POSTAGE STAMPS
(1923)
This page was last updated
07-Mar-2023 07:40
MICHEL 235 to 237
AIRMAIL - WOOD PIGEON (II)
These three stamps feature a horizontal gutter in the middle of the sheet so there are 10 x 5 stamps above the gutter and 10 x 5 below it. The stamps have a waffle watermark and were designed by Aufseesser and printed typography. The design features a wood pigeon and a coloured burelage. Similar stamps include the 1922 issue Michel 210-218 and 1923 issue Michel 263 to 267
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 235 10 MARK - purple
ABOVE CENTRE: Michel 236 25 MARK - brown
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 237 100 MARK - olive green
MICHEL 238 to 245
REGULAR ISSUE - WORKER
Another set in the "Workers" series only now with only two designs (miner and mower) with new values, colours and waffle watermark. Designed by Neu these stamps were available in sheets and coils (selected values). Similar designs can be found in the 1921 series Michel 158 to 176 and 1922 issue Michel 177 to 196.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 238 5 MARK - orange
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 239 10 MARK - turquoise
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 240 12 MARK - red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 241 20 MARK - brown
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 242 25 MARK - olive brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 243 30 MARK - dark green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 244 40 MARK - light green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 245 50 MARK - light blue
MICHEL 246 to 257
REGULAR ISSUE - NUMBER IN OVAL (II)
Second issue of the so-called "Queroffset", Number in Horizontal Oval series, following on from the 1921 part-issue Michel 158 to 176 and the 1922 issue Michel 219 to 223. Designed by Haas and printed offset with waffle watermark.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 246 50 MARK - blackish blue
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 247 100 MARK - blackish brown purple
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 248 200 MARK - carmine red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 249 300 MARK - dark green
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 250 400 MARK - dark brown ochre
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 251 500 MARK - dark yellowish red
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 252 1000 MARK - dark to black green grey
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 253 2000 MARK - bright Prussian blue
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 254 3000 MARK - blackish ochre brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 255 4000 MARK - dark bluish violet
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 256 5000 MARK - dark green grey
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 257 10000 MARK - dark vermillion
MICHEL 258 to 260
RHEIN-and-RUHR ASSISTANCE
The following three semi-postal stamps are a re-issue of earlier part issue Michel 238, Michel 242 and Michel 196 stamps, but now with an addition donation to the Rhein and Ruhr assistance charity.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 258 100 M on 5 MARK - dark orange
ABOVE CENTRE: Michel 259 500 M on 25 MARK - dark ochre brown
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 260 1000 M on 20 MARK - dark lilac ultramarine
MICHEL 261 and 262
WARTBURG CASTLE and COLOGNE CATHEDRAL
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 261 5000 MARK - black blue
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 262 10000 MARK - bright grey brown
MICHEL 263 to 267
DEUTSCHE FLUGPOST
WOOD PIGEONS (III)
This is third issue of the Airmail Wood pigeon series following the 1922 issue Michel 210 to 218 and the second issue earlier in 1923 Michel 235 to 237. The stamp sheets also feature two sets of 10 x 5 stamps, separated by a horizontal gutter, waffle watermark and revised colours and values.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 263 5 MARK - dark vermillion
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 264 10 MARK - blackish grey purple
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 265 25 MARK - dark sienna
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 266 100 MARK - blackish grey olive
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 267 200 MARK - blackish violet
MICHEL 268 to 273
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN CIRCLE
The following six stamps are the first 'number in circle' issue and were available on sheets and coils with a waffle watermark.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 268 100 MARK - dark to blackish grey purple
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 269 200 MARK - lilac red
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 270 300 MARK - blackish yellowish green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 271 400 MARK - blackish orange brown
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 272 500 MARK - dark vermillion
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 273 1000 MARK - dark brown violet
MICHEL 274 to 276
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN CIRCLE
This second issue of number in circle design was only available on waffle watermarked sheets (no coils) and the value has now increased to thousands of Marks.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 274 5 Tausend MARK - medium blue green
ABOVE CENTRE: Michel 275 50 Tausend MARK - dark ochre
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 276 75 Tausend MARK - dark brown violet
PROVISIONAL ISSUES of the HIGH INFLATION PERIOD
(24th Aug / 30th Nov 1923)
This period represents the height of the hyper-inflationary period in Germany and can be seen in the almost weekly increases in postal rates, leaving large reserves of already printed stamps unusable.
In order to resolve this problem, the Government Printing Office was tasked with overprinting existing stocks of unused stamps. However, the demand was so high that the Reich's Ministry of Post had to authorise regional post offices to assist with the task. Locally produced sheets can be recognised by the different overprints on the upper margin, although this is more difficult with individual stamps (hence why some collectors prefer to collect upper margin examples).
