Soviet Occupation Zone: Thuringia (Thüringen)
 |
| Economy gum on stamps of Thuringia. |
1 October 1945 – 1 January 1946. Definitive issue. Printed in sheets of 100 (10 x 10) on various types of papers with regular or “economy gum”. Perforation line 11, denominations of 20 and 30 pfennig also imperforate.
The gum
Economy gum (Spargummierung or Spargummi) was used in times of economic need to save raw materials which were needed for production of gum. The gum was applied in such a way that parts of stamps sheets were left without the gum.
The paper
Stamps were printed on 14 different paper types and gum combinations:
| Paper types and gum by denomination values in pfennig | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Gum | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 12 I | 12 II | 20 per | 20 imp | 30 per | 30 imp |
| grayish white thicker paper (0.075-0.1 mm) with steep rising striations | thick and yellowish, also with vertical lines | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| economy gum | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| grayish white thicker paper (0.075-0.1 mm) with steep falling striations | thick and yellowish, also with vertical lines | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| economy gum | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||
| rough grayish thick paper (0.09-0.11 mm) with gently rising striations | thick, fragile, also with vertical lines | x | x | |||||||||
| yellowish to reddish tinted paper (0.08-0.105 mm) | thick, a bit granular | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
| yellowish to reddish tinted paper with fine net structure (0.07-0.08 mm) | brownish, shiny | x | ||||||||||
| whitish to grayish paper (0.065-0.09 mm) with fine net structure | white to yellowish, dull | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| economy gum | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||||
| grayish paper (0.06-0.08 mm), smoother, with fine net structure | bight, shiny | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | ||||
| grayish to yellowish granite paper (0.065-0.085 mm) with small wooden residues | grayish, dull | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
| yellowish thick paper (0.09-0.11 mm) with heavy net structure | yellowish, dull | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | |||
| whitish to yellowish tinted wood-free thick paper | gum white, applied horizontally | x | x | x | ||||||||
| whitish thin paper (impression visible on the back) with fine net structure | economy gum | x | x | x | x | x | ||||||
Varieties and types
| TYPES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 12 pf., red | ||
 |
 |
There are two types of 12 pf. stamp:
|
| Type I | Type II | |
| CONSTANT VARIETIES | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 pf., yellow brown | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |  |
Scratches above the right-sided numeral 3. | – | ? | – |
| II |  |
Scratch below letter H in THÜRINGEN. | – | 16 | – |
| III |  |
Diagonal scratch over the top of the tallest pine. | – | 39 | – |
| IV |  |
White dot on top frame above the tallest pine. | – | 56 | – |
| 4 pf., black | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |  |
Last letter N in THÜRINGEN deformed (the THÜRINGEI flaw). | 93 III | 13 | – |
| II |  |
White dot at the end of the letter T and white dot below the first vertical stroke of letter H in THÜRINGEN. | – | 8 | – |
| III |  |
White dot below the first letter N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 17 | – |
| IV |  |
Vertical group of stars left from the tallest pine. | – | 19 | – |
| V |  |
Two white dots on the first letter N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 65 | – |
