Wuerttemberg, Kingdom, Wuerttemberg Coat of Arms with Silk Thread. Michel Nr. 6-10: Five stamps in nominals of 1Kr, 3Kr, 6Kr, 9Kr and 18Kr were issued imperforate and with a horizontal silk thread embedded into the paper.
In order to manufacture these stamps an original design without the nominal value inserted were produced in 1857 by the coin master Korn (Korn’sche Urmatritze). These sheetlets were presented to postal authorities to demonstrate the appearance of the image. The carmine-pink image (the color of the issued 9Kr stamp) was imprinted on a champs carton in the size of 138x107mm. Because the printing stock was brand new all the designs of the stamp are very precise and clear. This is one of a very few number of presentation sheetlets.
Strip of three 1Kr stamps (redish-brown, Michel Nr. 6a) on a folded letter sent from Laichingen to Blaubeuren. Stamps cancelled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Laichingen (+20 points). Michel values a strip of three at nine times that of a single stamp. Signed „Pfenninger“
Single franking of the 1Kr stamp orange-brown, Michel Nr. 6a) on a folded letter from Schwendi to Aichstetten in April of 1860. Canceled with the three-ringed circular canceler of Schwendi (+25 points).
Rare mixed franking of the 2nd and 3rd Wuerttemberg issue. Mixed franking of four 1Kr stamps (orange-brown, Michel Nr. 6a, two form a vertical pair) together with two 9Kr stamps (middle-red-carmine, Michel Nr. 14a) paying an overall postage of 22Kr on a letter sent from Stuttgart to Rome in Italy. . However, initially, only 20Kr were used. This was not enough as the tariff had increased in October of 1859. As a result a black hand stamp „P.F. (missing postage) and a manuscript 2 was applied for the additional 2Kr postage due that was added later on. Various transit and Rome arrival cancel on their reverse. Michel values a lose pair off cover at three times that of a single stamp.
1Kr stamp (Yellow-brown, Michel Nr. 6a) cancelled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Stuttgart (Type II).
Vertical strip of three 1Kr stamps (redish-brown, Michel Nr. 6a) canceled in Stuttgart. Michel values a strip of three at nine times the value of a single stamp.
1Kr stamp (orange-brown, Michel Nr. 6a). Signed „Thoma“.
1Kr stamp (orange-brown, Michel Nr. 6a) cancelled with the double-ringed circular canceler of Stuttgart.
1Kr stamp (vivid-yellow-brown, Michel Nr. 6b) used.
1Kr stamp (light-yellow-brown, Michel Nr. 6b)
1Kr stamp (sepia, Michel Nr. 6c) mint with full original gum (hinged).
1 Kr stamp (dark-ocre-brown, Michel Nr. 6c) cancelled with the rare black triple-ringed circular canceler of Entringen (+125 points). Signed „cThoma“ on the reverse.
Multiple franking of the 1Kr stamp (dark-brown-ocre, Michel Nr. 6c) on a folded letter sent from Klein Engstingen in March of 1861 to Boeblingen paying the correct tariff. Cancelled with the double-ringed circular canceler of Klein-Engstingen (+20 points). Reutlingen transit cancel on the reverse.
1Kr stamp (dark-brown-ocre, Michel Nr. 6c) used in Nagold. Signed „Irtenkauf and Peinelt“.
Single franking of the 1Kr stamp (deep-dark-brown, Michel Nr. 6d) on a double used folded letter sent from Knittlingen to Maulbronn. The 1Kr postage was valid for close range postal traffic . Cancelled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Knittlingen (+20 points). Maulbronn arrival cancel on the reverse.
1Kr stamp (deep-dark-brown, Michel Nr. 6d) cancelled with the three-ringed circular canceller of Rudersberg (+60 points) in January of 1860.
1Kr stamp (deep-dark-brown, Michel Nr. 6d) used in Stuttgart. Signed „Peinelt“.
In May of 1865 reprint of the 1Kr stamp in light-grey-brown (Michel Nr. 6NDb) were produced in sheets of 40 stamps were produced. The design of these reprints do not differ from the originals and they were fully valid as postage. However, very few of them were ever used. Here is a rare complete sheet that is mostly mint never hinged. Hinge remnants on three stamps and in the selvage (not affecting the stamps).Plate errors in Fields 10,15 and 29.
Here is the reprint 1Kr grey-brown postally used in Stuttgart from the right sheet margin.
Color Trial Prints on thicker coper print paper were produced by Volkert without gum. Here are pairs of the yellow-orange color version.
Horizontal pair of the 3Kr stamp (dark-orange-yellow, Michel Nr. 7a) cancelled with the black three-ringed circular cancel of Aalen in December of 1853. Pairs are much rarer than single stamps. Hence Michel values a pair at four times the value of a single stamp.
3Kr stamp (yellow-orange, Michel Nr. 7a) cancelled with the three-ringed canceler of Berg (+5 points).
