Wuerttemberg, Kingdom, Digits in Rhombus, Michel Nr. 1-5, October 15th, 1851; Until July 1st, 1851 all postal services for the Wuerttemberg territory were provided by the postal service of Thurn and Taxis. On that date the State Wuerttemberg canceled the contract with Thurn and Taxis and took over the postal services itself. Subsequently Wuerttemberg entered the German-Austrian Postal Union on September 1st, 1851.
The Kingdom of Wuerttemberg was not exactly an early adopter to postage stamps as it took 11 years from the introduction of the first British stamp (Penny One, Black, 1940) until Wuerttemberg decided to introduce its first postage stamps. The stamps were produced using the letter press method and they were printed on paper colored with different colors. The square borders surrounding the numbers were produced in typesetting which resulted in small differences in the stamps appearance. These differences result in different types of stamps of the same nominal. Stamps in the nominals of 1Kr., 3Kr., 6kr., 9kr. and 18kr. were issued. The stamp with the 18kr. nominal was later than the other stamps in July of 1852.
Prior to the issuance of postal stamps postal fees in Wuerttemberg were paid in cash. Charges were noted on the envelopes with manuscript remarks. Postal routing was documented with hand stamps.
Vertical pair of the 1Kr stamps (semi, Michel Nr. 1b, Type II) mint without gum. Largest known unit of this stamp. Signed „Thoma“. Michel values a used pair at times that of a single stamp.
Hers is the 1Kr stamp (mint without gum) that was printed on a paper variety of silk paper. Michel lists this variety under 1yb.
Here is the same stamp printed on silk paper (Michel Nr. 1ya) but this time cancelled with the stirrup canceler of Winnenden (+30 points). Signed „Irtenkauf“.
In September of 1864 (Type a) and 1865 (Type b and c) re-prints were produced of these stamps. Only the center piece with the numeral were part of the original cliches. Hence the surrounding boxes and the foliage showed differences from the original design. The originals show 31 teeth in the two side panels while the re-prints only have 29 teeth.
1Kr stamp (black on dark chrome yellow, Michel Nr. 1Na) mint unhinged with full original gum. This is part of the official reproductions that were produced in September of 1864 in small sheetlets of six stamps. Printed on flat paper with flat thin gum.
Official reprints of this stamp were produced in 1864 (i.e. 6 years after the original stamps became invalid as postage). Only the square with the number are of the original printing cliche. The frames and the plant decorations differ from the originals. Here is a mint hinged specimen of this reprint with original gum (black on chrome-yellow, Michel Nr. 1Nb). Signed Thoma.
1Kr stamp (Michel Nr. 1a) yellow-white, Type 1 cancelled with the single circle canceler of Ulm.
1Kr stamp (Michel Nr. 1b) saemic, Type 1
Here is the 1Kr. stamp in Type I used on a folded letter that was sent from Reutlingen to Metzingen on August 5th, 1852. The stamp was cancelled with the blue double circle Canceler of Reutlingen. Blue two line long cancel of Metzingen of August 6th, 1852 upon arrival on the reverse. The envelope was used twice as on the inside one can see another blue two line long cancel of Metzingen of August 14th, 1852 when the envelope was sent back to Reutlingen.
Single franking of the 1Kr stamp printed on middle-grey silk paper. This represents a paper variety that is recorded in Michel as Michel Nr. 1yb. The letter was below 1lot in weight and was sent within Stuttgart. Canceled with the double-ringed circular canceler of Stuttgart (Type II). Signed „Thoma“.
Multiple franking of the 1Kr stamp in a horizontal pair printed on middle-grey silk paper. This represents a paper variety that is recorded in Michel as Michel Nr. 1yb. The letter was in excess of 1lot in weight and was sent from Neckarsulm to Heilbronn. Canceled with the double-ringed circular canceler of Necharsulm (+10 points). Michel values a used pair at five times that of a single stamp.
3Kr stamp mint with full original gum and only a slight hinge trace (almost mint never hinged). Black on yellow, Type V, Michel Nr. 2aV).