The overprint fonts themselves do not vary as the templates were provided by the Reich's Ministry of Post, so they are all the same. However, some font defects are common to certain Post Office's printings and so can be used to determine where a certain stamp was printed. In addition, minor differences in the overprinted ink colour and 'glossiness' can help to determine the source.
MICHEL 277 to 296
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN RECTANGLE, CIRCLE and WORKER
This stamp issue was an attempt to use up existing stocks of earlier stamps including 'number in rectangle', 'worker' and 'number in circle' designs. These stamps have a mixture of diamond and waffle watermarked paper and all have a blackish overprint indicating a revised, higher denomination.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 277 5 Tausend on 40Pf - reddish orange
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 278 8 Tausend on 30Pf - blackish opal green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 279 15 Tausend on 40Pf - black opal green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 280 20 Tausend on 12 MARK - orange red
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 281 20 Tausend on 25 MARK - dark ochre brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 282 20 Tausend on 200 MARK - lilac red
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 283 25 Tausend on 25 MARK - dark ochre brown
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 284 30 Tausend on 10 MARK - dark grey ultramarine
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 285 30 Tausend on 200 MARK - greenish blue
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 286 75 Tausend on 300 MARK - dark yellowish green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 287 75 Tausend on 400 MARK - dark yellowish green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 288 75 Tausend on 1000 MARK - dark yellowish green
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 289 100 Tausend on 100 MARK - grey purple
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 290 100 Tausend on 400 MARK - green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 291 125 Tausend on 1000 MARK - medium rose
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 292 250 Tausend on 200 MARK - lilac red
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 293 250 Tausend on 300 MARK - blackish yellow green
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 294 250 Tausend on 400 MARK - orange brown
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 295 250 Tausend on 500 MARK - lilac red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 296 250 Tausend on 500 MARK - dark vermillion
MICHEL 297 to 300
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN RECTANGLE
The following four stamps are all earlier 'number in rectangle' designs but now in revised yellow ochre colouration and with revised black overprints indicating the new value. Featuring comb and serrated perforations.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 297 400 Tausend on 15Pf - black yellow ochre
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 298 400 Tausend on 45Pf - black yellow ochre
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 299 400 Tausend on 30Pf - black yellow ochre
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 300 400 Tausend on 40Pf - black yellow ochre
MICHEL 301 to 312
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN RECTANGLE
Part of issue Michel 269 to 271 or new stamp issue 'number in rectangle' and 'number in circle' with revised colours and blackish revised value overprints.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 301 800 Tausend on 5Pf - dark yellowish green
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 302 800 Tausend on 10Pf - dark yellowish green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 303 800 Tausend on 200 MARK - lilac red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 304 800 Tausend on 300 MARK - dark yellowish green
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 305 800 Tausend on 400 MARK - black orange brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 306 800 Tausend on 400 MARK - yellowish green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 307 800 Tausend on 500 MARK - yellowish green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 308 800 Tausend on 1000 MARK - yellowish green
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 309 2 Millionen on 200 MARK - grey red
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 310 2 Millionen on 300 MARK - yellow green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 311 2 Millionen on 500 MARK - grey red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 312 2 Millionen on 5000 MARK - grey red
ABOVE LEFT: Mi VII - 800 Tausend on 300 Mark - dark yellowish green - NOT ISSUED
ABOVE RIGHT: Mi VIII - 800 Tausend on 500 Mark - dark vermillion (shades) - NOT ISSUED
MICHEL 313 to 330
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN CIRCLE WITH ROSETTE (I)
SO-CALLED BASKET LID SERIES
New regular issue 'denomination in circle' stamps, so-called basket lid design. Waffle watermark and combination of flat plate and rotary press printing, comb and serrated perforations
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 313 500 Tausend MARK - blackish orange brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 314 1 Million MARK - bright blue green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 315 2 Million MARK - grey purple
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 316 4 Million MARK - greenish olive
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 317 5 Million MARK - bright lilac red
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 318 10 Million MARK - blackish vermillion
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 319 20 Million MARK - violet ultramarine
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 320 30 Million MARK - carmine brown
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 321 50 Million MARK - green olive
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 322 100 Million MARK - greenish grey
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 323 200 Million MARK - ochre brown
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 324 500 Million MARK - olive yellow
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 325 1 Milliarde MARK - dark sienna
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 326 2 Milliarden MARK - dull sienna / dark green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 327 5 Milliarden MARK - yellowish orange sienna
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 328 10 Milliarden MARK - green yellow
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 329 20 Milliarden MARK - opal green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 330 50 Milliarden MARK - cobalt blue
MICHEL 331
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN CIRCLE
New regular issue 'Number in circle'. Like 1923 issue Michel 268 but now with black typography overprint.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 331 1 Milliarde on 100 MARK - blackish grey purple
MICHEL 332 to 337
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN CIRCLE WITH ROSETTE (II)
SO-CALLED BASKET LID SERIES
Second basket lid issue, partial re-issue of the above 1923 Michel 313 to 324 series. Now with new 'Milliarden' denominations and vertical black bars.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 332 5 Milliarden on 2 Millionen MARK - grey purple
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 333 5 Milliarden on 4 Millionen MARK - greenish olive
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 334 5 Milliarden on 10 Millionen MARK - blackish vermillion
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 335 10 Milliarden on 20 Millionen MARK - violet ultramarine
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 336 10 Milliarden on 50 Millionen MARK - green olive
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 337 10 Milliarden on 100 Millionen MARK - green grey
REGIONAL DIRECTOR of POSTS (OPD)
(LOCAL PRINTINGS)
In Sep 1923 the devaluation of the currency led to the Government Printing Office authorising eleven regional Directors of Post to overprint their inventories of stamps. Templates were provided to the regional offices and as before the regional versions of stamp sheets are primarily recognised by their upper margin, overprint colours or plate flaws. For more information see the individual stamp details.