Vertical strip of three 3Kr stamps (Yellow-orange, Michel Nr. 7a). Cancelled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Freudentstadt. Vertical units are rarer than horizontal ones. Michel values a unit of three stamps at twenty times that of a single stamp. Signed „B“. Note that the top stamp carries the plate error „comma after 3“
Detailed scan of the plate error
Mixed franking of the 2nd and 3rd issue of Wuerttemberg. 3Kr (Yellow-orange, Michel Nr. 7a) together with 6Kr (light-green, Michel Nr. 13a) paying an overall postage of 9Kr on an international letter sent from Goeppingen to Bremgarten in Switzerland. The postage was made up of 6Kr Postal Union and 3Kr Swiss onwards transportation. Royal Coach Post (K.Wuertt.Fahrpost) transit and Bremgarten arrival cancels on there reverse.
Horizontal strip of five 3Kr stamps (orange-yellow, Michel Nr. 7a) cancelled with the double-ringed canceler of Stuttgart in December of 1859. The stamps are printed on the thicker carton like paper (100% price surcharge as per Michel) . This is the largest known unit of this stamp. The strip was cut from the bottom of the sheet. The largest known unit valued in Michel is a block of four which is valued at Euro 4,000 in the 2021 Michel Spezial.
3Kr stamp (dark-yellow-orange, Michel Nr. 7a) cancelled with the triple-circled-circular canceler of Stuttgart
3Kr stamp (yellow-orange, Michel Nr. 7a) cancelled with the three-ringed circular canceller of Untertuerkheim (+5 points).
3Kr stamp (redish-orange, Michel Nr. 7c) that shows the error „missing silk thread“. Canceled in Eislingen with the typical stirrup train cancel (Type II +50 points) Listed in Michel under 7oS.
3Kr stamp (yellowish-orange, Michel Nr. 7c) on a small piece canceled with the three-ringed circular canceler of Hall (Type I) in November of 1857 (+15 points).
3Kr stamp (yellowish-orange, Michel Nr. 7c) on a small piece cancelled with the double-ringed circular canceler of Niederstetten (+10 points).
3Kr stamp (yellowish-orange, Michel Nr. 7c) on a small piece cancelled with the three-ringed circular canceller of Rottenburg in April of 1858.
3Kr stamp (yellowish-orange, Michel Nr. 7C on a small piece cancelled with the three-ringed circular canceler of Bopfingen (+5 points).
3 Kr stamp (yellowish-orange, Michel Nr. 7c) on a small piece cancelled by the black three-ringed circular cancelers Neuenstein in September of 1958 (+15 points). Signed on back slightly elevated „Thoma“.
Horizontal strip of three 3Kr stamps (yellowish-orange, Michel Nr. 7c) cancelled with the double-ringed circular canceler of Ulm. Signed „Buehler. Michel values a strip of three at more than twelve times the price of a single stamp.
The coin master Korn prepared color trial prints of this issue on chrome-yellow hard paper without silk thread. These were used got allow postal officials to determine the final issued color The color trials were made in black-brown, yellow, orange, pink, red, light-green, light-blue and grey-lilac. The trials were printed in small sheets of nine stamps. Each sheetlet contained two of each nominal, except only one 18Kr nominal. Less than six of this light-green color trial survive. Mint with full original gum (hinged). Some gum toning.
In May of 1865 reprint of the 3Kr stamp in yellow-orange (Michel Nr. 7NDb) were produced in sheets of 40 stamps. The design of these reprints do not differ from the originals and they were fully valid as postage. However, very few of them were ever used. Here is a mint pair with full original gum (hinged). Signed „Thoma“.
6Kr stamp (dark-yellowish-green, Michel Nr. 8a) mint with original gum. Fresh original gum with hinge remnant/respectively small paper adherences on top and along the far left edge. Signed Schlesinger/Thoma.
6Kr stamp (dark-yellowish-green, Michel Nr. 8a) cancel with the stirrup canceler of Altshausen (+25 points).
Multiple franking of two 6Kr stamps (light-green-olive, Michel Nr. 8a) on a folded letter paying the correct 12Kr postage (6Kr Postal Union and 6Kr for postage in France) sent from Friedrichshafen (+5 points) to Strasbourg in France.
6Kr stamp (dark-yellowish-green, Michel Nr, 8a) cancelled with the three-ringed-circular canceler of Heilbronn.
6Kr stamp (dark-yellowish-green, Michel Nr. 8a) canceled with the three-ringed circular canceler of Margroeningen in March of 1859 (+10 points).
6Kr stamp (yellowish-green, Michel Nr. 8a) canceled in Reutlingen.
Vertical pair of the 6Kr stamp (light-green-olive, Michel Nr. 8a) canceled with the double-ringed canceler of Stuttgart. Michel values a pair at five times that of a single stamp. Signed „Sieger“.
