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: collar outline well visible. Type II: without the collar outline.
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	One shading line in letter U of AUF missing, railing on top of the bridge broken.

 

Bibliography

---

1. Michel Deutschland-Spezial 2005, Band 2: Ab Mai 1945 (Alliierte Besetzung bis BRD), Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-145-9