Wuerttemberg, Pre-Philatelic Period; prior to 1851; Prior to the development of postage stamps postage for letters was paid in cash. The letters were either transported by private mounted messengers, by country carriages or by the mail carriages of the Thurn and Taxis postal organization. Postage for commercial mail deliver is usually indicated in blue or red colored pencil on their envelope.
Here is a letter from 1660 that was carried by a private mounted messenger.
This is a formal receipt for dropping off a letter in 1822 in Heilbronn. The postage is printed at the bottom left „4 Kreuzer“.
This is an unusual and rare Service Envelope of the Consulate for Old German Staates in Cincinnati. It was sent to Esslingen in May of 1863. Embossed seal of the Wuerttemberg Consulate on the reverse. Rare clearing cancel 1/2 Sgr/6Xr and circular Hamburg ship cancel on front. Oval Hamburg transit and Esslingen arrival cancel on their reverse.
Registration Nr. 00005
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