(31)
PP45
2½Pf + 3Pf
(GREY + BROWN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP45
2½Pf + 3Pf
(GREY + BROWN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(32)
PP46
2½Pf + 5Pf
(GREY + GREEN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP46
2½Pf + 5Pf
(GREY + GREEN)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(33)
PP47
2½Pf + 7½Pf
(GREY + ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP47
2½Pf + 7½Pf
(GREY + ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(34)
PP48
7½Pf + 7½Pf
(ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
PP48
7½Pf + 7½Pf
(ORANGE)
GERMANIA DEUTSCHES REICH
(35)
PP50
10Pf
(ORANGE)
'Deutsches Reich' Overprint
PP50
10Pf
(ORANGE)
'Deutsches Reich' Overprint
(36)
PP51
30Pf
(GREEN)
POSTREITER
PP51
30Pf
(GREEN)
POSTREITER
(37)
PP52
40Pf
(ORANGE)
POSTREITER
PP52
40Pf
(ORANGE)
POSTREITER
(38)
PP53
80Pf
(RED)
POSTREITER
PP53
80Pf
(RED)
POSTREITER
(39)
PP54
1.50 MARK
(BLUE)
POSTREITER
PP54
1.50 MARK
(BLUE)
POSTREITER
(40)
PP55
35Pf + 40Pf
(GREEN + ORANGE)
ROSSETTE
PP55
35Pf + 40Pf
(GREEN + ORANGE)
ROSSETTE
(41)
PP56
85Pf + 40Pf
(ORANGE)
ROSSETTE
PP56
85Pf + 40Pf
(ORANGE)
ROSSETTE
(42)
PP57
10Pf
(OLIVE)
NUMBER in SQUARE
PP57
10Pf
(OLIVE)
NUMBER in SQUARE
(43)
PP58, PP59
15Pf
(GREEN-BLUE)
NUMBER in SQUARE
PP58, PP59
15Pf
(GREEN-BLUE)
NUMBER in SQUARE
(44)
PP60
40Pf
(ORANGE)
NUMBER in SQUARE
PP60
40Pf
(ORANGE)
NUMBER in SQUARE
(45)
PP61
50Pf
(VIOLET)
NUMBER in SQUARE
PP61
50Pf
(VIOLET)
NUMBER in SQUARE
(46)
PP62
3 MARK
(ORANGE)
POSTHORN
PP62
3 MARK
(ORANGE)
POSTHORN
(47)
PP63
100Pf
(GREEN)
WORKERS
PP63
100Pf
(GREEN)
WORKERS
(48)
PP64
150Pf
(DARK YELLOW)
FARMERS
PP64
150Pf
(DARK YELLOW)
FARMERS
(49)
PP65
20 MARK
(LILAC)
MINERS
PP65
20 MARK
(LILAC)
MINERS
(50)
PP66
25 MARK
(BROWN)
FARMER
PP66
25 MARK
(BROWN)
FARMER
(51)
PP67
40 MARK
(GREEN)
FARMERS
PP67
40 MARK
(GREEN)
FARMERS
(52)
PP68
20 MARK + 40 MARK
(LILAC + GREEN)
WORKERS / FARMERS
PP68
20 MARK + 40 MARK
(LILAC + GREEN)
WORKERS / FARMERS
(53)
PP69
100 MARK
(BRIGHT VIOLET0
NUMBER in CIRCLE
PP69
100 MARK
(BRIGHT VIOLET0
NUMBER in CIRCLE
(54)
PP70
200 MARK
(RED)
NUMBER in CIRCLE
PP70
200 MARK
(RED)
NUMBER in CIRCLE
(55)
PP71
400 MARK
(BROWN)
NUMBER in CIRCLE
PP71
400 MARK
(BROWN)
NUMBER in CIRCLE
(56)
PP72
20 MARK + 100 MARK
(LILAC + BRIGHT VOILET)
WORKER / NUMBER
PP72
20 MARK + 100 MARK
(LILAC + BRIGHT VOILET)
WORKER / NUMBER
(57)
PP73
25 MARK + 20 MARK
(BROWN + LILAC)
EAGLE / MINER
PP73
25 MARK + 20 MARK
(BROWN + LILAC)
EAGLE / MINER
(58)
PP74
20 MARK + 40 MARK
(BROWN + GREEN)
EAGLE /FARMER
PP74
20 MARK + 40 MARK
(BROWN + GREEN)
EAGLE /FARMER
(59)
PP75
15Pf
(PURPLE)
EAGLE
PP75
15Pf
(PURPLE)
EAGLE
(60)
PP76
20Pf
(BLUE)
EAGLE
PP76
20Pf
(BLUE)
EAGLE
(61)
PP77 - PP80
3Pf
(BROWN)
EAGLE
PP77 - PP80
3Pf
(BROWN)
EAGLE
(62)
PP81 - PP84
5Pf
(GREEN)
EAGLE
PP81 - PP84
5Pf
(GREEN)
EAGLE
(63)
PP85
20Pf
(BLUE)
EAGLE
