German Post Abroad Stamps
German Post Abroad, or *Reichspost*, refers to the postal services established by the German Empire outside its metropolitan borders, primarily in the late 19th and early 20th centuries across Africa, Asia, and the Ottoman Empire. These issues reflect Germany's brief period as a colonial power before World War I, often featuring surcharges on standard German definitive stamps for use in specific overseas territories.
- Issued stamps
- 1888–1919
- Region
- Africa, East Africa, Southwest Africa, West Africa
- Currency
- German Mark (ℳ)
- Languages
- German
- