WEIMAR REPUBLIC
STAMPS
1923
The Weimar Republic stamps of 1923 reveal a fascinating insight into the meltdown of the German economy which had started 2 years earlier in 1921. In 1923 things went massively out of control as hyperinflation ravaged the country. The cost to send a postcard abroad rose from 15Pf in October 1919 to 200 billion Marks by 1st Dec 1923, an unbelievable increase in the price of a stamp. Despite this huge increase, letters and postcards remained the principal form of communication for families and friends both inside the country and overseas. For more information on this fascinating subject check out hyperinflation in the Weimar Republic on Wikipedia.
MICHEL 258 to 260
RHEIN-and-RUHR ASSISTANCE
Issued: 19th Feb 1923. These stamps are the same as Michel 238, Michel 242 and Michel 196 but now with black typography 'Rhein=Ruhr=hilfe' overprint. Sheets (10x10), Waffle (network) watermark. Michel 258 and 259 are perf K14:14¼, Michel 260 is perf K14.
MICHEL 261 and 262
WARTBURG CASTLE and COLOGNE CATHEDRAL
Issued: May/Jul 1923. Regular issue Wartburg Castle and Cologne Cathedral. Produced by the Government Printing Office, engraved Michel 261 (5x10), Michel 262 (10x5), Michel 261 vertical waffle (network) watermark, Michel 262 horizontal waffle (network) watermark. Perf K14.
MICHEL 263 to 267
AIRMAIL ISSUE
WOOD PIGEON (III)
Issued: May/Jun 1923. Wood Pigeon (III), designed by Prof. Aufseesser, typography (10x5 + 10x5 horizontal gutter between). Watermarked waffle (network) and perf K13:13¾. The design is the same as the 1922 Michel 210 to 218 (I) and Michel 235 to 237 (II) issues but now with new colours and values.
MICHEL 268 to 273
REGULAR ISSUE 'NUMBER in CIRCLE'
Issued: Mar/Aug 1923. Regular Issue 'Number in Circle'. Printed typography on sheets (10x10) and coils with waffle (network) watermark. Perf 14:14¼.
MICHEL 274 to 276
REGULAR ISSUE 'NUMBER in CIRCLE'
Issued: 15th to 20th Sep. Regular Issue 'Number in Circle'. Printed typography on sheets (10x10) with waffle (network) watermark. Perf K14:14¼.
PROVISIONAL ISSUES of the HIGH INFLATION PERIOD
24th Aug to 30th Nov 1923
This period represents the height of the hyper-inflationary period in Germany and can be seen in the almost weekly increases in postal rates, leaving large reserves of already printed stamps unusable.
In order to resolve this problem the Government Printing Office was tasked with overprinting existing stocks of unused stamps. However the demand was so high that the Reich's Ministry of Post had to authorise regional post offices to assist with the task. Locally produced sheets can be recognised by the different overprints on the upper margin, although this is more difficult with individual stamps (hence why some collectors prefer to collect upper margin examples).
The overprint fonts themselves do not vary as the templates were provided by the Reich's Ministry of Post, so they are all the same. However some font defects are common to certain Post Office's printings and so can be used to determine where a certain stamp was printed. In addition minor differences in the overprinted ink colour and 'glossiness' can help to determine the source.
MICHEL 277 to 296
REGULAR ISSUE "NUMBER in RECTANGLE"
"CIRCLE" and "WORKER"
Issued: 24th Aug / end Sep 1923. Regular Issue partial or new issues, "Number in Rectangle", "Worker" and "Number in Circle" in previously unissued colours and now with glossy or dull typography overprint of the new value in black (Michel 277 to 284, 286 to 289 and 291 to 296), dark violet ultramarine (Michel 285) or black-green (Michel 290). All waffle (network) watermark except Michel 287X which is watermark diamond (lozenge) and all perf 14:14¼.
MICHEL 297 to 300
REGULAR ISSUE 'NUMBER in RECTANGLE'
Issued: 1st Oct 1923. New issues of 'Number in Rectangle' (Michel 160 thru 163) in different colours with dark to black-brown overprint. Printed typography on sheets (10x10) with waffle (network) watermark and serrated perforation approximately 13½.
