Allied-occupied Germany, United States and British Zones: the Landmarks issue of 1948/52

The Landmarks issue of 1948 (die Bautenserie) is one of the more interesting definitive issues of German postage stamps. As a testimony of post-war era circumstances, the Landmark issue is rich with diversity and brings many possibilities for collecting.

Stamps were printed in offset by two printing houses: Westermann and Bagel. Press sheets consisted of 4 sheets of stamps (panes). The pfennig value sheets had 100 stamps in 10×10 layout, while the mark values (DM) had 50 stamps in 10×5 layout.

On 1 September 1949 the stamps were released in Anglo-American Zone and from 3 October 1949 also in French Zone. In West Berlin they were in use from 27 October 1949. The pfennig denominations were valid until 31 March 1953 and the mark denominations until 31 December 1954.

A.1 Perforations and watermarks: pfennig values

PERFORATIONS WATERMARKS
  • A: comb 14:14½
  • B: line 11
  • C: line 11½
  • D: line 11:11½
  • E: line 11½:11
  • F: comb 11¼:11
  • G: line 14
  • H: line 14:11
  • K: 11½:14
Germany philately postage stamp watermark 1W Germany philately postage stamp watermark 1X Germany philately postage stamp watermark 1Y Germany philately postage stamp watermark 1Z Germany philately postage stamp watermark 3X
Wmk 1W Wmk 1X Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3X
Type Wmk 1W Wmk 1X Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3X
A B C D E F G H K B C D E F G A B F F
black + + + + + + +
dark brown +
light brown + + + +
gray blue I + + + +
V + + + + + +
orange brown + + + +
orange + + + + +
orange yellow + + +
Wmk 1W Wmk 1X Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3X
A B C D E F G H K B C D E F G A B F F
slate blue + + +
green I + + +
V + + + + +
orange + + + +
violet + + +
blue violet +
light blue violet +
bluish green + + + +
blue + + + +
carmine + + + + + + + +
Wmk 1W Wmk 1X Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3X
A B C D E F G H K B C D E F G A B F F
carmine + +
vermilion II + + + + +
III + + +
IV +
blue + + + + +
scarlet + +
Wmk 1W Wmk 1X Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3X
A B C D E F G H K B C D E F G A B F F
rose lilac I + + + + +
Ia + + + +
Ib + + + + +
red violet I + + + + + + + +
Ia + + + + + + + +
Ib + + + + + + + +
II + + + + + +
III + + + + + + + +
IV +
ultramarine + + + +
bluish green + + + + +
Wmk 1W Wmk 1X Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3X
A B C D E F G H K B C D E F G A B F F
violet brown I + + + + + + +
Ia + + + + +
II + +
IIa + +
III + + +
IIIa + + +
IV +
red violet + + + + +
rose violet +
rose lilac I + +
II + + + + + +
III + + +
IV +

A.2 Perforations and watermarks: German Marks (DM) denominations

PERFORATIONS WATERMARKS
  • B: line 11
  • D: line 11:11½
  • G: line 14
  • P: line 11:11:11:11½
  • T: line 14:comb 14:line 14:line 14
Germany philately postage stamp watermark 3Y
Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3Y
Type Wmk 1Y Wmk 1Z Wmk 3Y
B D G P T B D P B
yellow green I + + + + + +
Ia + + + +
dark green II + + + +
yellow green II +
violet I + + + +
II +
carmine rose I + + +
Ia + + +
Ib + +
II +
blue I + + +
Ia + +
Ic + +
II +

B.1 Cologne Cathedral Types

COLOGNE CATHEDRAL: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPES
Type I
5, 10, 40, 60 and 90 pfennig

  • image dimensions: 18,5 x 22,6 mm,
  • west portal with 5 steps,
  • the fourth spire barely visible and narrow,
  • south transept portal without threshold,
  • corner of the first step leading to the south transept portal uninterrupted.
Type II
25, 40, 60 and 90 pfennig

  • image dimensions: 18,2 x 22,1 mm,
  • west portal with 4 steps,
  • the fourth spire barely visible and wide,
  • south transept portal without threshold,
  • corner of the first step leading to the south transept portal broken.
Type III
25, 40, 60 and 90 pfennig

  • image dimensions: 18,2 x 22,3 mm,
  • west portal with 3 steps,
  • all four spires distinctly engraved,
  • south transept portal with threshold,
  • corner of the first step leading to the south transept portal uninterrupted.
Type IV
Note: in order to distinguish between the 3rd and the 4th type, additional characteristics need to be considered:

25, 60 and 90 pfennig

  • additional line connecting St. Peter portal with inscription strip.

25 pfennig

  • vertical line below the fourth spire broken.

