POSTAGE STAMPS
(1942)

This page was last updated
19-Mar-2023 01:02

MICHEL 1
PERMISSION STAMPS for FIELD POST

BACKGROUND: Designed by Eric Meerwald, this stamp was printed by the State Printing Office in Berlin. It was introduced by the Army Postmaster General of the OKH (Supreme Army Command) on 18th Apr 1942 and was valid for use through May 1945.

These labels were introduced to control the volume of mail from the Eastern Front, Scandinavia, Greece and Africa. Eligible members of the armed forces were issued with these concession stamps which could be used from the theatre of war to Germany as well as from Germany to the front.

From Apr 1942 until Apr 1943 eligible soldiers were given four stamps per month, then in Apr 1943 this was increased to eight stamps per month. To be processed by the Feld post one stamp was required per card or envelope until 1st Jun 1943 when this was increased to two stamps per item.

These stamps exist in many different shades and were issued in Sheets of 100. Examples can be found which were printed at Tromso, Oslo and Rovaniemi.

During the war the British produced propaganda forgeries which can be determined by the open direction finder antenna, perf 12¾, bolder type and greyish paper. These forgeries were produced in sheets of 20 stamps without any printing in the sheet margins.

Featuring a Junkers Ju52 transport aircraft there are two major versions, Type 1 A which is perf 13¾:14 (from 18th Apr 1942) and Type 1 B which is serrated roulette (1943).

VALIDITY: 18th Apr 1942 until 1943
VALUE: N/A
COLOUR: violet ultramarine to grey blue
WATERMARK: None
PERF: 13¾:14 (1 A) or rouletted (1 B)
AVAILABILITY: Sheets (10x10)
QUANTITY PRINTED: Unknown

MAJOR VARIATIONS

There are two major variations depending on whether the stamp is perf 13¾:14 or rouletted.



ABOVE LEFT: Mi 1 A - perf 13¾:14
ABOVE RIGHT: Mi 1 B - roulette

VARIATIONS

Each major variant (Mi 1 A and 1 B) has several sub-variants depending on the gum.



ABOVE LEFT: 1 x - smooth gum
ABOVE CENTRE: 1 y - horizontally ribbed gum
ABOVE RIGHT: 1 z - vertically ribbed gum



ABOVE CENTRE: 1 B x - smooth gum
ABOVE RIGHT: 1 B y - vertically ribbed gum



ABOVE LEFT: 1 x U - imperforate smooth gum
ABOVE CENTRE: 1 y U - imperforate vertically ribbed gum
ABOVE RIGHT: 1 A y Ur - imperforate on right

PLATE FLAWS

There were no major plate flaws, however there are examples of an 'F' instead of an 'E' for the first 'E' in 'DEUTSCHES' as well as narrow, thinner letters to unclear and bold printing.

STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION

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

POSTALLY UNUSED - MINT

ABOVE: Mi 1 A y - perf 13¾:14 with horizontal ribbed gum
ABOVE: Mi 1 B y - rouletted with horizontal ribbed gum