| VI |  |
Diagonal scratch on top frame, left from the top of the tallest pine. | – | 75 | – |
| VII |  |
Multiple white dots over inscription THÜRINGEN. | – | 85 | – |
| VIII |  |
Colored dot on top frame, white dots over letters R, I and N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 86 | – |
| IX |  |
Diagonal white scratch over the bottom left corner. | – | 93 | – |
| X |  |
White dot between letters E and N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 95 | – |
| XI |  |
Three white dots below letters N and G in THÜRINGEN. | – | 96 | – |
| 5 pf., yellow green | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |  |
Green dot left from the first pine. | – | 2 | – |
| II |  |
Horizontal white scratch over right-sided numeral 5. | – | 7 (?) | – |
| III |  |
White dot above letters H and U in THÜRINGEN. | – | 3 | – |
| IV |  |
Right inner frame broken next to the second letter N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 9 | – |
| V |  |
White dot left from the left-sided denomination. | – | 54 | – |
| VI |  |
Bottom frame blurred with color. | – | 20 | – |
| VII |  |
Top frame above the right denomination broken. | – | 82 | – |
| VIII |  |
Two colored dots left from the first pine. | – | 64 | – |
| IX |  |
Colored spot on top left corner, inner border in the bottom left corner deformed. | – | 100 | – |
| 6 pf., dark green | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |   |
Additional curved line on top of the upper letter. | 95 IV | 38 | A, B, C, D |
| II |  |
Thin line connecting the top letter and top borderline (letter on white thread flaw). | 95 VII | 59 | C |
| III |  |
White dot on the left borderline next to the letter T in THÜRINGEN. | 95 XVI | 11 | B |
| IV |  |
Colored dot on bottom frame below letter R in THÜRINGEN. | – | 60 | – |
| V |  |
Colored on left border. | – | 62 | – |
| VI |  |
Colored dot at the bottom of the left numeral 6. | 95 I | 1 | D |
| VII |  |
Colored dot on top frame between the mouthpiece and the letter. | – | 2 | – |
| VIII |  |
Frame at the top left corner broken. | – | 4 | – |
| IX |  |
Inner bottom frame below the second letter N in THÜRINGEN broken. | – | 9 | – |
| X |  |
Top outer frame between the mouthpiece and the letter broken. | – | 20 | – |
| XI |  |
The second vertical stroke of the first letter N in THÜRINGEN shorter at top. | – | 16 | – |
| XII |  |
Colored dot on letter R in THÜRINGEN. | – | 26 | – |
| XIII |  |
Diagonal stroke of the first letter N in THÜRINGEN broken. | – | 27 | – |
| XIV |  |
White dot between letters E and N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 27 | – |
| XV |  |
Additional vertical line left from the top left corner. | – | 29 | – |
| XVI |  |
White dot on bottom frame below the first letter N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 30 | – |
| XVII |  |
Additional scratch above letter U in THÜRINGEN. | – | 32 | – |
| XVIII |  |
Colored dot at the top of the letter. | – | 34 | – |
| XIX |  |
A hook at the top of the top right corner. | – | 39 | – |
| XX |  |
White scratch at the top of letter E in THÜRINGEN. | – | 40 | – |
| XXI |  |
Two dots on right border, right from the final letter N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 47 | – |
| XXII |  |
Additional vertical dotted line right from the top right corner. | – | 41 | – |
| XXIII |  |
Colored spot below the bottom frame, under the letter Ü in THÜRINGEN. | – | 40 | – |
| XXIV |  |
Colored dots at top of the first letter N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 12 | – |
| XXV |  |
Top inner frame right from the top right denomination broken. | – | 66 | – |
| XXVI |  |
Colored dots on letter H in THÜRINGEN. | – | 67 | – |