Horizontal pair of the 3Kr stamp (sulphur-yellow, Michel Nr. 2b, Type V) mint with original gum. Hinge. Signed Georg Buehler. Michel does not even value a pair and the editor has not seen another one of this rare color variety.
Some of these stamps were printed on silk paper which represents a paper variety. Here is the mint never hinged 3Kr stamp on silk-paper (Michel Nr. 2y). MNH stamps from the Kreuzer currency area are extremely rare.
Reprints of this stamp were produced in 1864 (i.e. 6 years after the original stamps became invalid as postage). Only the square with the number are of the original printing cliche. The frames and the plant decorations differ from the originals. Here is a mint (with original gum) hinged specimen of this reprint (black on yellow, Michel Nr. 2Nb). Signed „Thoma“.
Single 3Kr stamp (Michel Nr. 2a, Type I) cancelled with the very rare mute sieve canceler of Backnang (+3,500 points). According to newly established postal regulations stamps had to be cancelled most centrally in order to prevent repeated unauthorized usage. This presented a problem for places that were still using the two line long cancels . These were simply too large in order to cancel stamps centrally. As a result some local postmaster had their own canceling devices developed. These were only in use for a few weeks.
3Kr stamp (Black on yellow, Type I, Michel Nr. 2a) cancelled with the very rare trial canceler of Tuebingen (Large mill wheel cancel/+1,200 points).
Single 3Kr. stamp Type I on a small piece cancelled with the blue three ringed circular canceler of Biberach (Type I).
Here is a single 3Kr. stamp in Type I cancelled with the blue double ringed circular canceler from Kupferzell (+50 points)
Single 3Kr. stamp in Type I cancelled with the blue double ringed circular canceler from Marbach in February of 1853 (+50 points).
Horizontal pair of the 3Kr stamps (Type I) on a small piece cancelled with the blue double ringed circular canceller from Ulm (+ 50 points) in January of 1852.
3Kr stamp (Type I) on yellow (Michel Nr. 2a) cancelled with the black stirrup cancel of Urach (+20 points).
3Kr stamp (Type II) cancelled with the Kingdom Wuerttemberg mobile cancel in blue (+ 50 points).
Single 3Kr stamp (Type II) cancelled with blue three ringed circular cancel of Riedbach in August of 1853 (+30 points).
3Kr stamp (Type II) cancelled with the black three ringed circular cancel of Heidenheim.
3Kr stamp (Type II) cancelled with the rare black double ringed circular cancel of Fuerfeld (+100 points). Fuerfeld only had 781 inhabitants in the 1850s so mail originating from there is hard to find.
3Kr stamp (light-yellow, Michel Nr. 2c) used.
3Kr stamp (vivid-reddish-yellow, Michel Nr. 2d, Type II) used.
3 Kr stamp (Type IIa) with the rare blue single circular canceler of Stuttgart (+200 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IIb) canceled in blue.
3Kr stamp (Type III) on a small piece cancelled with the blue three ringed circular canceller of Balingen from April of 1853 (+35 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IVa) cancelled with the blue three ringed circular cancel of Neuenstadt in September of 1852 (+40 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IVa) on a small piece cancelled with the blue three ringed circular cancel of Balingen (+35 points) in November in 1852.
Rare mixed color franking of two 3Kr stamps from the 1st Wuerttemberg issue. 3Kr black on yellow (Michel Nr. 2a, Type I) together with 3Kr black on dark-yellow (Michel Nr. 2d, Type Iva) paying the second weight level of 2 loth on a letter sent from Mengen to Obermarchthal. Cancelled with the two line long canceler of Mengen in blue (+200 points).
3Kr stamp on a small piece in the color variety middle-red-yellow (Type IVa).
3Kr stamp (Type IVb) cancelled with the blue three ringed circular cancel of Calw in November of 1852 (+30 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IVb) cancelled with the blue three ringed circular canceller of Geislingen (+20 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) cancelled with the black three ringed circular canceller of Jaxstfeld (+20 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) on vivid-reddish-yellow, Michel Nr. 2d) used. Signed „Thoma“.