Multiple franking of the 6Kr stamp (blueish-green, Michel Nr. 8b) paying an overall postage of 12Kr on an international letter sent from Cannstatt to Aarau in Switzerland. The postage was made up of 6Kr Postal Union tariff plus 6Kr for further onwards transit in Switzerland. Cancelled with the two-ringed circular canceler of Cannstatt. Royal Coach Post (K.Wuertt.Fahrpost) transit cancel on the reverse.
Mixed franking go the 3Kr (redish-orange, Michel Nr. 7a) together with the 6Kr stamp (vivid-green-olive, Michel Nr. 8a) paying an overall postage of 9 Kreuzer on a folded letter sent from Stuttgart to Frankfurt in the State of Hesse. Note that the 6Kr stamp shows the plate error „indentation above K in Kreuzer in the right box.
Detailed scan of the plate error.
The coin master Korn prepared color trial prints of this issue on chrome-yellow hard paper without silk thread. These were used got allow postal officials to determine the final issued color The color trials were made in black-brown, yellow, orange, pink, red, light-green, light-blue and grey-lilac. The trials were printed in small sheets of nine stamps. Each sheetlet contained two of each nominal, except only one 18Kr nominal. Less than six of this black-brown color trial survive. Mint with full original gum (hinged). Some gum toning.
(9Kr stamp (carmine-pink, Michel Nr. 9a) with mostly original gum.
9Kr stamp (light-red-carmine, Michel Nr. 9a). The stamp shows printing flaw at the top left of the stamps in shape of a white line.
9Kr stamp used (Carmine, Michel Nr. 9a)
9Kr stamp (Carmine, Michel Nr. 9a) cancelled with there triple-ringed circular canceler of Boeblingen in March of 1858.
Rare mixed franking of the 2nd and 4th Wuerttemberg issue. 9Kr (carmine, Michel Nr. 9a) together with a 3Kr stamp (Yellow-orange, Michel Nr. 17xa) paying an overall postage of 12Kr. The postage was made up of 3Kr Postal Union charge plus 9Kr for the onward transport in Switzerland. Sent from Gschwend to St. Gallen in Switzerland in June of 1862. Unobtrusive fold affecting the stamps. Various transit and arrival cancels on the reverse.
9Kr stamp (light-red carmine, Michel Nr. 9a) cancelled with the black triple-ringed circular canceler of Isny.
(9Kr stamp (Carmine, Michel Nr. 9a) cancelled with the three-ringed circular cancel of Nagold (signed „Thoma).
Single franking of the 9Kr stamp on a folded letter sent from Stuttgart to Munich in Bavaria. The postage was correct for a Postal Union letter in excess of 20 miles. Munch arrival cancel on the reverse.
18Kr stamp (light-blue, Michel Nr. 10a) mint with most original gum (hinged). The gum turned brown due to the sulphur content added to it, so this typical for mint stamps. Unobtrusive vertical fold.
Horizontal pair of the 18Kr stamps (Michel Nr. 10a) on a small piece cancelled in Stuttgart. Michel values a pair at more than three times that of a single stamp.
18Kr stamp (blue, Michel Nr. 10b) used. Note that the stamp shows printing flaw in shape of a white spot on top of EU of Kreuzer on the left.
18Kr stamp (blue, Michel Nr. 10b) used in Stuttgart.
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.
Rare single franking of the 18Kr stamp (Light-blue, Michel Nr. 10a) on a folded letter sent from Stuttgart to Frankfurt in Hesse. This was the correct postage for a letter of the second weight level (2 Loth). Cancelled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Stuttgart. Michel values a single franking at Euro 8,500.
Mixed franking of the 9Kr stamp (carmine, Michel Nr. 9a together with a pair of the 18Kr stamps (blue, Michel Nr. 10b) paying the correct overall postage 45Kr for a letter through Prussian Closed Mail to North America. Canceled with the triple-ringed circular canceler of Stuttgart. Red Aachen transit and New York arrival cancels. Michel values a pair of the 18Kr stamp at three times that of a single stamp.
Spectacular 90Kr franking made up of a strip of five 18Kr stamps (light-blue, Michel Nr. 10a). This is the largest known unit of this stamp. The letter was sent via Prussian Closed Mail as a Charge (registered) letter though the charge fee for international letters was only charged for starting in July of 1861. The letter originated in Weil der Stadt and was sent to Philadelphia in the United States. The second stamp from the left shows the plate error „line to the right of the U in Kreuzer“ (Michel Nr. 10I/one occurrence per sheet) which Michel values at a 100% surcharge to a normal stamp. Michel values a unit of four stamps at nineteen times that of a single stamp so a 5 stamp unit has to be valued with „LP“. Cancelled with the single circle canceler of Weil der Stadt (+15 points). Prussian and English Post registered cachets. Red Aachen and Boston transit cancels. Unique letter in this combination.
Detailed scan of the plate error.
Registration Nr. 00020
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