PP85
20Pf
(BLUE)
EAGLE
(64)
PP86
10Pf + 5Pf
(RED + GREEN)
EAGLE
PP86
10Pf + 5Pf
(RED + GREEN)
EAGLE
(65)
PP87
3Pf + 3Pf + 30Pf
(BROWN + VIOLET)
EAGLE
PP87
3Pf + 3Pf + 30Pf
(BROWN + VIOLET)
EAGLE
(66)
PP88
5Pf
(GREEN)
RHINELAND EAGLE
PP88
5Pf
(GREEN)
RHINELAND EAGLE
(67)
PP89
15Pf
(LILAC)
LUFTPOST EAGLE
PP89
15Pf
(LILAC)
LUFTPOST EAGLE
(68)
PP90
10Pf + 15Pf
(RED + BROWN)
EAGLE
PP90
10Pf + 15Pf
(RED + BROWN)
EAGLE
(69)
PP91
10Pf + 5Pf
(RED + GREEN)
EAGLE
PP91
10Pf + 5Pf
(RED + GREEN)
EAGLE
(70)
PP92
10Pf + 8Pf
(RED + DARK GREEN)
EAGLE / BEETHOVEN
PP92
10Pf + 8Pf
(RED + DARK GREEN)
EAGLE / BEETHOVEN
(71)
PP93
10Pf + 3Pf
(RED + BROWN)
EAGLE / EBERT
PP93
10Pf + 3Pf
(RED + BROWN)
EAGLE / EBERT
(72)
PP94
10Pf + 3Pf
(RED + BROWN)
EAGLE
PP94
10Pf + 3Pf
(RED + BROWN)
EAGLE
(73)
PP95
10Pf + 8Pf
(RED + DARK GREEN)
EAGLE / EBERT
PP95
10Pf + 8Pf
(RED + DARK GREEN)
EAGLE / EBERT
(74)
PP96
20Pf + 15Pf
(BLUE + LILAC)
LUFTPOST EAGLE
PP96
20Pf + 15Pf
(BLUE + LILAC)
LUFTPOST EAGLE
(75)
PP97 - PP99
3Pf
(DARK BROWN)
GOETHE
PP97 - PP99
3Pf
(DARK BROWN)
GOETHE
(76)
PP100
3Pf + 5Pf
(BROWN + GREEN)
GOETHE / SCHILLER
PP100
3Pf + 5Pf
(BROWN + GREEN)
GOETHE / SCHILLER
(77)
PP101 - PP103
5Pf
(GREEN)
SCHILLER
PP101 - PP103
5Pf
(GREEN)
SCHILLER
(78)
PP104
8Pf
(DARK GREEN)
BEETHOVEN
PP104
8Pf
(DARK GREEN)
BEETHOVEN
(79)
PP106 - PP109
3Pf
(BROWN)
EBERT
PP106 - PP109
3Pf
(BROWN)
EBERT
(80)
PP110
3Pf + 8PF
(BROWN + GREEN)
EBERT
PP110
3Pf + 8PF
(BROWN + GREEN)
EBERT
(81)
PP111 - PP112
6Pf
(OLIVE)
EBERT
PP111 - PP112
6Pf
(OLIVE)
EBERT
(82)
PP113 - PP115
8Pf
(DARK GREEN)
EBERT
PP113 - PP115
8Pf
(DARK GREEN)
EBERT
(83)
PP116 - PP119
5Pf
(GREEN)
HINDENBURG
PP116 - PP119
5Pf
(GREEN)
HINDENBURG
(84)
PP120
15PF
(RED)
HINDENBURG
PP120
15PF
(RED)
HINDENBURG
(85)
PP121, P135
1Pf
(BLACK)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP121, P135
1Pf
(BLACK)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(86)
PP122 - PP124, P134
3Pf
(BROWN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP122 - PP124, P134
3Pf
(BROWN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(87)
PP125
4Pf
(GREY-BLUE)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP125
4Pf
(GREY-BLUE)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(88)
PP126
5Pf
(GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP126
5Pf
(GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(89)
PP127 - PP129
6Pf
(GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP127 - PP129
6Pf
(GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(90)
PP130
10Pf
(BROWN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP130
10Pf
(BROWN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(91)
PP131
15Pf
(BROWN-VIOLET)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP131
15Pf
(BROWN-VIOLET)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(92)
PP132, PP137
1Pf + 4Pf
