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German Empire

Offices in the Turkish Empire

Postage Stamps

The German Empire (North German Confederation) opened its first post office in the Turkish Empire, in Constantinople, in 1870.



Between 1870 and 1871, definitive postage stamps of the North German Confederation were used in the post office at Constantinople.

Between 1872 and 1883, German Imperial postage stamps were used in the post office at Constantinople.

There are many varieties of these "vorläufer" or "forerunner" issues, and the postmarks and postal history of this 13 year period can be a philatelic study in itself.  Some examples are shown above.

Considering the immense size of the Turkish Empire, Germany only maintained five post offices there, with those being Beirut (in Lebanon), Constantinople (Istanbul, Turkey), Jaffa (in Israel), Jerusalem (in Israel / Palestine), and Smyrna (in Turkey).



The five German Empire postage stamps of 1880, shown above, were revalued in Turkish currency for use by German Post Offices in the Turkish Empire during January 1884 (Mi. #1-5, Sc. #1-6)
These were the first "official" issues for the German post offices in the Turkish Empire.

These stamps exist in vertical gutter pairs, but as such, they are very expensive.



The five German Empire postage stamps of 1889, shown above, were revalued in Turkish currency for use by German Post Offices in the Turkish Empire between 1889 and 1900 (Mi. #6-10, Sc. #8-12)

These stamps come in many different shades, some of which are very expensive.  They also exist in vertical gutter pairs.

There are quite a few plate faults on these stamps.  See the Michel Deutschland-Spezial-Katalog volume I for details.



The twelve major-type German Empire postage stamps of 1900, shown above, were revalued in Turkish currency for use by German Post Offices in the Turkish Empire between 1900 and 1901 (Mi. #12I-23I, Sc. #13-24B)

ALL of these stamps have overprint Type I. The letters "A" in "PARA" and in "PIASTER" are pointed at the top.

In the same manner as the 1900 Representative Subject issues of Germany, the four high denominations come in multiple typesFor detailed information, please refer to the Germany - Empire / Germania Issue - 1900 page and the Michel Deutschland-Spezial-Katalog volume one.



The six major-type German Empire postage stamps of 1900, shown above, were revalued in a new and thicker font between 1903 and 1904 (Mi. #12II // 23II, Sc. #25-30)

ALL of these stamps have overprint Type II. The letters "A" in "PARA" and in "PIASTER" are flat at the top, with wide serifs.

The 10 Piaster denomination comes in two types.  The 25 Piaster denomination only comes in Type II.



The twelve major-type German Imperial postage stamps of 1902, shown above, were revalued in Turkish currency for use by German Post Offices in the Turkish Empire during October 1905 (Mi. #24-35, Sc. #31-42).



The twelve major-type German Imperial Peacetime Printing stamps of 1905, shown above, were revalued in Turkish currency for use by German Post Offices in the Turkish Empire between 1905 and 1913 (Mi. #36-47, Sc. #43-54).



The five German Imperial Peacetime Printing stamps of 1905, shown above, were revalued diagonally in French currency for use by German Post Offices in the Turkish Empire
during August 1908 (Mi. #48-52, Sc. #55-59).

With the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German post offices in the Turkish Empire were all closed.





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