How to Identify German Stamps: States to Reunification

German philately is uniquely complex because "Germany" as a unified country has only existed since 1871, was divided from 1945 to 1990, and was preceded by dozens of independent states each issuing their own stamps. This guide covers every major era, explains the Michel catalog system, and provides practical advice on identifying watermarks, plate flaws, and the many overprinted varieties that characterize German stamp collecting.

Pre-Unification: German States (1849-1871)

Before the German Empire, individual kingdoms, duchies, and free cities issued their own stamps. These are among the most valuable German philatelic items. Major issuing states include:

• Bavaria (Bayern): First German state to issue stamps (1849). The One Kreuzer Black (Michel Bayern 1) is the most famous German stamp. Genuine examples show a distinctive silk thread embedded in the paper as a security feature.
• Saxony (Sachsen): The 1850 3-pfennig red, known as the "Sachsen Dreier" (Michel Sachsen 1), is extremely rare and valuable. It was printed on thin, fragile paper.
• Prussia (Preussen): Issued stamps from 1850 featuring Frederick William IV and later William I. Look for the watermark of a crowned eagle on the 1857-1861 issues.
• Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck: Free Hanseatic cities that issued their own stamps. Hamburg's 1859 imperforate issues are particularly popular with collectors.
• Hanover: Issued stamps 1850-1864, including the iconic rose design of 1851. The blind embossed stamps (no color, just embossing) are distinctive and easily identified.
• Thurn and Taxis: The postal system run by the aristocratic Thurn und Taxis family issued stamps for its Northern and Southern districts, using different currencies (Silbergroschen in the north, Kreuzer in the south).

German Empire / Deutsches Reich (1872-1945)

Eagle Breast Shields (1872)

The first stamps of the unified German Empire feature an eagle on a heraldic breast shield. Two distinct types exist:

• Small shield (Kleiner Brustschild, Mi 1-11): The eagle is smaller and positioned higher. These were issued first and are generally scarcer.
• Large shield (Grosser Brustschild, Mi 14-28): The eagle fills more of the stamp. Both types exist in Groschen (northern) and Kreuzer (southern) currency, which is crucial for correct identification.

Numeral and Eagle Issues (1875-1900)

The "Pfennige" and "Pfennig" issues (Mi 31-52) are distinguished by their inscription: early stamps spell out "PFENNIGE" (with a final E), while later issues use "PFENNIG." The Reichsadler (Imperial Eagle) stamps continued with gradually refined designs.

Germania Definitives (1900-1922)

The Germania design, depicting an allegorical female warrior, is one of the most recognized German stamp types. Key identification points:

• Unwatermarked (Mi 53-67): The earliest Germanias from 1900 have no watermark.
• Lozenges watermark (Mi 83-104): From 1905, stamps show a diamond/lozenge watermark pattern when held up to light.
• "Deutsches Reich" inscription: After 1902, the inscription changed from "REICHSPOST" to "DEUTSCHES REICH" (Mi 68-104).
• War printings: During WWI, paper quality and perforation gauge declined noticeably. War-era printings on poor-quality paper are identifiable by their rough texture.

Inflation Era (1921-1923)

The German hyperinflation produced some of the most extraordinary stamps in philatelic history. Face values rose from single marks to billions of marks within two years. Identification challenges include:

• Overprints and surcharges: Existing stamps were overprinted with new values as inflation outpaced printing capacity. Genuine overprints were applied by official printers; check that the typeface, ink color, and alignment match known authentic examples.
• Michel numbers Mi 183-337: The inflation era spans over 150 catalog numbers. The highest face value, the 50-billion-mark stamp (Mi 337), is paradoxically quite common because enormous quantities were printed.
• Local overprints: Some post offices created their own provisional overprints. Many of these are rare, but many more are forgeries created to exploit collectors.
• Paper varieties: As paper supplies ran short, stamps were printed on varying paper stocks. Watermarked vs. unwatermarked, and different paper thicknesses, create significant catalog varieties.

Weimar Republic: Stable Period (1924-1933)

After the currency reform of late 1923, Germany entered a period of relative economic stability. Stamps from this era are cataloged roughly as Mi 338-478 and include several important series:

• Reichspräsident definitives: Portrait stamps of President Friedrich Ebert (from 1928) and later Paul von Hindenburg (from 1932) served as the standard definitive issues. The Hindenburg definitives bridge the Weimar and Third Reich periods.
• Nothilfe (Emergency Relief) semi-postals: Charity stamps issued annually to fund social welfare programs. These semi-postal issues feature coats of arms, famous buildings, and cultural themes, and are popular with thematic collectors.
• Zeppelin stamps (Mi 423-424, 438-439, 456-458): Among the most valuable and sought-after German stamps. Issued to frank mail carried on Graf Zeppelin and Hindenburg flights, these airmail stamps command premium prices especially on flown covers. The 1928-1931 issues in particular are key pieces for any serious German collection.

Third Reich Period (1933-1945)

Stamps from the Third Reich era are widely collected. Major definitive series include:

• Hindenburg Medallion (Mi 512-528): Issued 1933-1936, these portrait stamps of President Hindenburg come in two watermark varieties: the upright waffle pattern and the horizontal mesh pattern. The watermark type significantly affects value.
• Hitler Head definitives (Mi 781-802): Issued from 1941 as the standard definitive series. High values exist in both perf 14 and perf 12.5 varieties.
• Commemoratives: The regime issued many propaganda-themed commemoratives for events, party congresses, and annexations. Stamps for the 1936 Berlin Olympics (Mi 609-616) and the "Anschluss" with Austria (Mi 662-663) are among the most collected.
• Occupation stamps: As Germany occupied territories during WWII, overprinted stamps were issued for Bohemia-Moravia, the General Government (Poland), Ostland (Baltic states), and Ukraine.

