POSTAGE STAMPS
(1943)
This page was last updated
28-Feb-2023 07:32
MICHEL 5
TUNISIA BASED TROOPS
FIELD POST CONCESSION LABEL
BACKGROUND: Issued Apr 1943 - This stamp was valid until 13th May 1943 when the German troops stationed in Tunisia surrendered to the British 8th Army. Designed by Lt Roleff this stamp was available on sheets of 100 from the offices of the field newspaper "Die Oase". An estimated 1 million were printed but over half of these were destroyed and only a few hundred thousand were ever used.
This stamp was only valid on packages sent from Tunis to Germany when accompanied by the requisite postage stamp. Cancellations are known in black, green and red ink.
There are a vast number of counterfeit stamps on the market, and any purchase should be expertised before buying as they can also be very expensive. Genuine cancellations will have a violet rectangular cancel with the words "Bei der Feldpost Eingeliefert" - 'Delivered to the field post office', and another cancel indicating the unit's Feld post handstamp. In addition, a standard 20Rpf stamp was also required on packages.
VALIDITY: Apr 1943 until 13th May 1943
VALUE: N/A
COLOUR: dark brown
WATERMARK: None
PERF: 11½
AVAILABILITY: Sheets (10x10)
QUANTITY PRINTED: Unknown
SPECIAL CANCELLATION: NONE, only regular Field Post cancellations
VARIATIONS
There were two main variations.
ABOVE LEFT: Mi 5 a - thick grey-yellow paper, striped gum and usually faulty perforations
ABOVE RIGHT: Mi 5 b - light-chrome to mid-chrome-yellow paper with honeycomb structure, striped gum nd faulty perforations.
PLATE FLAWS
There were no major plate flaws
STAMPS FROM MY COLLECTION
All stamps from here until the end of the page are from my collectionPOSTALLY UNUSED - MINT
