Digits in Circle in Pfennig/Mark Currency

Wuerttemberg, Kingdom, Digits in Circle in Pfennig/Mark Currency, Michel Nr. 44-50; January 18th, 1871 the first German Empire was announced. This created, for the first time, a nationwide parliament that consisted of representative of the various German States, including those from Wuerttemberg. On December 4th, 1871 the new parliament decided that all States should join a currency union under which the various State currencies were replaced by a new nationwide currency called the Reichsmark. One Reichsmark was equivalent to 100 Pfennig. However this changeover did not occur in one day but it took place over a number of years in which all the currencies were gradually replaced. The same was true for stamps. Wuerttemberg stamps of the 2nd and later issues denominated in Kreuzer retained their validity as postage until June 30th, 1875. The 7Kr and 14Kt stamps of the Digits in Oval issue (Michel Nr. 39 and 41) could even be used equivalent to a 20 and 40 Pfennig postage until June 30th, 1876.

Stamps in new Pfennig/Mark currency were issued on July 1st, 1875. Seven stamps ion the nominals of 3Pf, 5Pf, 10Pf, 20Pf, 25Pf, 50Pf and 2M were issued in perforation 11.5:11.0.

The 3Pf to 50Pf stamps come in different color shades.

Here is the 3Pf stamp used in the shades „light-emerald-green“, „light-green“ and „green“.

Here is the 5Pf stamp in the shades „light-red-violet“, „dark-red-violet“ and „vivid-violet-blue“.

Here is the 10Pf stamp in the shades „light-middle-red“, „middle-carmine“, „carmine red“ and „dark-carmine-red“.

Here is there 20Pf stamp in the shades „light-grey-turquoise“, „vivid-greenish-blue“ and „light-ultramarine“

Here is the 25Pf stamp in the shades „brown-orange“, „light-brown-orange“ and „middle-brown-orange“

Here is a used pair of the „lighgt-brown-orange“ color shade with a beautiful strike of the two-line-long canceler of Rottenburg. This cancel has the highest category of rarity which is a „5“ which equates to „LP“ or a minimum of Euro 100. Michel values a pair of this stamp at 7 times that of a single stamp. Signed „Thoma“.

Here is the 50Pf stamp in the shades „light-yellow-grey“, „yellow-grey“, „brown-grey“ and „light-olive-green“. Note that the blue fan cancel of Stuttgart II is valued at +500 points and the green fan cancel of Stuttgart IV is valued at +50 points.

Strip of four of the 50Pf stamp in grey-yellow canceled with the rare „Gmuend Bahnhof“ canceler valued as a category 4. Michel values a used strip off four at 17 times that of a single stamp.

10Pf stamp (carmine-red, Michel Nr. 46b) on an international letter sent from Stuttgart to Basel, Switzerland. The domestic letter tariff was 10Pf but international letters to Switzerland cost more. As a result a black „T“ hand stamp was struck on the envelope along with a manuscript „12 1/4“ indicating the penalty that was to be collected upon delivery. In Basel two Swiss postage due stamps in the amount of 25 Rappen was added to pay for the poster due. Basel arrival cancel on the reverse.

Very rare return-postcard of the 10Pf nominal. The card was sent from Gmuend to Hartford in Connecticut (United States) and then returned to Gmuend about four months later. Both parts of the return card are still attached which rather unusual. According to the expert „Winkler“ such attached postcards are much rarer than has been assumed until now.

International package card that paid for the transportation of three packages from Stuttgart to Zurich in Switzerland. The card is franked with the 10Pf (2, carmine-red, Michel Nr. 46c), 30Pf (4, Michel Nr. 61) and 50Pf (2, Michel Nr. 59) paying an overall postage of 2.40 Mark. Stamps cancelled with the single circle Stuttgart NR. 11 (B2) canceler. Red custom cachet on front that indicated a duty of 15 Swiss Francs.

Multiple franking of the 20Pf stamps (2) in light-grey-turquoise color (Michel Nr. 20a) paying an overall postage of 40Pf on an international registered letter sent from Esslingen to the United States. Note that the stamps have a perfin of „F.D.“ which was used by the firm Friedrich Dick that was the letters originator. Stamps cancelled with the Esslingen Bahnhof canceler (E III). Oval German American Ocean Post (Deutsch Amerikanische Seepost) and red circular Philadelphia arrival cancel on the reverse.

Here is the 50Pf stamp together with 10Pt and 20Pf paying an overall postage of 80Pf for a package with a weight of 1.5 kilograms. The stamps are cancelled with the Stuttgart II fan cancel (Value Category 2).

3Pf stamp in the rare „middle-bluish-green“ shade (Michel Nr. 44b) mint never hinged. Doubly signed by „b Thoma“.

2 Mark value in yellow-orange, mint with full original gum (almost mint never hinged as there is only a tiny gum free spot at the top).

Prior to issuance samples of the new stamps were provided to the media in order to familiarize the public with the new stamps. In order to prevent that these samples were used illicitly to damage postal operations they were overprinted in either black or blue with „Probe zur Frankatur nicht verwendbar“. Below is the entire overprinted set, except the 5Pf nominal.

3Pf stamp, light-green, overprinted

10Pf stamp, carmine-red, overprinted

20Pf stamp, light-midle-ultramarine, overprinted

Errors of the 10Pfg stamp do exist. Here is a mint never hinged block of four of the carmine stamp (Michel Nr. 46b) that was left imperforate. Listed under Michel Nr. 46bU.

Beware! Reproductions and forgeries of the 2 Mark value do exist. Below is a black and white reproduction of the well known forger Jean Sperati, signed by him.

Front

Reverse

Sperati did, however also produce forgeries of the 2 Mark stamp in original colors. Here is the 2 Mark stamp in yellow-orange with a forged canceler of Stuttgart.