German Philately.com

OFFICIAL POSTCARDS
(1942)

This page was last updated
19-Feb-2025 11:08

MICHEL P293
OFFICIAL POSTCARD
GOLDSMITHS' TRADE

VALIDITY: 8th Aug 1942 until the end of the war

BACKGROUND: On 8th Aug 1942 the Reichspost issued two special stamps Michel 816 and Michel 817 as well as this commemorative postcard. The stamp image is a NÜRNBERG bridal cup from the 16th century as well as a cream jug, and a lion from the LÜNEBURG silver treasure, and it is the same image on all three items.

The image on the postcard left-hand side features the Goldsmith's House in the city of HANAU. The card was desigend by artist Gustav Tischer.

The postcard and stamps were available from 8th Aug only at the headquarters of the RPD and larger post offices, as well as the BERLIN SW 68 post office collector's window.

The card commemorates the 10th Anniversary of the German Society of Goldsmiths and is inscribed 'DAS DEUTSCHEN GOLDSCHMIEDEHAUS DER STADT HANAU' (THE GERMAN GOLD MOLDING HOUSE OF THE CITY OF HANAU). The card was available using both cream and beige card stock.

SPECIAL CANCEL: A special handstamp inscribed "HANAU | Einweihung des Deutschen Goldschmeidehauses" and a machine cancel inscribed "HANAU | Das Deutsche Goldschmeidershaus" were used during this period.

As well as the official card there are quite a number with additional private printing as well as a special version where the image is blue in colour.

ABOVE LEFT: P293(a)
ABOVE RIGHT: P293(b)

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VARIANTS TO COLLECT

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

1. Cancelled on first day of issue 8th Aug 1942
2. Cancelled with "HANAU, Einweihung des Deutschen Goldschmeidehaus" handstamp
3. Cancelled with "HANAU, des Deutsche Goldschmeidehaus" machine stamp
4. As a domestic long-distance card without any special features
5. As a rejected International card due to the image
6. As a foreign used card with 15 Rpf
7. As a Registered Delivery card
8. As a local delivery Express Delivery card
9. Used as a Rohrpost (pneumatic) card in BERLIN
10. Domestic Airmail usage
11. Postally unused
12. Domestic Bahnpost usage
13. Invalid Usage - either after expiration date or with incorrect postage applied
14. With additional private printing
15. With unrelated special slogan cancels

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EXAMPLES FROM MY COLLECTION

POSTALLY UNUSED

ABOVE LEFT: P293(a)
ABOVE RIGHT: P293(b)

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CANCELLED on FIRST DAY of ISSUE

Cancelled on the official issue date 8th Aug 1942

CANCELLED WITH "HANAU, EINWEIHUNG DES DEUTSCHEN GOLDSCHMEIDEHAUs"
HANDSTAMP

1. The next P293 postcard has been cancelled in HANAU using the special handstamp that was used for the German Goldsmith's Society's commemoration in 1942.

ABOVE: P293(b)

2. Another P293 postcard that has been cancelled in HANAU using the special handstamp that was used for the German Goldsmith's Society's commemoration in 1942.

ABOVE: P293(b)

3. The following example also features the special handstamp. It was cancelled in HANAU on 18th Oct 1942 and was destined for FRANKFURT aM Main.

ABOVE: P293(b)

4. The next P293(b) card features the special handstamp that was used in HANAU in 1944.

ABOVE: P293(b)

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CANCELLED WITH "HANAU, DES DEUTSCHE GOLDSCHMEIDEHAUS"
MACHINE STAMP

DOMESTIC LONG DISTANCE WITHOUT SPECIAL MARKINGS

1. Posted in KASSEL on 1st Jan 1945 this card was destined for the city of COLOGNE.

ABOVE: P293(a)

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REJECTED INTERNATIONAL CARD DUE TO THE IMAGE

FOREIGN USE WITH 15 Rpf

REGISTERED DELIVERY CARD

1. The card below is a Registered item with an R-label from Munich 2 Special Post Office. The self-adhesive stamps that have been applied to cover the cost of the registered postage are commemorative stamps, a 1942 Michel 818 and a 1943 Michel 829. This card also has one of the special handstamps used to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of the Nazi's coming to power (30th Jan 1933).

ABOVE: P293(b)

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EXPRESS DELIVERY CARD

POSTED AS ROHRPOST IN BERLIN

DOMESTIC AIRMAIL

GERMAN BAHNPOST

INVALID USAGE

SPECIAL SLOGAN CANCELS

1. This locally used card was posted in WIEN on 2nd Oct 1942. The card has a special commemorative cancel related to Georg Ritter von Schönerer.

ABOVE: P293(a)

2. The following example was posted during one of the SA sports days, this one held in QUEDLINBURG on 20th Sep 1942.

ABOVE: P293(a)

3. The next example has a special handstamp used in STARNBERG to commemorate the 1942 International Canoe Regatta. In addition a label has been affixed to the lower bottom edge inscribed ""Starnberg Internationale Kanu-Regatta | 22./23.8.1942" und Abbildung eines Kau-sportlers".

ABOVE: P293(b)

4. The following example has a special handstamp used in NÜRNBURG to commemorate the life of PETER HENLEIN. The card was cancelled on 6th Sep 1942 and sent to MUNICH.

ABOVE: P293(a)

5. The example below was cancelled in HANNOVER on 16th Nov 1942 and was sent to RABENSTEIN. The slogan used on this card was a common one used to advise the public to ensure the house and street number were included on their mail items.