Post-WWII Occupation Zones (1945-1949)

After Germany's defeat, the four Allied occupation zones each issued separate stamps before the creation of the two German states:

West Germany / BRD (1949-1990)

The Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) issued stamps from September 1949. Key series for identification:

• Posthorn definitives (Mi 123-138): The first definitive series of the BRD, featuring a stylized posthorn. The 2-mark deep blue (Mi 134) is the key value. These were printed on watermarked paper showing a pattern of interlocking posthorns.
• Heuss definitives (Mi 177-196, 253-265): Portrait of President Theodor Heuss, issued in two series. The first series (1954) is on watermarked paper; the second (1959) is unwatermarked.
• "Bund" (Federal) charity stamps: Semi-postal issues for welfare, youth, sports, and Christmas are a cornerstone of German collecting. They carry a surcharge (e.g., "80+40" means 80 pfennig postage plus 40 pfennig donation).
• Fluorescent paper: From the mid-1960s, West German stamps were printed on luminescent paper for automatic sorting. This creates catalog varieties between fluorescing and non-fluorescing paper types.

Berlin Stamps (1948-1990)

West Berlin issued its own stamps, distinct from both BRD and DDR. Identifying features include:

• "BERLIN" overprints (Mi Berlin 1-20): The first Berlin stamps were BRD stamps overprinted "BERLIN" in black or red. The relative value of red vs. black overprints varies by denomination — for some values the red overprint is scarcer, while for others (particularly the 2-mark) the black overprint commands significantly higher prices. Forgeries of these overprints are extremely common.
• Separate definitive series: Berlin issued its own versions of the Heuss, Brandenburger Tor, and other definitive series, always inscribed "DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST BERLIN" rather than simply "DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST."
• Michel Berlin numbers: Berlin stamps have their own section in the Michel catalog, numbered separately from BRD issues.

East Germany / DDR (1949-1990)

The German Democratic Republic issued a large volume of stamps over its 41-year existence. Identification points:

• Inscription: Early stamps (1949-1950) are inscribed "DEUTSCHE POST." From 1950, stamps began using the full inscription "DEUTSCHE DEMOKRATISCHE REPUBLIK." The abbreviated form "DDR" alone did not appear on stamps until approximately 1953-1954.
• Printing quality: DDR stamps were generally printed using offset or photogravure, resulting in a flatter appearance than the recess-printed BRD issues.
• Watermarks: DDR stamps from 1949-1955 show a distinctive "DDR" watermark or "posthorn" watermark. After 1955, unwatermarked paper was used.
• Karl Marx definitives (Mi DDR 327-341): The first DDR definitive set, depicting Marx and other historical figures, is important for its watermark and perforation varieties.
• CTO stamps: The DDR mass-produced cancelled-to-order stamps for the packet trade. These have full, clean, often identical cancels and full original gum. They are worth significantly less than genuinely postally used examples.

Reunified Germany (1990-Present)

After reunification on 3 October 1990, Germany issued stamps inscribed "DEUTSCHLAND" replacing both "DEUTSCHE BUNDESPOST" and "DDR." Key points:

• Euro transition: Stamps changed from Deutsche Mark to Euro values in 2002. Dual-denominated stamps exist from the transition period.
• Self-adhesive vs. gummed: Modern German stamps come in both formats, with self-adhesives dominating since the 2010s. The self-adhesive versions have die-cut simulated perforations.
• Charity stamps continue: The tradition of semi-postal welfare and youth stamps continues, now denominated in euros with surcharges.

The Michel Catalog System

Michel is the definitive reference catalog for German stamps, equivalent to Yvert for France or Scott for the US. Understanding its structure:

• Main numbering: German Empire stamps begin at Mi 1 (the small shield eagle). BRD stamps restart from Mi 111 (continuing from the Bizone issues). DDR and Berlin have separate numbering sequences.
• Suffixes: A letter suffix indicates a variety (e.g., Mi 134I vs. Mi 134II for different plate states). Lowercase letters denote shade or paper varieties.
• Special catalogs: Michel publishes separate volumes for German States, German Colonies, occupied territories, and local issues. The "Deutschland-Spezial" two-volume catalog is the most detailed reference for serious collectors.
• Online catalog: The Michel online database allows searching by catalog number, year, or theme and includes current market values in euros.

Identifying German Stamp Watermarks

Watermarks are critical for correctly identifying and cataloging German stamps. The most important watermarks:

Plate Flaws and Varieties

German stamp collecting has a strong tradition of plate-flaw study. Some significant varieties:

• Germania "Friedensdruck" vs. "Kriegsdruck": Peace-time printings (before 1914) use higher-quality inks and paper than wartime printings. The difference is visible in color intensity and paper texture.
• Posthorn "Posthorner" varieties: The BRD Posthorn definitives have numerous documented plate flaws, including broken lines in the posthorn, missing dots, and retouched areas. Michel lists these with Roman numeral suffixes.
• Heuss fluorescence varieties: The second Heuss series exists on both fluorescent and non-fluorescent paper, creating valuable varieties that can only be distinguished under UV light.
• DDR imperforate proofs: Imperforate examples of DDR stamps exist from proof sheets. Genuine proofs are rare; most offered examples are trimmed perforated stamps.

Quick Identification Table