| XXVII |  |
Top right frame uneven. | – | 71 | – |
| XXVIII |  |
Vertical colored line at the top of the letter R and a colored dot at the top of the letter I in THÜRINGEN. | – | 79 | – |
| XXIX |  |
Additional shading line on the post horn. | – | 87 | – |
| XXX |   |
Colored dot or colored scratch at top of the letter I in THÜRINGEN. | – | 89 | – |
| XXXI |  |
Additional horizontal line above the top frame. | – | 96 | – |
| XXXII |  |
Two white dots left from the bottom letter. | – | 93 | – |
| XXXIII |  |
Thin line at the bottom of the letter R in THÜRINGEN. | – | 95 | – |
| XXXIV |  |
White dot nex to the top left denomination. | – | 96 | – |
| XXXV |  |
Colored spot on post horn below the ribbon. | – | 97 | – |
| XXXVI |  |
Short vertical line on the bottom right corner. | – | 97 | – |
| XXXVII |  |
Top frame deformed. | – | 97 | – |
| XXXVIII |  |
Additional line on top left frame. | – | 98 | – |
| 8 pf., orange | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |  |
Tear in the lower letter. | 96 VI | 79 | – |
| II |  |
Colored dot on the lower letter. | 96 VII | 37 | – |
| III |  |
Border of the horn bell broken on the left side. | 96 II | 4 | – |
| IV |  |
Letter H in THÜRINGEN damaged. | 96 IV | 26 | – |
| V |  |
Border of the horn bell broken on the right side. | – | 96 | – |
| VI |  |
Colored spot on top inner border between the mouthpiece and the top letter. | – | 11 | – |
| VII |  |
Additional dot on the top letter. | – | 1 | – |
| VIII |  |
Small thin line connecting the top inner frame with the background, just above the horn. | – | 32 | – |
| IX |  |
Frame above top right denomination uneven. | – | 14 | – |
| 12 pf., red | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |  |
Lower right corner broken. | 97 XII | 91 | C, D |
| II |  |
Colored dot on the second letter L of SCHILLER (the SCHILCER flaw). | 97 III | 48 | D |
| III |  |
White scratch below right-sided denomination. | – | 4 | – |
| IV |  |
Colored dot on the first lower left segment of the wreath. | – | 19 | – |
| V |  |
Indentation in the top left corner. | – | 16 | – |
| VI |  |
White scratch in the medallion, right from Schiller’s cheek. | – | 63 (?) | – |
| VII |  |
Colored dot on letter I in THÜRINGEN. | – | 20 | – |
| VIII |  |
White scratch on the lower left side of the medallion, stretching from the wreath to Schiller’s hair. | – | ? | – |
| IX |  |
Colored spot below letters T and H in THÜRINGEN. | – | 24 | – |
| X |  |
Colored dot on the second lower left segment of the wreath. | – | 30 | – |
| XI |  |
Colored dot on the fourth and the fifth lower left segments of the wreath. | – | 18 | – |
| XII |  |
Red dot in last “N” of “THURINGEN”. | 97 V | 90 | A, D (Types I and II) |
| XIII |  |
Extension of top of “1” in left hand “12”. | 97 XI | 52 | D (Type II) |
| 20 pf., blue | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |  |
Small indentation to the top left corner. | – | 68 | – |
| II |  |
Thin scratch above left-sided numeral 2. | – | 9 | – |
| III |  |
Colored dot wreath above Goethe’s head. | – | 27 | – |
| IV |  |
Letter H in THÜRINGEN deformed, white dot below. | – | 87 | – |
| V |  |
White horizontal scratch on the final letter E in GOETHE. | – | 30 | – |
| VI |  |
Letters T and H in THÜRINGEN joined. | – | 96 | – |
| VII |  |
White dot on the lower part of the left frame. | – | 95 | – |
| VIII |  |
Indentation in the lower part of the right frame. | – | 3 | – |
| IX |  |
Colored dot on wreath above Goethe’s head. | – | 51 | – |
| 30 pf., grayish olive green | Michel № | Field № | Pane | ||
| I |  |
Scratch on the lower right part of the wreath. | – | 42 | – |
| II |  |
White spots stretching from Goethe’s hair to the top right side of the wreath. | – | 85 | – |
