GERMAN COLONIES
SOMOA
STAMPS
1915

Samoa became a German Protectorate from 1st March (Upolu) and 8th June 1900 (Sawaii) with the German post Office starting from 21st Sep 1886.

The South Sea Islands of Samoa are approximately 3,500Km east of Australia. A German Post Steam Ship Agency was established on 21st Sep 1886 in Apia to protect German business interests in the South Seas. On the 2nd Dec 1899 the German-American Samoa Treaty was signed in Washington giving the western area, including the two main islands of Upolu and Sawaii, as well as two smaller islands to Germany. The eastern part of the islands including Tutulia and some smaller islands came under American control. England waived all interest in the islands.

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FORERUNNERS (V) 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 (V) 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 (V) (e.g. Michel V39 and V43). All FORERUNNERS (V) and interim stamps can only be recognised by the cancellation and as such there is no such thing as an unused forerunner.

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MICHEL 23
REGULAR ISSUE IMPERIAL YACHT

Issued: Jan 1915 to Apr 1919: Michel 23 like Michel 19 except now with lozenge / diamond watermarked paper. Type "I" so-called "Peace Printing", Type "II" so-called "War Printing".