Bavarian German & Colonies Stamps

Bavaria and Germany Colonies Stamps

The history of postage stamps in Germany dates back to imperial German control in 1849 when the first stamp was issued under the Reichspost, which issued stamps until 1945. After the conclusion of World War II, German stamps were issued by the Deutsche Post under Allied control until 1949; then they were issued by the Deutsche Post of the German Democratic Republic, the Deutsche Bundespost, and the Deutsche Bundespost Berlin until 1990 to 1995. Each of those Bavarian postal agencies offered postage with different amounts and a variety of designs for both domestic and international mail.

• Individual: An individual postage stamp from Bavaria is available with or without hinges and with or without the adhesive gum on the back.
• Sheet: Sheets of Bavaria postage feature perforations between each stamp. The sheets contain between six and 12 pieces of postage.
• Cover: A stamped mail cover with a cancellation stamp from Bavaria is also available. A cover is equivalent to an envelope, and its postage was printed or stamped directly onto the envelope by the postmaster.

• State or colony-issued postage: Bavaria was a state in the country that was the first to issue its own postage. It was also the first to issue postcards and postage for the postcards.
• Cancellation stamps: A postage stamp from Bavaria may have a cancellation stamp on it. A cancellation stamp is particular to the post office through which the piece of mail passed. It has the local post office, city, and state name on it, along with the date. It cancelled the value of the stamp so that it could not be reused on another piece of mail. If the mail passed through more than one city, it may have more than one cancellation stamp on it.
• Multiple colors of ink: City and state stamps often have multiple colors of ink in the design. The amount or value of the postage and the location or city were often printed in one color of ink, while the main design was stamped in one or more different colors of ink for enhanced visual contrast.

Postage issued for domestic use in the 1800s usually featured the value in a large size, surrounded by scrolls, emblems, or crests at each of the corners. In the 1900s, postal authorities in Munich allowed for the issuance of stamps that commemorated some of the iconic military vessels, landmarks, and cities in the state. Some of those designs included images of colonies such as the Caroline Islands and the Mariana Islands. In the mid-1900s, famous Germans were featured on the postage. People including Franz von Taxis and government insignia were used. After the country was divided in 1945, the stamp designs returned to simple styles featuring the monetary value. After the reunification of East and West Germany, the country began to offer a wider variety of designs, such as mountains and soccer balls.