Postage Stamps from Germany

Postage stamps from Germany have a rich and varied history, reflecting the country’s tumultuous political changes, cultural heritage, and technological advancements. Here’s a comprehensive overview of German postage stamps through different historical periods:

German States

Bathe

  • Before Germany unified, numerous German states issued their own stamps.

Bavaria

  • The first stamp issued by Bavaria, and indeed the first postage stamp in the German-speaking areas.

Bergedorf

Bergedorf was a small city in northern Germany, which issued its own postage stamps during a brief period in the 19th century.

Braunschweig

  • The first postage stamp of Braunschweig was issued on January 1, 1852.

Bremen

  • The postage stamps of Bremen, a former free city-state in northern Germany, were issued from 1855 to 1867.

Hamburg

  • Hamburg issued its own postage stamps from 1859 until it joined the North German Confederation in 1867.

Hanover

  • Hanover issued its own postage stamps from 1850 until 1866 when it was annexed by Prussia

Heligoland

  • Heligoland, a small island in the North Sea, issued postage stamps from 1867 to 1890

Lübec

  • Lübeck issued its own postage stamps from 1859 until 1868.

Mecklenburg-Schwerin

  • Mecklenburg-Schwerin, a Grand Duchy in northern Germany, issued its own postage stamps from 1856 until 1867 when it joined the North German Confederation.

Mecklenburg-Strelitz

  • Mecklenburg-Strelitz, a small Grand Duchy in northern Germany, issued postage stamps from 1864 to 1867

Oldenburg

  • Oldenburg issued its own postage stamps from 1852 until 1867 when it joined the North German Confederation.

Prussia

  • Prussia, a dominant German state, issued its own postage stamps from 1850 until 1867

Schleswig-Holstein

  • Schleswig-Holstein issued its own postage stamps between 1850 and 1867.

Lauenburg

  • Lauenburg issued its own postage stamps briefly in 1864.

Thurn and Taxis

  • Thurn and Taxis, a private postal system in Germany, issued postage stamps from 1852 until 1867.

Württemberg

  • Württemberg issued its own postage stamps from 1851 to 1923.

The North German Confederation (1867-1871)

  • The North German Confederation (Norddeutscher Bund) was a federal state that existed from 1867 to 1871, which paved the way for the unification of Germany.

German Democratic Republic

  • The GDR began issuing stamps in 1949, soon after its establishment.

German local editions 1923

  • Many German cities and regions issued local stamps to cope with rapidly changing postage rates.

German local editions 1945

  • The local editions of 1945 are an essential part of German philately, illustrating the country’s fragmented state post-war

German foreign post offices

  • German foreign post offices issued stamps from the late 19th century until the early 20th century, around 1880 to 1914.

German colonies

    • Issued during the late 19th and early 20th centuries when Germany established colonies and protectorates

German ship mail

  • Special maritime postmarks were often applied, indicating the ship’s name or route.

German occupation 1914-1918

  • Stamps from the German occupation period are highly collectible due to their historical context and the variety of overprints.

German electoral areas

  • After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles mandated plebiscites (votes) in several regions to determine their national allegiance

Belgian military post in the Rhineland

  • After World War I, the Treaty of Versailles led to the Allied occupation of the Rhineland, including Belgian forces.

Free City of Danzig

  • Initial stamps featured the city’s coat of arms and the German inscription “Freie Stadt Danzig.”

Memel area

  • The Memel area (Klaipėda region) was governed by the League of Nations after World War I

Bohemia and Moravia

  • After the German occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, Bohemia and Moravia were established as a Protectorate under Nazi Germany.

Sudetenland

  • Sudetenland stamps are collected for their unique overprints and the historical context of the annexation

German occupation issues 1939-1949

  • These stamps are highly collectible due to their historical significance, reflecting the Nazi regime’s influence across Europe.

Field post stamps

  • German Field Post stamps were used by the military postal service during World War I and World War II.

War and propaganda fakes

  • These stamps are highly collectible due to their unique historical context and rarity

Germany under Allied occupation

  • After World War II, Germany was divided into occupation zones controlled by the Allied powers

Unofficial editions

Community expenses in the occupied zone

Berlin and Brandenburg

  • Issued during the Allied occupation of Germany, specifically in the Soviet occupation zone.

Soviet zone

  • Issued in the Soviet-controlled eastern part of Germany after World War II

West Berlin

  • Stamps issued specifically for West Berlin

Saarland

  • Stamps issued under the League of Nations’ mandate featured “SAAR” and local imagery.

Federal state of Saarland

  • Saarland was a semi-autonomous territory under French protection after World War II

Bizone 1945

  • The Bizone was formed by merging the American and British occupation zones

French Zone

  • Issued in the French occupation zone of Germany after World War II

Federal Republic of Germany

  • Postage stamps from the Federal Republic of Germany offer a fascinating journey through a critical period in modern European history.