OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1939)

This page was last updated
08-Apr-2024 06:31

MICHEL P280
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
DEUTSCHE OSTMESSE

VALIDITY: 10th Aug 1939 until 31st Dec 1940

BACKGROUND: This is one of two postcards issued to celebrate the German Eastern Fair held in Königsberg from 20th to 23rd Aug 1939. Both cards were sold exclusively at the Königsberg Post Office and the collector's counter in BERLIN W30 accepted written orders. P280 features a 6 + 19 Rpf indicia stamp whereas P281 features a 15 + 5 Rpf indicia. The cards were designed by Professor Marten and both postcards bear the inscription "27. Deutsche Ostmesse Königsberg Pr. 20 bis 23.August 1939".

SPECIAL CANCEL: A special cancel was available inscribed "KÖNIGSBERG (PR) | Deutsche Ostmesse".

As well as the official card there is at least one with additional private printing.

VARIANTS TO COLLECT

The following are suggested variants by FRECH [4] that might make good additions to a collection:

1. Cancelled before the Official day of issue i.e. before 10th Aug 1939
2. Cancelled on first day of issue 10th Aug 1939
3. Cancelled with "KÖNIGSBERG (Pr), Deutsche Ostmesse" handstamp
4. Cancelled with "Cranz (Ostrp)" advertising stamp with Moose head
5. As a domestic long-distance card without any special features
6. As a border traffic card to Switzerland without additional franking
7. As a foreign used card with 10 Rpf to CSR
8. As a foreign used card with 10 Rpf to Hungary
9. As a foreign used card with 15 Rpf
10. As a Registered Delivery card
11. As an Express Delivery card
12. Cancelled as a Hamburg Straβenbahnpost
13. Used as a Rohrpost (pneumatic) card in BERLIN
14. Domestic Airmail usage
15. European Airmail usage
16. Airmail usage to the USA
17. As a Zeppelin post card
18. Postally unused
19. Domestic Bahnpost usage
20. Invalid Usage - either after expiration date or with incorrect postage applied
21. With additional private printing
22. With Special slogan cancels

POSTALLY UNUSED

CANCELLED BEFORE THE OFFICIAL FIRST DAY of ISSUE

Cancelled before the official issue date i.e. before 10th Aug 1939

CANCELLED on FIRST DAY of ISSUE

Cancelled on the official issue date 10th Aug 1939

CANCELLED WITH "KÖNIGSBERG (Pr), Deutsche Ostmesse"
HANDSTAMP

1. and 2. Postally unused cards featuring the special handstamp used at the fair on 20th and 21st Aug 1939.




3. The following domestically used P280 was posted in KÖNIGSBERG on 20th Aug 1939 (the first day of the event) and was destined for RADEBEUL. This example has the related special cancel.




4. Another P280 posted in KÖNIGSBERG with the special handstamp, also on 20th Aug 1939 (the first day of the event).

CANCELLED WITH ""Cranz (Ostrp)" ADVERTISING STAMP
WITH MOOSE HEAD

DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE WITHOUT SPECIAL MARKINGS

BORDER TRAFFIC CARD TO SWITZERLAND
WITHOUT ADDITIONAL FRANKING

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

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

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