MICHEL 301 to 312
REGULAR ISSUE 'NUMBER in RECTANGLE'
Issued: end Sep / 22nd Oct 1923. Part of Issue from Michel 269 thru 271 and new stamp issue 'Number in Rectangle' and 'Number in Circle' now in different colours. Printed typography on waffle (network) watermark paper. There are two types: Type 'A' perf 14:14¼ and Type 'B' serrated 13 (approximately) only on Michel 303 and 305 to 310.
MICHEL 313 to 324
REGULAR ISSUE
'DENOMINATION in CIRCLE with ROSETTE'
Issued: 9th Oct / 24th Nov 1923. Regular Issue 'Denomination in Circle with Rosette', sometimes called basket lid as the rosette somewhat resembles the lid of a wicker-work basket. Printed typography on sheets (10x10) with waffle (network) watermark. There are two types of printing: Type P = Flat Plate printing and Type W = Rotary Press printing. There are also two variations in the perfs: Type 'A' perf 14:14¼ and Type 'B' serrated 13 (approximately).
MICHEL 331
REGULAR ISSUE 'NUMBER in CIRCLE'
Issued: 7th Nov 1923. Regular Issue 'Number in Circle', only printed in Munich. Part of Issue from Michel 268 with black typography overprint.
MICHEL 332 to 337
REGULAR ISSUE
'NUMBER in CIRCLE with ROSETTE'
Issued: 16th to 23rd Nov 1923. Regular Issue 'Number in Circle with Rosette'. Part of Issue from Michel 315, 316, 318, 319, 321 and 322 with black Typography overprint and new denomination and new dashed bar on bottom.
REGIONAL DIRECTOR of POSTS (OPD) PRINTINGS
SO-CALLED 'LOCAL PRINTINGS'
In Sep 1923 the devaluation of the currency led to the Government Printing Office authorising eleven regional Directors of Post to overprint their inventories of stamps. Templates were provided to the regional offices and as before the regional versions of stamp sheets are primarily recognised by their upper margin, overprint colours or plate flaws. For more information see the individual stamp details.
MICHEL 338 to 343
DEFINITIVE STAMPS
'NUMBER in CIRCLE with ROSETTE'
Issued: 1st Dec 1923. Regular Issue 'Number in Circle" with Rosette'. Printed on sheets (10x10) and rolls with Network (lozenge) watermark perf K14:14. there were two types of overprint printing; Type P - Flat Plate printing and Type W - Rotary Press printing. The image size differs for the two types as follows: Type P measures 17.9 x 21.5mm and Type W measures 18.2 x 22.2mm. There are strong colour deviations for all values (stamp image not the value number). New currency, the Rentenmark, later to become the Reichsmark.
OFFICIAL STAMPS
From 1st Apr 1920 all State Agencies were required to frank their mail with special Official Stamps. Empire Agencies were also required to do the same from 1st Jul 1920. During the hyper-inflation period of 1923 government agencies were permitted to use regular issue stamps due to the difficulty in obtaining Official stamps. MICHEL 75 To 88
DIENSTMARKE OVERPRINT
Issued: End May 1923. Official stamps part of regular issues 'Worker', 'Number in Circle', and 'Numbers in Circle with Rosette' stamps overprinted with black serpentine typographic 'Dienstmarke'.
MICHEL 89 to 98
VALUE OVERPRINTED in BLACK
Issued: End Aug/Oct 1923. Official stamps part of issue from official stamps (Michel 24, 25, 27, 33, 69, 73 and 74) with black typography overprint of new denomination. All stamps with diamond / lozenge watermark except Michel 94 and 97 now with waffle / network watermark.
MICHEL 99 to 104
'DIENSTMARKE' OVERPRINT
Issued: 1st Dec 1923. Official stamps using Michel 338 to 343 ('Number in Circle with Rosettes') with black serpentine 'Dienstmarke' overprint. New currency, the Rentenmark, later to become the Reichsmark.
