German States Stamps
Mecklenburg-Schwerin
Before the North German Confederation, German States
stamps were issued by most of the separate Germanic kingdoms, duchies,
free-cities, etc. of Northern Europe.
The Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, in Northern
Germany, was created in 1348, when Albert of Mecklenburg and his brother
John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by Holy Roman Emperor Charles
IV. By the beginning of the German Empire though, the Duchy had become
one of the poorest and the most backward of the empire's client kingdoms.
After World War I and the fall of the European monarchies, it became the Free State of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and
today, it is part of the Bundesland Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
The new German states stamps for the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin shown above were issued between 1856 and 1861. They are typographed on unwatermarked paper, and they are all imperforate.
The common design of these stamps features the Arms of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
The catalog attributes are as follows:
- 4/4 S. (1856 - Mi. #1, Sc. #1) - Red (shades).
- 03 S. (1861 - Mi. #2b, Sc. #2a) - Orange (shades).
- 03 S. (1856 - Mi. #2a, Sc. #2) - Yellow (shades).
- 05 S. (1856 - Mi. #3, Sc. #3) - Blue (shades).
The six Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin stamps shown above were issued between 1864 and 1867. They are typographed on unwatermarked paper, and they are all rouletted 11 1/2.
The common design of these stamps features the Arms of Mecklenburg-Schwerin.
The catalog attributes are as follows:
- 4/4 S. (1864 - Dotted Background - Mi. #4, Sc. #4) - Red (shades).
- 4/4 S. (1864 - Clear Background - Mi. #5, Sc. #5) - Red (shades).
- 02 S. (1866 - Mi. #6a, Sc. #6a) - Magenta (shades).
- 02 S. (1867 - Mi. #6b, Sc. #6) - Blue Gray (shades).
- 03 S. (1865 - Mi. #7, Sc. #7) - Orange (shades).
- 05 S. (1864 - Mi. #8, Sc. #8) - Orange Brown (shades).
Mint hinged condition stamps are relatively affordable, for the average dedicated and determined Germany stamp collector. Used condition examples are scarce, and they are much more expensive. Fake cancellations are
plentiful, thus the more expensive used condition stamps should only be purchased with proper certification or authentication.
At the beginning of 1868, the postage stamps of Mecklenburg-Schwerin were replaced by those of the North German Confederation and in 1871, it became a duchy of the German Empire.
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