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) cancelled with the double ringed circular cancel of Niederstetten (+ 40 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) cancelled with the black three ringed circular canceller of Geislingen (+5 points)
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) cancelled with the black three-ringed circular cancel of Aalen (+5 points).
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) on a small piece cancelled with the blue three-ringed circular cancel of Aalen (+20 points) in July of 1853..
3kr stamp (type IVc) on a small piece cancelled with the black double circle circular canceler of Neuenstadt in November of 1856.
3Kr stamp (vivid-yellow on sulphur yellow, Michel Nr. 2b, Type V) from the right side of the sheet. Rare color variation of this stamp.
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) on a folded letter sent in October of 1956 from Hall to Kirchentellingsfurth. Cancelled with the black three ringed circular canceller (Type I) of Hall (+20 points). Gaildorf stirrup and Backnang two line long transit cancels on the reverse.
3 Kr stamp (Type IVc) on a folded letter sent in March of 1855 from Buchau to Dietmansried. Cancelled with the black three-ringed circular canceler of Buchau (+5 points). Mobile train black cancel of Dietmansried on the reverse.
3Kr stamp (Type IVc) on a folded letter sent from Tuebingen in July of 1855. Cancelled with the black double ringed circular Tuebingen canceler (Type II).
3Kr stamp (Type V) on a small piece cancelled with the black three rings circular cancel of Muensingen in March of 1855. (+5 points).
3 Kr stamp (Type V) cancelled with the black three-ringed circular canceler of Riedlingen in December of 1856 (+5 points).
A paper variety exists of the 3Kr stamp. Here is a strip of three 3Kr stamps printed on yellow silk paper (Michel Nr. 2y) used in Stuttgart. Michel values a strip of three at forty times that of a single stamp.
6Kr stamp mint without gum printed on silk paper. This is a rare pair variety listed in Michel under 3Y. The stamp is of Type III.
Reprints of this stamp were produced in 1864 (i.e. 6 years after the original stamps became invalid as postage). Only the square with the number are of the original printing cliche. The frames and the plant decorations differ from the originals. Here is a mint hinged specimen (with original gum) of this reprint (black on yellowish-green, Michel Nr. 3Na). Signed „Thoma“.
6 Kr stamp (Michel Nr. 3b, blue-green) canceled with the tripe-ringed circular canceler if Heilbronn.
Horizontal pair of the 6Kr stamp (yellow-green, Michel Nr. 3aI) canceled with the double-ringed circular canceler of Kupferberg (+15 points). On arrival in Austria the pair was agin cancelled with the Monfalcone arrival cancel (today situated in Italy). Signed „Thoma“.
6Kr stamp (Type I) with the an unusual cancel of Kupferzell. A double ringed circular cancel with a decoration piece inserted at the bottom is known of Kupferzell but the cancel on this stamp clearly only has one circle. The design does not look like the single circle cancels of Wuerttemberg but it looks like that of the double circle cancel with the inner circle simply missing. Not listed in the handbook „Stempel der Kreuzerzeit 1851-1875“.
6Kr stamp (Type IIa) on a small piece cancelled with the blue double ringed circular canceller of Koenigsbronn in February of 1853 (+60 points).
6 Kr stamp (Type IIa) on a small piece cancelled with the black triple ringed circular cancel of Kuenzelsau (+5 points).
6Kr stamp (Type IIa) cancelled with the black triple ringed circular cancel of Heilbronn.
6Kr stamp (Type IIb) canceled with the single circular canceler of Ravensburg.
6Kr stamp (Type 3bIII) canceled in Stuttgart
6Kr stamp (Type III) on a small piece cancelled with the black triple ringed circular cancel of Waldsee (+5 points).
Horizontal pair of the 6Kr stamp (blue-green, Michel Nr. 3b, Type III.) used on an international letter sent from Wildbad to Chastellux in France paying an overall postage off 12Kr.. This was made of of 3Kr Postal Union postage plus 9Kr for further transit in France. Michel values a pair at ten times the price of a single stamp.
Some of these stamps were printed on silk paper. This paper variety is listed in Michel as 3y. Here is such a specimen used in Mergentheim from the left sheet margin. Signed „Thoma“.
