Germany (1872-1918) … · Germany (1872-1918) Deutsches Reich Flag of Imperial Germany Germany began issuing stamps in 1872, only a year after the unification of the German states

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Germany (1872-1918) Deutsches Reich

Flag of Imperial Germany

Germany began issuing stamps in 1872, only a year after the unification of the German states into the German Empire.

Early stamps of the Imperial period are of a simple deisgn, largely due to limitations in the printing technology of the time.

In 1900, Germany began issuing stamps of the Germania series, which would remain the standard stamp design for the remainder of the Imperial period.

Kaiser Wilhelm II presenting medals to German soldiers at Tarnopol on the Eastern Front during World War I

GermanyDeutsches Reich

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Small-Shield Eagles

1 January 1872

Gray Violet,Bright Gray Purple

1/4 Groschen

(Dark) Yellowish Green to Dark Emerald Green

1/3 Groschen

Bright Reddish Orange to Vermillion

1/2 Groschen

(Bright) Red Carmine, Carmine

1 Groschen

(Gray) Ultramarine, Dark Gray Blue

2 Groschen

Medium- to Dark Ochre Brown5 Groschen

Yellowish Green to Emerald Green

1 Kreuzer

Reddish Orange,Red Orange2 Kreuzer

Carmine, (Bright) Red Carmine

3 Kreuzer


7 Kreuzer

Medium- to Dark Ochre Brown

18 Kreuzer


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Numerals

For internal official use only

1 January 1872

Proclamation of Prussian king Wilhelm I as German Emperor at Versailles, by Anton von Werner

Light Gray Brown, Dark Yellow Gray to Dark Brown Gray

10 Groschen

(Gray) Ultramarine, Dark Gray Brown

30 Groschen


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Small-Shield Eagles

1 April 1872

Orange, Bright Yellow Orange1/2 Groschen

Orange2 Kreuzer


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Large-Shield Eagles

1 June 1872

1 November 1872


1 Groschen

Gray Violet,Bright Gray Purple

1/4 Groschen


2 Groschen

Yellowish Green to (Dark) Yellow Green, Greenish Olive

1/3 Groschen

Light- to Bright (Reddish) Brown, Brown Orange

2 1/2 Groschen

Orange toYellowish Orange

1/2 Groschen

Blackish Ochre, Ochre Brown5 Groschen


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Large-Shield Eagles

1 June 1872

1 November 1872

Yellowish Green to (Dark) Yellow Green, Greenish Olive

1 Kreuzer

Orange toYellowish Orange

2 Kreuzer


3 Kreuzer


7 Kreuzer

Blackish Ochre, Ochre Brown

18 Kreuzer

Light- to Bright (Reddish) Brown, Brown Orange

9 Kreuzer


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Surcharged Large-Shield Eagles

1 January 1974

(Bright) Brown Orange, Light- to Medium Reddish Brown

2 1/2 Groschen on 2 1/2 Groschen

(Bright) Brown Orange, Light- to Medium Reddish Brown9 Kreuzer on 9 Kreuzer


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"PFENNIGE" Issues

1 January 1875

Yellow Gray to Dark Gray50 Pfennig

(Medium) Reddish Brown to Carmine Brown

25 Pfennig

Medium- to Bright Gray Lilac,(Bright) Gray Purple

5 Pfennig

Light- to Dark Ultramarine, Cobalt Blue

20 Pfennig

(Medium) Lilac Red to Bright Red Carmine

10 Pfennig

(Bluish) Green to Dark Yellow Green

3 Pfennig


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Numeral in Oval

1 January 1875 / 1900

Reichstag, 1894

Violet Purple to Reddish Carmine

2 Mark


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"PFENNIGE" Issue

5 March 1877

"The Proclamation of the German Empire in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles on 18 January 1871", by Anton von Werner

