OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1939)

This page was last updated
16-Apr-2024 12:01

MICHEL P287
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
DANZIG is GERMAN

Validity: 29th Oct 1939 until 30th Jun 1940.

BACKGROUND: This was another card issued to raise funds for the Winterhilfswerk and it celebrates the return of the Free City of Danzig to German control. The design is by Prof. Richard Klein and the pre-printed stamp is another 6 + 4 Rpf, with the additional 4 Rpf being a donation to the WHW. The image depicts St. Mary's Church in Danzig (Gdansk)

The city became German once more shortly after the German invasion of Poland on 1st Sep 1939, the event that led directly to the start of the Second World War.

SPECIAL CANCEL: There isn't a special cancellation directly related to this issue, however a special handstamp was used in DANZIG to commemorate the day of the stamp on 7th Jan 1940, which is loosely connected.

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

OFFICIAL POSTAL STATIONERY
WITH PRIVATE ADDITIONAL PRINTS

1. "CARL W. H. DOETSCH"

Front side (the side with the stamp) with three additional lines of text along the lower left-hand edge beginning "CARL W. H. DOETSCH".

2. "Zum | Jahresmedchsel | die | besten Wünsche"

Front side with 8 additional lines of text in the sender's section in flowing script beginning "Zum | Jahresmedchsel | die | besten Wünsche"

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