Mixed franking of the 6Kr stamp on silk paper (yellowish-green, Type III, Michel Nr, 3y) together with the 9Kr stamp (vidid-pink, Michel Nr. 4b) paying an overall postage of 15Kr on an international sent from Lanmgengurg to Areuse in Switzerland. The postage was made jus of 9Kr Postal Union postage plus 6Kr for onwards transport in Switzerland. Stamps cancelled with the three-ringed circular canceler of Langenburg (+10 points). Zurich transit and Areuse arrival cancel on the reverse.
9Kr stamp (dull-pink, Michel Nr. 4a) mint without original gum (re-gummed). One of the rarest mint stamps of Wuerttemberg.
9Kr stamp (dull-pink, Michel Nr. 4a, Type I) mint with mostly original gum (hinged). One of the rarest mint stamps of Wuerttemberg.
Reprints of this stamp were produced in 1864 (i.e. 6 years after the original stamps became invalid as postage). Only the square with the number are of the original printing cliche. The frames and the plant decorations differ from the originals. Here is a mint hinged specimen of this reprint (black on red-white, Michel Nr. 4Na). Signed Irtenkauf.
Four 9Kr stamps that show the color spectrum of this stamp that ranges from pink-white (left stamp, Type I) to red-white (three right stamps, Type II)
9Kr (Type I) cancelled with the blue two-ringed canceller of Esslingen in 1855.
9Kr stamp (light-pink, Michel Nr. 4a, Type II) cancelled with the three-ringed circular canceler of Stuttgart in blue.
9Kr (red-white, Michel Nr. 4a, Type I) cancelled with the black triple-ringed circular cancel of Waiblingen (+10 points).
9Kr stamp (Type I) from the left sheet margin cancelled with the double-circle canceler of Stuttgart.
9 Kr stamp (Type I) cancelled with the black stirrup cancel of Urach in April of 1854 (+20 points).
9Kr stamp (Type II) cancelled with the black two-ringed circular canceller of Altenstaig (+10 points).
9Kr stamp (matt-redish-carmine, Michel Nr. 4b, Type II) cancelled in Stuttgart.
Single franking of the 9Kr stamp (dark-pink, Michel Nr. 4c) paying the correct postage for a letter sent from Stuttgart to Frankfurt
Horizontal pair of the 18Kr stamps (Type I) mint never hinged with full original gum. MNH stamps from the Kreuzer currency period are extremely rare and not priced in Michel. Michel values used pairs more than three times that of a single used stamp, so for a mint pair one would expect this to be significantly higher.
18Kr stamp (Type II) mint with full original gum but small hinge remnants on top. Signed“ J.Schlesinger.“
Offiziell reprints of these stamps were produced in 1864. Here is the reprint of the 18Kr stamp in vivid-violet. Mint never hinged with full original gum. Signed Alcuri.
This stamp was also forged by the well known forger Jean de Sperati. Here is the 18Kr Sperati forgery as published in his limited edition books „The works of Jean Sperati“ with a forged cancel. Note the deeper color.
18Kr stamps (Type II) on a small piece and cancelled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Ehingen in March of 1853. Signed E.Engel.
18Kr stamps in a very rare block of four used in Stuttgart and cancelled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of that city. The left stamps are of Type II and the right stamps of Type I. Ex Burrus. Signed „Thoma“.Michel values a used block of four at twenty times that of a single stamp.
Letter front (attached to a carton) featuring a horizontal pair of the 18Kr and a single 9Kr stamp paying the correct postage of 45Kr for a letter from Stuttgart to North America via closed Prussian mail. Aachen Transit and New York arrival cancels in red. Stamps canceled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Stuttgart.
Mixed franking of the 9Kr stamp (Michel Nr. 4a) together with two 18Kr stamps (Type I and II) paying the required postage of 45Kr. on an international letter sent from Stuttgart to New York, United States. Routed via Achen and Ostende. Stamps cancelled with the double-ringed circular canceler (Type II). Red Achen transit and New York arrival cancels.
Registration Nr. 00010
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