(Dark) Gray Green50 Pfennig


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"PFENNIG" Issues

1880

(Medium) Gray Purple, Violet Purple

5 Pfennig

(Dark) Green to Yellow Green

3 Pfennig

Bright (Red) Carmine to Pink Red10 Pfennig

Medium- to Dark (Violet) Ultramarine

20 Pfennig

(Bright) Brown Ochre to (Bright) Orange Brown

25 Pfennig

(Dark) Gray Green to (Dark) Green Olive

50 Pfennig


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Crown / Eagle Issues

1 October 1889 / 29 March 1900

Bright Gray2 Pfennig

(Medium) Brown Red to Bright Red Brown

50 Pfennig

Medium Brown, (Dark) Ochre Brown to (Dark) Yellow Brown

3 Pfennig

Green to (Bright) Opal Green5 Pfennig

(Dark) Yellow(ish) Orange25 Pfennig

(Dark) Pink Red to Red Carmine

10 Pfennig

(Medium) Blue to Bright Lilac Ultramarine

20 Pfennig


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Germania

December 1899

27 December 1899 20 December 1899 1 January 1900

March 1900February 19004 July 1900

30 December 1899 10 March 19008 January 1900

Reddish Orange / Red Black on Matte Yellowish Orange

30 Pfennig

(Dark Reddish) Carmine / Black

40 Pfennig

Dark Brownish Lilac to Dark Brown Purple / Red Black on

Matte Brown Orange50 Pfennig

Dark Reddish Carmine / Red Black

on Matte Carmine80 Pfennig

(Dark) Green5 Pfennig

Dark Ochre Brown to Blackish Brown Ochre,

Dark Orange Brown3 Pfennig

(Dark) Blue Gray2 Pfennig

Dark Carmine Red to (Dark) Pink Red

10 Pfennig

Reddish Orange / Yellow Black on Light Yellow

25 Pfennig

(Dark) Violet Ultramarine to Lilac Ultramarine

20 Pfennig


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Germania

1 April 1900

1 June 1900

2 Mark Type IFew lines in end of bloomPositions 1-4, 9-20

2 Mark Type IINumerous lines in end of bloom

Positions 5-8

Dark Vermillion Red to Dark Carmine Red

1 Mark

Blackish Violet Ultramarineto Blackish Blue

2 MarkType I

Blackish Violet Ultramarineto Blackish Blue

2 MarkType II


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Germania

12 December 1900

2 August 1900

Blue Black to Violet Black3 MarkType I

Blue Black to Violet Black3 MarkType II

Green Black / Brownish Carmine5 MarkType I

Green Black / Brownish Carmine5 MarkType II

Green Black / Brownish Carmine5 Mark

Type III — Type I with red & white retouching

Green Black / Brownish Carmine5 Mark

Type IV — Type I with white retouching

3 Mark Type II (bottom)Breast armor higher, torso isstraighter, reins not sagging

5 Mark Type II (right)Thin "5", pointed left corner of "5",

Ear present,"R" with serifs

3 Mark Type I (top)Breast armor touches horse, torso bent backwards, reins sagging

5 Mark Type I (left)Thick "5", blunt left corner of "5"Missing ear,"R" of "REICHSPOST" without serifs


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Germania

1 April 1902

Dark Reddish Carmine / Brown Black on

Matte Carmine Red80 Pfennig

Dark Brownish Lilac / Brown Black on

Matte Brown Orange50 Pfennig

(Red) Carmine / Brown Black40 Pfennig

(Dark) Gray Blue2 Pfennig

(Dark) Olive Brown to (Dark) Brown Ochre

3 Pfennig

Dark (Reddish) Orange /Brown Black on

Matte Chrome Yellow30 Pfennig

(Dark) Bluish Green to (Dark Gray) Green

5 Pfennig

Dark- to Blackish Orange / Brown Black

on Light Yellow25 Pfennig

Bright Red Carmine to Reddish Carmine

10 Pfennig

(Bright Violet) Ultramarine to (Bright) Lilac Ultramarine

20 Pfennig


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Germania

20 March 1902

30 March 1902 30 August 1902

22 May 190220 March 1902

20 March 1902 20 February 1904

Blackish- to Black Blue2 Mark

26:17 Perforation

(Dark) Carmine Red1 Mark

25:16 Perforation

Green Black / Dark Carmine5 Mark

25:16 Perforation

(Dark) Carmine Red1 Mark

26:17 Perforation

Black (Brown) Violet to Violet Black3 Mark

26:17 Perforation


26:17 Perforation

Black (Brown) Violet to Violet Black3 Mark

25:16 Perforation


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Germania

8 December 190224 May 1902


26:17 Perforation


25:16 Perforation

This variant of the 2 Mark design was issued in May 1902 / December 1902. It differs from the similar issue of March 1902 in that the font has been changed to a Roman font from the previously used Gothic font, and by the use of horizontal lines in the light rays as opposed to longitudinal rays.