| III |  |
Short thin line connecting the wreath with top frame. | – | 54 | – |
| IV |  |
White dots on Goethe’s chin. | – | 97 | – |
| V |  |
White dot below the first letter N in THÜRINGEN. | – | 96 | – |
| VI |  |
Long thin line connecting the wreath with top frame. | – | 22 | – |
| VII |  |
Thin line connecting the second letter E in GOETHE and letter E in THÜRINGEN. | – | 67 | – |
| UNLISTED VARIETIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 pf., brown | Field № | ||
| 1 | Colored dot between the inner and the outer frame. |  |
? |
| 2 | Upper left frame indented |  |
2 |
| 3 | Vertical scratch next to the right denomination. |  |
9 |
| 4 pf., black | Field № | ||
| 1 | Horizontal scratch next to the left denomination. |  |
? |
| 5 pf., green | Field № | ||
| 1 | Colored dot in the upper left frame. |  |
?0 |
| 6 pf., dark green | Field № | ||
| 3 | Small indentation in the right corner. |  |
7 |
| 4 | Small indentation in the upper right corner. |  |
20 |
| 5 | Colored dot above the upper left corner. |  |
29 |
| 6 | Two indentations on the left frame. |  |
31 |
| 7 | Colored dot below the lower frame below letter R in THÜRINGEN. |  |
61 |
| 9 | White spot between letters I and R in THÜRINGEN. |  |
73 |
| 10 | Lower right corner damaged. |  |
? |
| 12 | Whitening between the lower letter and the horn’s bell. |  |
? |
| 13 | Big spot left from the right-sided denomination. |  |
? |
| 8 pf., orange | Field № | ||
| 1 | Prolonged line on the top letter. |  |
75 |
| 2 | Colored dot on the upper letter. |  |
38 |
| 3 | Colored dot on the lower borderline below letters T and H in TH |  |
8 |
| 12 pf., red | Field № | ||
| 1 | Horizontal white line below numeral 2 of the right denomination |  |
4 |
| 2 | Vertical white line on the inner bottom frame between letters N |  |
52 |
| 3 | Big colored dot next to the wreath to the left. |  |
91 |
| 5 | Thin white line on the left side of the wreath pointing inwards. |  |
23 |
| 6 | Colored dot above Schiller’s right eyebrow. |  |
23 |
| 7 | Colored dot on letter H in SCHILLER. |  |
23 |
| 8 | Long thin scratch below the right denomination value, white line on the lower part of the letter G in THÜRINGEN. |  |
100 |
| 20 pf., blue | Field № | ||
| 1 | Letter R in THÜRINGEN prolonged. |  |
8 |
| 2 | Letter R in THÜRINGEN short. |  |
?0 |
| 30 pf., gray | Field № | ||
| 2 | Additional curl next to Goethe’s right ear. |  |
? |
| 3 | Circle between Goethe’s head and the wreath. |  |
? |
| 4 | Zero in right denomination value broken to the right. |  |
? |
27 March 1946. Rebuilding of German National Theater in Weimar. Different paper types.
| Paper types, gum and watermarks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper | Gum | Perforation | Watermark |
| whitish, thin (0.046-0.06 mm) | none | imperforate | Watermark “stairs”: ascending or descending |
| yellowish thick paper (0.09-0.11 mm) with heavy net structure | yellowish, dull | serrate roulette | none |
| whitish to grayish paper (0.065-0.09 mm) with fine net structure | white to yellowish, dull | serrate roulette | none |
| There are 12 different types | ||
|---|---|---|
| IV |  Souvenir sheet |
Tiny white dot below Schiller’s chin. |
| VII |  Souvenir sheet |
White dot between Schiller’s ear and hair. |
| VIII |  Souvenir sheet |
Incision in letter M of RM. |
| XI |  Souvenir sheet |
White dot on frame below letters SC in SCHILLER. |
| XII |  Souvenir sheet |
White dot on Schiller’s neck. |
| UNLISTED VARIETIES | ||
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Big white spot above the last letter E in GOETHE. Souvenir sheet |
 |
30 March 1946. Bridge reconstruction. Printed in sheets of 50 (5 x 10) on paper with regular or “economy gum”. Imperforate.
