Wilhelmshaven Use-Up Issues of the German Offices in China
Jul 5, 2022 9:59:19 GMT -5
kacyds, Philatarium, and 3 more like this
Post by PostmasterGS on Jul 5, 2022 9:59:19 GMT -5
Here’s another rare one to be on the lookout for — the Wilhelmshavener Aufbrauchsausgabe (Wilhelmshaven Use-Up Issues) of the German Offices in China.
From September - November 1901, an unusual event occurred for which there isn’t a good historical record of why — the issuance of postage from the German Offices in China at the post office in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The stamps known to have been issued in this fashion were:
The 5- and 10-Pf “China” overprints of Germania Reichspost issues (German Offices in China MiNr. 16-17 / Sc 25-26) and possibly the 20-Pf value as well (MiNr. 18 / Sc 27):
And a single known copy of a diagonally-overprinted 10-Pf (either MiNr. 3 I or 3 II / Sc 3 or 3a, my references are unclear which).
At the time, German steamships and naval vessels were making far more trips from China to Germany than normal, as they were returning German troops that had been deployed to China for the Boxer Rebellion and subsequent punitive expeditions. It was initially speculated that the stamps could have come from the stocks carried by individual soldiers, as Wilhelmshaven would have been their disembarkation point. However, the quantities rule this out — eyewitnesses reported being able to buy full sheets from the counter at the Wilhelmshaven PO.
Now, they are believed to have come from the stocks carried by the on-board post office of one of the steamships transporting troops or of a returning German naval vessel. In his master work on German colonial philately, Albert Friedemann speculated that they were from the protected cruiser S.M.S. Irene, which made port in Wilhelmshaven on 22 September 1901 and turned over its postal equipment to the Wilhelmshaven PO.
Regardless, the stamps are known with cancels from the Wilhelmshaven PO, as well as from Münster. The Münster stamps are believed to have also come from the Wilhelmshaven PO’s supply. Current Michel CV is €1,000 used, €3,500 on cover/postcard.
I recently received these two items which I won at auction, both cancelled in Münster. One is a cover from the wife of a German sailor to her husband, and as the other is a newspaper wrapper addressed to the same, in the same handwriting, and mailed from the same PO, I suspect it's also from her.
The first is a cover sent from Münster to Tsingtau, China.
It translates as follow:
The second is a newspaper wrapper sent from Münster to Tsingtau, China.
It translates as follows:
From September - November 1901, an unusual event occurred for which there isn’t a good historical record of why — the issuance of postage from the German Offices in China at the post office in Wilhelmshaven, Germany. The stamps known to have been issued in this fashion were:
The 5- and 10-Pf “China” overprints of Germania Reichspost issues (German Offices in China MiNr. 16-17 / Sc 25-26) and possibly the 20-Pf value as well (MiNr. 18 / Sc 27):
And a single known copy of a diagonally-overprinted 10-Pf (either MiNr. 3 I or 3 II / Sc 3 or 3a, my references are unclear which).
At the time, German steamships and naval vessels were making far more trips from China to Germany than normal, as they were returning German troops that had been deployed to China for the Boxer Rebellion and subsequent punitive expeditions. It was initially speculated that the stamps could have come from the stocks carried by individual soldiers, as Wilhelmshaven would have been their disembarkation point. However, the quantities rule this out — eyewitnesses reported being able to buy full sheets from the counter at the Wilhelmshaven PO.
Now, they are believed to have come from the stocks carried by the on-board post office of one of the steamships transporting troops or of a returning German naval vessel. In his master work on German colonial philately, Albert Friedemann speculated that they were from the protected cruiser S.M.S. Irene, which made port in Wilhelmshaven on 22 September 1901 and turned over its postal equipment to the Wilhelmshaven PO.
Regardless, the stamps are known with cancels from the Wilhelmshaven PO, as well as from Münster. The Münster stamps are believed to have also come from the Wilhelmshaven PO’s supply. Current Michel CV is €1,000 used, €3,500 on cover/postcard.
I recently received these two items which I won at auction, both cancelled in Münster. One is a cover from the wife of a German sailor to her husband, and as the other is a newspaper wrapper addressed to the same, in the same handwriting, and mailed from the same PO, I suspect it's also from her.
The first is a cover sent from Münster to Tsingtau, China.
It translates as follow:
Herr Schürnich, Naval Chief Paymaster
Tsingtau (China)
Third Sea Battalion
From Mrs. Naval Chief Paymaster Schürnich
Blümenstrasse 22, Ground Floor, Münster
Tsingtau (China)
Third Sea Battalion
From Mrs. Naval Chief Paymaster Schürnich
Blümenstrasse 22, Ground Floor, Münster
The second is a newspaper wrapper sent from Münster to Tsingtau, China.
It translates as follows:
Herr Schürnich, Naval Chief Paymaster
Tsingtau (China)
Imperial Post Office Berlin
Printed material!
Tsingtau (China)
Imperial Post Office Berlin
Printed material!
