Philately – Varieties of Postage Stamps of the German Empire

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1872. Eagle with large shield.

CONSTANT VARIETIES
3 kr.
I		Inner circle damaged below letters DEU of DEUTSCHES.
		Field №: 129	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.25II
		Notes: –

1875/79. Definitive issue.

PERFORATION TYPES
Due to adjustments of perforation tools dimensions of stamps of this issue vary. Stamps of normal size: have horizontally 13 clear perforation holes, measure between 19.5 and 20.5 mm accross stamp. (+) indicates a more incomplete hole.
PI		Wide (breite Marken), measure minimum 21 mm accross stamp and have 14 clear holes
		Other nomenclatures: Michel B
		Notes: 5 pfe, 20 pfe
PII		Wider (verbreiterte Marken), measure minimum 20.5 mm accross stamp and have 13 (+) clear holes
		Other nomenclatures: Michel D
		Notes: 3 pfe, 5 pfe, 10 pfe
PIII		Narrower (verschmälerte Marken), measure maximum 19.5 mm accross stamp and have 12 (+) clear holes
		Other nomenclatures: Michel CE
		Notes: 3 pfe, 5 pfe, 20 pfe
PIV		Narrow (schmale Marken), measure maximum 19 mm accross stamp and have 12 clear holes
		Other nomenclatures: Michel C
		Notes: –

CONSTANT VARIETIES
10 pfennige
I		Horn shaped flaw under the right hand “10”.
		Field №: 52 sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.33I
		Notes: Enlarged area.
II		Line to right of “0” in right hand “10”.
		Field №: 100 sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.33II
		Notes: Enlarged area.
III		Lines under “GE” in “PENNIGE” connected with white flaw.
		Field №: 9 sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.33IV
		Notes: Enlarged area.
IV		Long diagonal streak from centre base through “GE” of “PFENNIGE”.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.33VI
		Notes: Enlarged area.
20 pfennige
I		Flattened top to left top corner.
		Field №: 1-9 Sheet R.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.34I
		Notes: Enlarged area.
25 pfennige
I		Large nick on left side above “25” denomination.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.35III
		Notes: Enlarged area.
50 pfennige
I		Fragmented top of left corner.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.36II
		Notes: Enlarged area.
II		Streak in top left corner.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.36III
		Notes: Enlarged area.

1880. Definitive issue.

CONSTANT VARIETIES
10 pfennig
I		White flaw on base of  “10” (making it look like a´Q`).
		Field №: Field 50 Sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.41IV
		Notes: Enlarged area.
II		Three lines connecting under “ENN” of “PFENNIG”.
		Field №: Field 60. Sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.41Va
		Notes: Enlarged area. Additionally on this example: top frame broken by white line from ornament to margin.
50 pfennig
I		Missing bars closing left centre pattern.
		Field №: 2 Sheet L	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.44III
		Notes: Enlarged area.
II		Tip or ornament top centre unfilled.
		Field №: 83 sheet L.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.44IV
		Notes: –
III		Broken tip of ornament top centre.
		Field №: 91 sheet L.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.44V
		Notes: Enlarged area.
IV		Reduced dot in centre upper ornament caused by lower adjacent lines in triangle created.
		Field №: 43 sheet R.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.44VI
		Notes: Enlarged area.
V		Scratch across “NNIG” in “PFENNIG”.
		Field №: 24 sheet L.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.44VII
		Notes: Enlarged area.

1889/1900. Definitive issue.

CONSTANT VARIETIES
TYPES
I		Vertical line at the end of the letter C of REICHSPOST (looks like G).
		Field №: 21, 26, 71, 76 sheet L.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.52I
		Notes: –
5 pf.
I		Colored mark under and attached to “C”of “REICHSPOST”.
		Field №: 15, 20, 65, 70	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.46I
		Notes: Enlarged area.
25 pf.
I		Top of “I” in “REICHSPOST” indented.
		Field №: 22, 27, 72, 77 sheet L.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.49II
		Notes: Enlarged area.

CONSTANT VARIETIES
3 pf.
I		Break top left in “O” of “POST”.
		Field №: 50 sheet L	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.45II
		Notes: Enlarged area.
5 pf.
I		Comet shaped flaw below upper right coil.
		Field №: 21, 26, 71, 76.	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.46III
		Notes: Enlarged area.
I		Break in “R” of “REICHSPOST”.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.46IV
		Notes: Enlarged area.
10 pf.
I		Horizontal line over letter T of REICHSPOST.
		Field №: R/7	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.47I
		Notes: –
II		“T” in “REICHSPOST” open at top centre.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.47II
		Notes: –
III		Short foot on “P” on right side “PF”. Position 49 and others, sheet R.
		Field №: 49, Sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.47III
		Notes: –
IV		Wedge in left frame line between left top leaves.
		Field №: 47, Sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.47IV
		Notes: –
V		Bar at left of denomination.
		Field №: 7, Sheet R	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.47V
		Notes: –
VI		Scratch across left “PF”.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.47VI
		Notes: Enlarged area.
VII		Broken inside of “O”in “REICHSPOST”.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.47VII
		Notes: Appears in various stages.
VIII		Top of “1”in “10” damaged.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi. 47VIII
		Notes: Appears in several states. Enlarged area.
25 pf.
I		Top right of “I” in “REICHSPOST” damaged.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.49III
		Notes: Enlarged area.
II		Coloured dot top left of left coil.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.49IV
		Notes: Enlarged area.
50 pf.
I		Horizontal break on “T” of “REICHSPOST”.
		Field №: 39	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.50I
		Notes: Enlarged area.
II		Diagonal and vertical scratches (broken plate) left side of stamp.
		Field №: 36	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.50II
		Notes: –
III		White mark near base of right upper coil.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.50IV
		Notes: Enlarged area.

1900. Definitive issue: Germania (I), inscription REICHPOST.

CONSTANT VARIETIES
10 pf.
I		The “O” in “REICHSPOST” damaged at top left.
		Field №: 56/18	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.56V
		Notes: –
25 pf.
I		Top of “R” in “REICHSPOST” damaged.
		Field №: 59/2	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.59II
		Notes: –
II		Streak in right lower corner box.
		Field №: ?	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.59X
		Notes: –
40 pf.
I		The “OST” of “REICHSPOST” shifted down.
		Field №: 60/18	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.60VII
		Notes: –

1 April 1902. Definitive issue: Germania (II).

CONSTANT VARIETIES
3 pf.
I		Bottom horizontal line of letter E in DEUTSCHES missing, looks like F (DFUTSCHES).
		Field №: 35, 90	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: Michel Mi.69I
		Notes: –

FORGERIES
3 pf.
			Forgery of variety I: Bottom horizontal line of letter “E” in “DEUTSCHES” scratched out.
Genuine	Forgery	Forged stamp

1905/1913. Definitive issue: Germania (III).

CONSTANT VARIETIES
25 pf.
I		Short top to “5” in “25” left hand side.
		Field №: 2 A	Pane: N/A
		Other nomenclatures: –
		Notes: –

 

Bibliography

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1. Michel Deutschland-Spezial 2005, Band 1: 1849 bis April 1945. Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-144-0