OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1938)

This page was last updated
03-Apr-2024 06:37

MICHEL P247
OFFICIAL REPLYCARD
K.d.F CONFERENCE

VALIDITY: 9th Jun 1938 until 31st Dec 1939

BACKGROUND: These official postcards (one postcard and one reply card) were issued in Jun 1938 to commemorate the K.d.F Strength through Joy conference held in Hamburg. The cards feature an image of a woman waving a handkerchief and saying goodbye to a ship (the Wilhelm Gustloff). The pre-printed stamp is a 1934 issue, 5 Rpf Airmail stamp, Michel 529. P246 is a regular postcard whereas P247 is a reply card.

The replycards were available for 40 Rpf from the special post office in HAMBURG but it was not permitted to accept written orders (presumably from collectors)

SONDERSTEMPEL: A special handstamp was available from 9th to 12th Jun 1938 inscribed "HAMBURG 36 | Hamburg 1938 | Reichstagung "kfraft durch freude"" and featuring an image of the Wilhelm Gustloff. (BOCHMANN Heft Nr 10, Page 355, Nr S 85).

There were two types in use: Type 1. With third wave under the bow in three parts and without a dot behind '1938' and Type II, third wave under the bow in two parts and '1938' with a dot.



ABOVE LEFT: Type I
ABOVE RIGHT: Type II

VARIANTS TO COLLECT

The following are suggested variants that might make good additions to a collection:

1. Cancelled on first day of issue 9th Jun 1938
2. Cancelled with special handstamp "Hamburg, Reichstagung KdF"
3. Cancelled with special ship's cancel "Kraft Durch Freude MS Wilhelm Gustloff"
4. As a domestic local delivery without any special features
5. As a domestic long distance delivery with 6 Rpf postage
6. As a foreign used card with 10 Rpf to CSR
7. As a foreign used card with 10 Rpf to Hungary
8. As a foreign used card with 15 Rpf
9. As a Registered Delivery card
10. As a local delivery Express Delivery card
11. Used as a Rohrpost (pneumatic) card in BERLIN
12. Used as a Hamburg Straβenbahnpost item
13. Domestic Armail usage
14. European Airmail usage
15. Airmail usage to the USA from Bodensee (Lake Constance)
16. Postally unused
17. Domestic Bahnpost usage
18. Invalid Usage - either after expiration date or with incorrect postage applied
19. With additional private printing
20. With Special slogan cancels

EXAMPLES FROM MY COLLECTION

POSTALLY UNUSED

CANCELLED on FIRST DAY of ISSUE

Cancelled on the official issue date 9th Jun 1938

SPECIAL HANDSTAMP
"HAMBURG, REICHSTAGUNG KDF"

1. Cancelled with special handstamp "Hamburg, Reichstagung KdF"

SPECIAL SHIP STAMP
"Kraft Durch Freude MS Wilhelm Gustloff"

Cancelled with special ship stamp "Kraft Durch Freude MS Wilhelm Gustloff"

DOMESTIC LOCAL DELIVERY WITHOUT SPECIAL MARKINGS

DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE DELIVERY WITH 6 Rpf POSTAGE

FOREIGN USE WITH 10 Rpf to CSR

FOREIGN USE WITH 10 Rpf to HUNGARY

FOREIGN USE WITH 15 Rpf

REGISTERED DELIVERY CARD

EXPRESS DELIVERY CARD

USED AS A HAMBURG STRAβENBAHNPOST ITEM

POSTED AS ROHRPOST IN BERLIN

DOMESTIC AIRMAIL

EUROPEAN AIRMAIL

AIRMAIL TO USA FROM LAKE CONSTANCE

GERMAN BAHNPOST

INVALID USAGE

SPECIAL SLOGAN CANCELS

MAIN REFERENCE SOURCES

1. MICHEL GANZSACHEN DEUTSCHLAND 2018. ISBN: 978-3-95402-225-0
2. BOREK GANZSACHEN-SPEZIAL-KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND ab 1933. ISBN: 3-87091-060-7
3. MICHEL BILDPOSTKARTEN- UND MOTIVGANSACHEN KATALOG DEUTSCHLAND 1997. ISBN: 3-87858-631-0
4. GANZSACHEN-HANDBUCH DES "DITTEN REICHES" 1933-1945 by FRECH. ISBN: UNKNOWN