Allied Occupation of Berlin and Brandenburg

Soviet Occupation Zone Berlin Brandenburg percé en scie
Roulette perforation “en scie”
consists only of slanting lines.
Soviet Occupation Zone Berlin Brandenburg vertically and horizontally applied gum
Vertically and horizontally
applied gum.

3 August 1945. Definitive issue: Berlin bear and oak tree.

Produced in State Printing Works in Berlin on different types of papers, gums and perforations. Plate flaws in this issue are abundant due to the haste in which the issue was prepared.

Perforations

All denominations were perforated comb 14, two values, 5 and 12 pfennig were also roulette (saw-toothed) perforated 13½, the 12 pfg. stamp is very rare. This perforation must not be confused with roulette perforation of the 6th of December issue, where the stamps were also roulette perforated but in “percé en lignes” style. Perforation of the 3rd of August issue can be easily identified on larger blocks of stamps where it can be clearly observed that horizontal part of perforation is missing. Perforation is made only of slanting lines.

Denominations by paper, gum and perforation

Papers, gum and perforation of the 3 August issue
Paper types:

  • A. shiny, white, coated paper,
  • B. regular dull white paper,
  • C. pink toned paper,
  • D. yellow toned paper.
 Gum types:

  • a. smooth, dull or shiny,
  • b. vertically applied gum,
  • c. horizontally applied gum,
  • d. horizontally applied dry gum (barely visible).
Paper A, gum: Paper B, gum: Paper C, gum: Paper D, gum:
a b c d a b c d a b c d a b c d
5 pfg. comb 14 x x x
roul. 13½ x x x
6 pfg. comb 14 x x x x x x x
8 pfg. comb 14 x x x
10 pfg. comb 14 x x x
12 pfg. comb 14 x x x x x x
roul. 13½ x
20 pfg. comb 14 x x
30 pfg. comb 14 x x x x x

6 December 1945. Definitive issue: Berlin Bear and oak tree.

This issue differs from the 3rd of August issue in perforation. Stamps are now roulette perforated in “percé en lignes” style. All of the seven denominations were printed on regular dull white paper (type B) with horizontally applied gum (type c).

Varieties

CONSTANT VARIETIES AND TYPES
Click on images below to display constant varieties and types:
5 pf. 6 pf. 8 pf. 10 pf. 12 pf. 20 pf. 30 pf.

Panes

PANES
5 pfg., green
Pane B
Pane D
Pane D, overprinted Sowjetische Besatzungs Zone (annotated).
6 pfg., purple
Pane
8 pfg., orange red
Pane DI
12 pfg., red
Pane B
10 pfg., brown
Pane B
20 pfg., blue
Pane BI
30 pfg., olive green
Pane A

 

References

Bibliography

  1. Die Berliner Bärenmarken, Arbeitsgruppe Bärenmarken in der Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Thüringen – SBZ/OPD-Ausgaben 1945/46 e.V.
  2. Michel Deutschland-Spezial 2005, Band 2: Ab Mai 1945 (Alliierte Besetzung bis BRD), Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-145-9