OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1940)

This page was last updated
17-Apr-2024 03:44

P290
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
IRON CROSS MEDAL

VALIDITY: 19th Jul 1940 until 31st Dec 1941.

BACKGROUND: Official release date 19th Jul 1940 but the cards were available as early as 12th Jul 1940 at 25 Rpf each from the Berlin collector's window. Special postcard "Iron Cross" published for Heinrich Hoffmann by the Reich's printing works with a 6 + 19 Rpf pre-printed stamp depicting Hitler on the lectern. The 19 Rpf was a donation to Hitler's Culture Fund.

The front of the card depicts an image of the Iron Cross with a golden oak leaf.

This postcard was re-published on 1st Dec 1940 with an additional inscription "Tag der Groβdeutschen | Briefmarkenhandels | Wien 1 bis 3. December 1940"

SPECIAL CANCEL: Related special handstamp inscribed "BERLIN, Groβdeutcher Reichstag" for the first issue and another inscribed "Wien 1, Tag des groβdeutschen Briefmarkenhandels" for the re-issue

VARIANTS TO COLLECT

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

1. Cancelled on first day of issue 19th Jul 1940
2. Alternate version without pre-printed stamp
3. Alternate version with additional "Tag der Groβdeutschen | Briefmarkenhandels" text
4. Cancelled with "BERLIN, Groβdeutscher Reichstag" handstamp
5. Cancelled with "Wien 1, Tag des groβdeutschen Briefmarkenhandels" handstamp
6. As a domestic long-distance card without any special features
7. As a foreign used card with 10 Rpf to Czech Socialist Republic
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 a local delivery 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 or Overseas
17. Postally unused
18. Domestic Bahnpost usage
19. Invalid Usage - either after expiration date or with incorrect postage applied
20. With Special slogan cancels

POSTALLY UNUSED

WITHOUT PRE-PRINTED STAMP

This version of the card does not have a pre-printed stamp.

CANCELLED on FIRST DAY of ISSUE

Cancelled on the official issue date 19th Jul 1940

ALTERNATE VERSION WITH EXTRA
"Tag der Groβdeutschen | Briefmarkenhandels" TEXT

This postcard was also published privately in Dec 1940 that has an additional inscription "Tag der Grossdeutschen | Briefmarkenhandels | Wien 1 bis 3. December 1940"

CANCELLED WITH "BERLIN, Groβdeutscher Reichstag" HANDSTAMP

1. This frist example was a local delivery in BERLIN on 19th Jul 1940.




2. Another example with the special handstamp can be found below, also cancelled on the 19th Jul 1940

CANCELLED WITH "Wien 1, Tag des groβdeutschen Briefmarkenhandels"
HANDSTAMP

DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE WITHOUT SPECIAL MARKINGS

FOREIGN USE WITH 10 Rpf to
Czech Socialist Republic

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 or OVERSEAS

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