MICHEL 338 to 343
REGULAR ISSUE NUMBER IN CIRCLE WITH ROSETTE
SO-CALLED BASKET LID SERIES (III)
Third and final basket lid issue, this time with values in pfennig due to devaluation of the currency. Flat plate and rotary press printing on waffle watermarked paper.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 338 3Pf - orange brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 339 5Pf - dark green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 340 10Pf - blackish pink red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 341 20Pf - ultramarine
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 342 50Pf - red orange
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 343 100Pf - violet purple
OFFICIAL STAMPS
From 1st Apr 1920 all State Agencies were required to frank their mail with special Official Stamps. Empire Agencies were also required to do the same from 1st Jul 1920. During the hyper-inflation period of 1923 government agencies were permitted to use regular issue stamps due to the difficulty in obtaining Official stamps.
MICHEL 75 to 88
DIENSTMARKE OVERPRINT
Official stamps part of issue 'worker' Michel 238 to 245, 'number in circle' Michel 268 to 273, and 'number in circle with rosette' Michel 313 to 324, now with diagonal 'Dienstmarke' overprint.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 75 20 MARK - brown lilac
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 76 30 MARK - black grey olive
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 77 40 MARK - blackish green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 78 200 MARK - lilac red
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 79 300 MARK - blackish yellowish green
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 80 400 MARK - blackish orange brown
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 81 500 MARK - dark vermillion
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 82 100 Millionen MARK - dark greenish grey
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 83 200 Millionen MARK - dark ochre brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 84 2 Milliarden MARK - sienna black green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 85 5 Milliarden MARK - yellowish orange
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 86 10 Milliarden MARK - green yellow
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 87 20 Milliarden MARK - dark opal green
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 88 50 Milliarden MARK - bright cobalt blue
MICHEL 89 to 98
DIENSTMARKE STAMPS
DENOMINATION OVERPRINTED
Part of Official stamp issue of 1920 Michel 23 to 33 and 1922 issue Michel 69 to 74 but now with black overprint of new denominations. Waffle watermark.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 89 5 Tausend on 5 MARK - blackish sienna
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 90 20 Tausend on 30Pf - red orange
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 91 75 Tausend on 50 MARK - violet purple
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 92 100 Tausend on 15Pf - carmine brown
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 93 250 Tausend on 10Pf - lilac red
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 94 400 Tausend on 15Pf - lilac brown
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 95 800 Tausend on 30Pf - red orange
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 96 1 Millionen on 75Pf - violet ultramarine
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 97 2 Millionen on 10Pf - lilac red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 98 5 Millionen on 100 MARK - lilac red
MICHEL 99 to 104
DIENSTMARKE OVERPRINT
SO-CALLED BASKET LID ISSUES
After the devaluation of the currency the following official use stamps were re-issued versions of Michel 338 to 343 regular stamps but now with a diagonal 'Dienstmarke' overprint.
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 99 3Pf - orange brown
ABOVE CENTRE LEFT: Michel 100 5Pf - dark green
ABOVE CENTRE RIGHT: Michel 101 10Pf - pink red
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 102 20Pf - lilac ultramarine
ABOVE LEFT: Michel 103 50Pf - red orange
ABOVE RIGHT: Michel 104 100Pf - violet purple
