POSTAGE STAMPS
(1920)

This page was last updated
23-Jan-2023 11:35

MICHEL 135
REGULAR ISSUE BAVARIAN STAMPS WITH OVERPRINT
DEFINITIVE STAMPS

Michel 135 was designed by Friedrich August von Kaulbach and Hengeler and was printed by the Reichsdruckerei in Berlin.



VALIDITY: 6th Apr 1920 until 30th Sep 1923.
VALUE: 4 MARK
COLOUR: blackish orange red
WATERMARK: Horizontal Wavy lines (Type I)
PERF: comb 11¼ x 11¾
SIZE: 34 x 40mm
PRINT TYPE: Photogravure
AVAILABILITY: Sheets
QUANTITY PRINTED: Unknown

OVERPRINT VARIATIONS

There are two variations depending on the style of the 'R' in the word 'Reich' of the overprint.



ABOVE LEFT: 135 I: Overprint Type I
ABOVE RIGHT: 135 II: Overprint Type II

COLOUR VARIATIONS

There are no major colour variations.

OTHER VARIATIONS

UPPER EDGE PIECES: (Flat Plate Printing Upper Margin Copies - P OR). There are three types of upper edge piece.

135 I P OR Type VI
135 II P OR Type VI
135 III P OR Type VI

IMPERFORATE: Michel 135 exists with imperforate

135 I U

OVERPRINT VARIATIONS: Michel 135 exists with several overprint variations

135 AF XII: Imprint only ‘Reichs’ or only ‘Deutsches’

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

135 III: without imprint was available from June 1920 (i.e. after the Bavarian Post was discontinued)

PLATE FLAWS

Michel lists four major plate flaws



ABOVE LEFT: 135 PF IV: flower in right hand with 5 instead of 4 flowers
ABOVE RIGHT: 135 PF XVI: white spot above the coat of arms



ABOVE LEFT: 135 PF XVII: segment arch interrupted on the left, long white line below the fruit basket
ABOVE RIGHT: 135 PF XVIII: white spot in the throat above the left lion

The Schantl catalog lists an additional two flaws:



ABOVE LEFT: Mi 135 f11 - white fleck betweeen veil on left and rim of the circle.
ABOVE RIGHT: Mi 135 f14 - white arc below figure joined to outer circle on left

STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION

All of the stamps from here until the end of the page are from my collection

MINT / POSTALLY UNUSED

ABOVE LEFT: Mi 135 Type I
ABOVE RIGHT: Mi 135 Type I



ABOVE: Mi 135 Type I

CANCELLED / POSTALLY USED

ABOVE LEFT: Mi 135 Type I - Cancelled NÜRNBERG 19.2.21
ABOVE RIGHT: Mi 135 Type I - Cancelled AUGSBURG 21 OKT 20

REFERENCES:

1. MICHEL Deutschland-Spezial 2022 Band 1: 1849 bis April 1945. ISBN: 978-95402-401-8.
2. www.colnect.com
3. Plattenfehler Katalog Deutsches Reich 1872-1945 inkl. Dienstmarken, 4th Edition 2003. Thomas Schantl Verlag. ISBN: 3-932769-25-2