Bavarian stamps, for official use only, were first issued
during 1908. These official stamps, as with those of most other stamp
issuing countries, were not sold to the public, but they were provided
to government departments, for use on official mail.
The first official stamps of Bavaria were issued on
January 1, 1908, for use by the Bavarian Railway Authorities. The
stamps are shown in the scan above (Mi. Dienstmarken #1-5, Sc. #O1-5).
The contemporary Bavarian stamps of the
embossed-arms-type were utilized, with each being overprinted with a
large "E". The "E" stood for "Eisenbahn" or "Railroad"
The six contemporary
stamps of the current Prince Regent Luitpold definitive series,
were perforated with a large "E", for use by the Bavarian Railway Authorities during July 1912.
The stamps are shown in the image above (Mi. Dienstmarken #6-11, Sc. N/L).
With the accession of King Ludwig III, the five contemporary stamps of the King Ludwig III
definitive series were also perforated with a large "E". These stamps were issued in 1914 and 1915, and they are all from the Peacetime
Printings. They are shown above, plus both shades of the 10 Pf. denomination stamp (Mi. Dienstmarken #12-15, Sc. N/L).
The first set of official
stamps, specifically designed for governmental use, were
issued between 1916 and 1917. They are shown in the scans above (Mi. Dienstmarken #16-29, Sc. #O6-19).
These
stamps were available for use by ALL government departments, not just
the railway authorities, as had been the previous official stamp
issues.
The fourteen official stamps of the new Bavarian People's Republic shown above (Mi. Dienstmarken #30-43, Sc. #O20-33) were issued in March 1919.
With
the brief existence of the People's Republic, used stamps from this set
are very scarce. Most of the ones on the market are favor-canceled
stamps, which are worth the same as lightly hinged mint stamps.
The eighteen official stamps of the new Republic of Bavaria shown above (Mi. Dienstmarken #44-61, Sc. #O34-51) were issued in March 1919.
Most of these stamps are
scarce to rare in used condition, and certified or authenticated
examples should be purchased. Most of the used examples on the market
are favor-canceled, and they sell for the same price as lightly hinged mint stamps.
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Bavarian Stamps - Official Stamps - 1908-1920