A. Stamps
| SE TENANT | |
|---|---|
 |
The Bridge reconstruction stamps were printed in a way that all four values, each in layout of 5 x 10 stamps, were printed together. Printing sheets therefore consisted of 4 sheets of different denominations. Some of printing sheets remained undivided, which resulted in se tenant combinations. |
| CONSTANT VARIETIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 + 60 pf., red brown | |||
| I |  |
Deep vertical incision on the water above zero in denomination value (fountain flaw). | |
| Field №: 3 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.112I | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| II |  |
Big colored spot on the second pillar. | |
| Field №: 7 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.112VI | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| III |  |
Comma sign below letter K in BRÜCKEN. | |
| Field №: 10 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| IV |  |
Residue between letters A and U in BAUEN and a tree on the horizon above the first pillar. | |
| Field №: 31 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.112IV | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| V |  |
Incision in the hill above the third pillar. | |
| Field №: 42 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.112V | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| 12 + 68 pf., red | |||
| I |  |
First letter N in THÜRINGEN damaged to the top left. | |
| Field №: 5 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113I | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| II |  |
White spot between upper horizontal strokes of letter E in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 23 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113II | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| III |  |
White spot below letter G in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 3 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113III | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| IV |  |
White dot above the first letter N in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 13 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113IV | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| V |  |
White dot next to the letter R in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 14 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113V | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| VI |  |
Vertical scratch between letters T and H in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: ? | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| VII |  |
White dot inside numeral 2 in denomination value. | |
| Field №: 25 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: 113VII | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| VIII |  |
Vertical white line above letters G and E in THÜRINGEN (the waterfall flaw). | |
| Field №: 31 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113IX | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| IX |  |
White dot above letter N in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 33 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113X | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| X |  |
White frame below letter N in THÜRINGEN damaged. | |
| Field №: 34 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113XI | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| XI |  |
Vertical line on bridge’s arch. | |
| Field №: 49 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113XIII | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| XII |  |
White comma under plus sign of +68. | |
| Field №: 42 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.113XII | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| 16 + 74 pf., dark green | |||
| I |  |
White dot on the frame below letter Ü in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 6 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.114II | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| II |  |
White spot on the second horizontal stroke of letter H in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 35 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.114III | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| III |  |
Upper stroke of numeral 1 din 16 damaged. | |
| Field №: 41 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.114IV | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| VI |  |
Additional white spot on the river. | |
| Field №: 39 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: – | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| 24 + 26 pf., brown | |||
| I |  |
White dot between letters E and N in THÜRINGEN. | |
| Field №: 22 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.115I | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| II |  |
Railing on top of the bridge broken. | |
| Field №: 11 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.115III | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| III |  |
White dot on the horizontal stroke of numeral 4 in denomination. | |
| Field №: 23 | Pane: N/A | ||
| Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.115IV | |||
| Notes: – | |||
| UNLISTED VARIETIES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 + 60 pf., red brown | Field № | ||
| 1 | Thin vertical line parallel to the left frame. |  |
4 |
| 2 | White spot at the base of the second pillar. |  |
9 |
| 3 | White dot on the third pillar. |  |
38 |
| 12 + 68 pf., red | Field № | ||
| 1 | Letter K in BRÜCKEN broken and colored spot on the frame above letter N. |  |
17 |
| 2 | Additional white dot on bridge debris. |  |
30 |
| 3 | Letter C in BRÜCKEN broken at bottom. |  |
16 |
| 4 | White dots interrupting the lower part of the right frame. | |
? |
| 5 | White spot at the top of the debris. |  |
4 |
| 16 + 74 pf., dark green | Field № | ||
| 1 | Vertical stroke of letter N in BRÜCKEN thin. |  |
1 |
| 3 | Right frame broken. |  |
9 |
| 4 | Inner frame below letter R in THÜRINGEN broken. |  |
18 |
B. Souvenir sheet
Souvenir sheets were printed in two runs. There are three types of sheets of the first and one type of the second run.
| TYPES | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| I |   Souvenir sheet |
|
|
Bibliography
- Michel Deutschland-Spezial 2005, Band 2: Ab Mai 1945 (Alliierte Besetzung bis BRD), Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-145-9