40 pfennig

  • dot at the top of the window below the first spire.
Type V
5 and 10 pfennig

  • image dimensions: 18,3 x 22,2 mm,
  • west portal with 4 steps,
  • all four spires distinctly engraved,
  • south transept portal with threshold,
  • corner of the first step leading to the south transept portal uninterrupted.
COLOGNE CATHEDRAL: ADDITIONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPES
5 pfennig 10 pfennig
Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 5 pfennig postage stamp type 1 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 5 pfennig postage stamp type 5 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 10 pfennig postage stamp type 1 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 10 pfennig postage stamp type 5
Type I:

  • small numeral.
 Type V:

  • large numeral.
 Type I:

  • zero in denomination split in the middle.
 Type V:

  • zero uninterrupted.
25 pfennig 40 pfennig
Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 25 pfennig postage stamp type 2 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 25 pfennig postage stamp type 3 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 40 pfennig postage stamp type 1 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 40 pfennig postage stamp type 1 a
Type II:

  • distance between denomination number and top and left frame constant.
 Type III:

  • the distance varies (check the position of 25 relative to the spire).
 Type I:

  • numeral 40 regular.
 Type Ia:

  • numeral 4 and 0 both vertically split in the middle.
40 pfennig 60 pfennig
Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 40 pfennig postage stamp type 1 b Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 40 pfennig postage stamp type 2 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 40 pfennig postage stamp type 3 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 60 pfennig postage stamp type 1
Type Ib:

  • horizontal stroke of numeral 4 split at the junction with the vertical stroke.
 Type II:

  • distance between denomination number and top and left frame varies.
 Type III:

  • distance between denomination number and top and left frame constant.
 Type I:

  • numeral 60 regular.
60 pfennig
Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 60 pfennig postage stamp type 1 a Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 60 pfennig postage stamp type 2 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 60 pfennig postage stamp type 2 a Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 60 pfennig postage stamp type 3
Type Ia:

  • loop of the numeral 6 opened.
 Type II:

  • numeral 6 regular.
 Type IIa:

  • loop of the numeral 6 opened.
 Type III:

  • numeral 6 regular.
60 pfennig 90 pfennig
Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 60 pfennig postage stamp type 3 a Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 60 pfennig postage stamp type 4 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 90 pfennig postage stamp type 1 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 90 pfennig postage stamp type 2
Type IIIa:

  • loop of the numeral 6 opened.
 Type IV:

  • numeral 60 regular,
  • distance between denomination number and top and left frame constant,
  • additional line connecting St. Peter portal with inscription strip.
 Types I, II and III:

  • distance between 9 and 0 wide (0,4 mm).
90 pfennig
Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 90 pfennig postage stamp type 3 Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral 90 pfennig postage stamp type 4
Types I, II and III:

  • distance between 9 and 0 wide (0,4 mm).
 Type IV:

  • distance between 9 and 0 narrow (0,2 mm).

B.2 Holstentor Types

HOLSTENTOR, CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPES
Type I-Ic
Vertical lines on the right tower only horizontally hatched.Type I (1, 2, 3, 5 DM):

  • 4 stairs in archway.

Type Ia (1, 3, 5 DM):

  • 3 stairs in archway.

Type Ib (3 DM):

  • 5 stairs in archway.

Type Ic (5 DM):

  • 7 stairs in archway.
Type II
Type II:

  • vertical lines on the right tower horizontally and vertically hatched
  • 7 stairs in archway.

