OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1938)

This page was last updated
06-Aug-2024 06:46

MICHEL P276
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
KÖLN CARNIVAL

VALIDITY: 31st Dec 1938 to 31st Dec 1939.

BACKGROUND: Official postcards issued on 31st Dec 1938 to advertise the annual Köln Carnival held from 23rd to 28th Feb 1939. There were two versions of this postcard, P276 with a green 6 Rpf pre-printed stamp and P277 issued 16th Feb 1939, which has a brown 6 Rpf pre-printed stamp.

The cards feature a view of Wallraff Square during the Rose Monday Procession and were designed by local artist Rüdell. Produced by the M. Dumont-Schauberg company in Cologne they were printed by the Reichsdrukerei with a pre-printed 6 Rpf stamp designed by local graphic artist Rademacher, and featuring the Cologne Coat of Arms and a fool's cap.

These cards were only available from post offices in Cologne and from the collectors window in Berlin at 15 Rpf per card. As was now common practice the balance of 9 Rpf was a donation to Hitler's culture fund. With additional postage applied these cards were allowed to be sent overseas.

SONDERSTEMPEL: A special handstamp was availale, inscribed "KÖLN | Singendes, klingendes, | lachendes | Köln | Karneval 1939" - "COLOGNE | Singing, ringing, | laughing | Cologne | Carnival 1939', during the event.

As well as the official card there is an official card with additional private printing.

VARIANTS TO COLLECT

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

1. Cancelled on first day of issue 31st Dec 1938
2. Cancelled with "Singendes, Klingendes, lachendes Köln" handstamp
3. Cancelled with "Köln, Karneval 1939" [Prinz Karneval] machine stamp
4. Cancelled with "Münster, Karneval 1939" handstamp
5. As a domestic long-distance card without any special features
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. Cancelled as a Hamburg Straβenbahnpost
12. Used as a Rohrpost (pneumatic) card in BERLIN
13. Domestic Airmail usage
14. European Airmail usage
15. Airmail usage to the USA
16. As a Zeppelin post card
17. Postally unused
18. Domestic Bahnpost usage
19. Invalid Usage - either after expiration date or with incorrect postage applied
20. With additional private printing
21. With Special slogan cancels

POSTALLY UNUSED

CANCELLED on FIRST DAY of ISSUE

Cancelled on the official issue date 31st Dec 1938

CANCELLED WITH "Singendes, Klingendes, lachendes Köln"
HANDSTAMP

1. This first domestically used P276 postcard was sent from KÖLN to ASCHAFFENBURG on 20th Feb 1939. This example has the special cancel associated with the Carnival applied at counter 'a'.




2. The P276 postcard below was sent from KÖLN to HAMBURG on 16th Feb 1939

CANCELLED WITH "Köln, Karneval 1939" [Prinz Karneval]
MACHINE STAMP

CANCELLED WITH "Münster, Karneval 1939"
HANDSTAMP

The special handstamp used in MÜNSTER was only to be applied on regular and registered mail that featured the official WHW stamps, however it was also allowed on P276 and P277 as an exception.

DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE WITHOUT SPECIAL MARKINGS

FOREIGN USE WITH 10 Rpf to CSR

FOREIGN USE WITH 10 Rpf to HUNGARY

FOREIGN USE WITH 15 Rpf

ROMANIA

1. The following foreign used P276 postcard was posten in COLOGNE on 12th Jan 1939 and was destined for BUCHAREST in ROMANIA.

SWEDEN

1. Below is a nice example of foreign usage. This card was posted in KÖLN on 20th Feb 1939 and was destined for the SWEDISH town of OSBY (SKANE).

REGISTERED DELIVERY CARD

EXPRESS DELIVERY CARD

HAMBURG STRAβENBAHNPOST

Cancelled as a Hamburg Straβenbahnpost

POSTED AS ROHRPOST IN BERLIN

DOMESTIC AIRMAIL

EUROPEAN AIRMAIL

AIRMAIL TO USA

ZEPPELIN POST

GERMAN BAHNPOST

INVALID USAGE

SPECIAL SLOGAN CANCELS

1. This first example was a local card used in KÖLN and has a special cancel commemorating 30 years of Postal Checks.




2. Another domestic example, almost identical to the one above, only now destined for Speyr but also with the "30 years of Postal Checks" slogan.

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