(BLACK + GREY-BLUE)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP132, PP137
1Pf + 4Pf
(BLACK + GREY-BLUE)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(93)
PP133
1Pf + 5Pf
(BLACK + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP133
1Pf + 5Pf
(BLACK + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(94)
PP136
1Pf + 3Pf
(BLACK + BROWN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP136
1Pf + 3Pf
(BLACK + BROWN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(95)
PP138
5Pf + 1Pf
(GREEN + BLACK)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP138
5Pf + 1Pf
(GREEN + BLACK)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(96)
PP139
15Pf + 1Pf
(BLUE + BLACK)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP139
15Pf + 1Pf
(BLUE + BLACK)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(97)
PP140
10Pf + 3Pf
(RED + BROWN)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP140
10Pf + 3Pf
(RED + BROWN)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(98)
PP141
10Pf + 6Pf
(RED + GREEN)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
PP141
10Pf + 6Pf
(RED + GREEN)
LUFTPOST / HINDENBURG MEDALLION
(99)
PP142
5Pf
(GREEN)
LUFTPOST
PP142
5Pf
(GREEN)
LUFTPOST
(100)
PP143
10Pf
(RED)
LUFTPOST
PP143
10Pf
(RED)
LUFTPOST
(101)
PP144
10Pf
(RED)
LUFTPOST
PP144
10Pf
(RED)
LUFTPOST
(102)
PP145
1Pf + 5Pf
(BLACK + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
PP145
1Pf + 5Pf
(BLACK + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
(103)
PP146
5Pf + 5Pf
(GREEN + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
PP146
5Pf + 5Pf
(GREEN + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
(104)
PP147
10Pf + 5Pf
(BROWN + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
PP147
10Pf + 5Pf
(BROWN + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
(105)
PP148
1Pf + 10Pf + 5PF
(BLACK + RED + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
PP148
1Pf + 10Pf + 5PF
(BLACK + RED + GREEN)
HINDENBURG MEDALLION / LUFTPOST
(106)
PP149 - PP150
6Pf
(GREEN)
POSTHORN
PP149 - PP150
6Pf
(GREEN)
POSTHORN
(107)
PP151
1Pf
(BLACK)
HITLER MEDALLION
PP151
1Pf
(BLACK)
HITLER MEDALLION
(108)
PP152 - PP153
3Pf
(BROWN)
HITLER MEDALLION
PP152 - PP153
3Pf
(BROWN)
HITLER MEDALLION
(109)
PP154
4PF
(BLUE-GREY)
HITLER MEDALLION
PP154
4PF
(BLUE-GREY)
HITLER MEDALLION
(110)
PP155
5Pf
(GREEN)
HITLER MEDALLION
PP155
5Pf
(GREEN)
HITLER MEDALLION
(111)
PP156
6Pf
(VIOLET)
HITLER MEDALLION
PP156
6Pf
(VIOLET)
HITLER MEDALLION
(112)
PP157
3Pf
(BROWN)
NUMBER in RECTANGLE
PP157
3Pf
(BROWN)
NUMBER in RECTANGLE
(113)
PP158
6Pf
(VIOLET)
NUMBER in RECTANGLE
PP158
6Pf
(VIOLET)
NUMBER in RECTANGLE
(114)
PP159
12Pf
(RED)
NUMBER in RECTANGLE
PP159
12Pf
(RED)
NUMBER in RECTANGLE
MAIN REFERENCE SOURCES
1. MICHEL BILDPOSTKARTEN- UND MOTIVGANSACHEN KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND 1997 ISBN: 3-87858-631-0