C. Varieties

CONSTANT VARIETIES APPEARING ON MULTIPLE VALUES
I Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Colored line over the first portal Colored line over the first portal.
II Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw White dot below the 4th choir window White dot below the 4th choir window.
III Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Retouching below the 3rd choir window Retouching below the 3rd choir window.
IV Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Heart-shaped spot above the second letter E in DEUTSCHE Heart-shaped spot above the second letter E in DEUTSCHE.
V Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Thin slanting line over the first letter E in DEUTSCHE Thin slanting line over the first letter E in DEUTSCHE.
VI Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Small colored spot on the first portal Small colored spot on the first portal.
VII Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Upper left corner of inscription frame damaged, an indentation in the bottom frame below the second letter E in DEUTSCHE Upper left corner of inscription frame damaged, an indentation in the bottom frame below the second letter E in DEUTSCHE.
VIII Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Colored spot on stairs leading to the second portal Colored spot on stairs leading to the second portal.
IX Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Colored spot at the bottom of the second choir window Colored spot at the bottom of the second choir window.
X Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw Colored spot in letter U in DEUTSCHE Colored spot in letter U in DEUTSCHE.
XI Germany 1948 Cologne Cathedral postage stamp plate flaw White spot on the left side of the letter T in POST White spot on the left side of the letter T in POST.
CONSTANT VARIETIES
4 pfennig Type Description
I – coloured wedge at the upper window in the right bell tower.
Michel 74 PF II
15 pfennig Type Description
I – The third window from the left in the 3rd floor of the right building without vertical line in the middle.
II – White dot between the second and the third building.
40 pfennig Type Description
I I Thin vertical line over letter C in DEUTSCHE.
II I Colored line connecting the first portal and the first letter E in DEUTSCHE.
IIa I Letter E in DEUTSHE broken like in II but without the line below the first portal.
III
Another example		 I White spot on the roof of the transept, lower right corner below letter T in POST damaged.
V Another example I Colored spots on numeral 4.
VI
Another example		 I Loop of letter D in DUTSCHE cracked.
VII
Another example		 I Inverted V sign on stairs.
VIII I Thin vertical line over letter S in POST.
60 pfennig Type Description
I
Another example		 III Incision on the left side of numeral 6.
II
Another example		 IIIa The first letter E in DEUTSCHE deformed (also a small indentation on top of numeral 6).
IV
Another example		 I Vertical scratch at the top of the transept.
V
Another example		 II Big incision at the bottom of the loop of numeral 6.
VI II Horizontal scratch over letter T in POST.
VII
Another example		 II Upper right corner deformed, (also white spot on letter T in POST).
VIII
Another example		 I Colored spot on the right side of the transept, part of stairs missing.
IX
Another example		 I White spot below letter C in DEUTSCHE.
X
Another example		 I White spot above the first portal.
XI I Big colored dot on the first choir window.
XII I Colored dot on letter T in DEUTSCHE.
90 pfennig Type Description
I
Another example		 III Big colored spot on the 3rd portal.
II
Another example		 I Big crack on the transept wall.
3 DM Type Description
I II Thin line connecting letters C and H in DEUTSCHE.
POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES
5 pfennig Type
1 Colored spot on the steps of the third portal, above letter T in DEUTSCHE. V
25 pfennig Type
1 Thick colored line above letter T in POST. II
40 pfennig Type
1 The first letter E in DEUTSCHE deformed. I
2 Horizontal stroke of numeral 4 deformed. I
4 Colored spot on the corner of transept stairs. III
5 Dot above letter E in DEUTSCHE.
(Could be a phase of IV variety on multiple values.)		 II
6 Small colored spot on the first portal.
(Could be a phase of VI variety on multiple values.)		 III
7 Thin line connecting the upper frame and small church tower. I
8 A flag and an indentation on transept roof. I
9 White dot on the fourth choir window. I
10 Vertical colored line on the loop of the letter P in POST. Ia
11 Heart-shaped colored spot left from the first portal. I
12 Colored dot at the top of numeral 4. I
13 Thick curved scratch above the third portal. I
50 pfennig Type
1 Indentation in bottom frame below letter O in POST. –
60 pfennig Type
1 Letter U in DEUTSCHE thicker at the bottom. I
3 Colored line above letters E and U in DEUTSCHE. I
4 Big colored spot left from the first choir window. I
5 Two white spots left from the cathedral. I
6 Colored spot on the roof of the first tower. I
7 White scratch below letters S and T in POST. I
8 Colored line on the left side of the transept stairs. I
9 White circle between letters S and T in POST. I
10 Upper left corner above letter D in DEUTSCHE damaged, additional vertical thin line next to left frame. I
11 Big white spot above the third portal. I
12 White spot on the transept. I
13 White line over E and U and colored lines over C and H in DEUTSCHE. I
14 Colored spot on the corner of the second tower, above letter H in DEUTSCHE. I
15 Thin line below letter T in POST. II
16 Colored dot on letter C in DEUTSCHE, thin white curved line connecting letters O and S in POST. I
17 Vertical colored lines over choir windows. I
18 Colored dot left from the corner of the second tower. I
19 Top left corner deformed. I
20 Letters T and S in DEUTSCHE connected by a dot. I
21 White spot below the third choir window. I
22 Colored spot on the corner of transept stairs. III
23 White vertical line on top of letter T in POST. I
90 pfennig Type
1 Indentation on top of zero. I
2 Thin line on the roof of the transept. I
COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
Perforation errors
1 Double perforation at the bottom.
2 Shifted perforation.
Printing errors
1 Double impression.

 

Bibliography

  1. Ulrich Roepstorff: Bautenserie 1948 Spezialkatalog, e.V., Köln, Arbeitgemeinschaft im BDPh e.V., ISBN 3-930738-00-7
  2. Michel Deutschland-Spezial 2005, Band 2: Ab Mai 1945 (Alliierte Besetzung bis BRD), Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-145-9