Mar 1902

May / Dec 1902


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Germania

Peace Printing

22 December 1905 5 April 1906 30 September 1911 5 December 1905

20 January 1906 16 January 1906 23 December 1905

20 November 1905 21 October 1905 30 October 1905 8 November 1905

Lozenge Watermark

Dark Reddish Carmine / (Brown) Black

40 Pfennig

(Dark) Gray Lilac to Dark Brownish Lilac / Black

50 Pfennig

(Dark) Gray Lilac to Dark Reddish Lilac

60 Pfennig

Dark Reddish Carmine / Black on Matte Pink Red

80 Pfennig

(Bright) Lilac Ultramarine to Bright Violet Ultramarine

20 Pfennig

Dark- to Blackish (Reddish) Orange / Yellow Black

on Light Yellow25 Pfennig

(Dark) Reddish Orange / Black

30 Pfennig

Dark Blue Gray to (Dark) Gray

2 Pfennig

(Dark) Brown Ochre to Dark Ochre Brown

3 Pfennig

Bright- to Dark Carmine Red, Dark (Red) Carmine

10 Pfennig

(Dark) Green to Blackish Opal Green

5 Pfennig


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Germania

Peace Printing

9 December 1905 25 February 1906

21 March 1911 24 January 1906

General Post Office, BerlinReichspostamt, Berlin

Lozenge Watermark

Dark Carmine Red to Red Carmine1 Mark

Blackish- to Black (Cobalt) Blue2 Mark


Blackish- to Black (Cobalt) Blue2 Mark

Blackish- to Black Brown Violet3 Mark



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Germania

War Printing

2 March 1915 4 June 1915 March 1915

15 March 1915 25 June 1915

13 April 1915 13 April 1915

9 March 1915

2 March 1915

7 April 1915

Lozenge Watermark

(Dark) Gray Lilac to Dark Brownish Lilac / Black on Medium Chrome Yellow

50 Pfennig

Dark Gray Lilac to (Bright) Brown Violet, Gray Purple to

Brown Purple60 Pfennig

Carmine (Red) to Dark Reddish Carmine / Gray Black on

Medium Gray Red to Light Pink80 Pfennig

(Dark) Lilac Ultramarine to Dark Violet Blue

20 Pfennig

(Dark) Olive Brown to Black Ochre Brown

3 Pfennig

Reddish Orange to Red Orange / Black

on Yellow White25 Pfennig

(Dark) Opal Green to Blackish (Gray) Green, Dark- to Blackish Bluish Green

5 Pfennig

Dark Red Orange / Black on White- to Medium

Chrome Yellow30 Pfennig

(Dark) Carmine Red to (Bright Red) Carmine,

Dark Pink Red10 Pfennig

(Dark) Carmine Red to (Bright) Lilac Red /

Black40 Pfennig


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Germania

War Printing

30 January 1918 17 September 1915

Nord und Süd, by Anton von Werner

31 May 1916

13 April 1916

Lozenge Watermark


26:17 Perforation


25:17 Perforation

Dark- to Blackish Blue, Dark Cobalt Blue to Black Violet Ultramarine

2 Mark26:17 Perforation

Dark- to Blackish Blue, Dark Cobalt Blue to Black Violet Ultramarine



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Germania

War Printing

18 May 1916 8 February 1918

9 October 1918

4 May 1919

Kaiser Wilhelm I Monument, Berlin

Lozenge Watermark


26:17 Perforation


25:17 Perforation

Blackish- to Black Violet Gray, Blackish Gray Violet


Blackish- to Black Violet Gray, Blackish Gray Violet



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Germania

28 July 1916

Field kitchen in the streets of Berlin, 1916

Lozenge Watermark

(Dark) Olive Gray2 1/2 Pfennig

Light Yellow Brown to Bright Orange Brown,

Dark Brown Ochre15 Pfennig

(Bright) Orange to Dark Reddish Orange

7 1/2 Pfennig


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Germania

May 1917

Grocery line in Berlin, 1917

Lozenge Watermark

Blackish Gray Violet toBlack (Blue) Violet

15 Pfennig


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Germania

German soldiers queueing to receive their discharge certificates, 1918

1 October 1918 6 February 1919 20 February 1919

Lozenge Watermark

(Dark) Yellow Gray2 Pfennig

Blackish- to Black Blue Green / Yellow Black to Green Black

75 Pfennig

(Dark) Brown Orange to (Bright) Reddish Brown

35 Pfennig

Germany (1872-1918) … · Germany (1872-1918) Deutsches Reich Flag of Imperial Germany Germany began issuing stamps in 1872, only a year after the unification of the German states

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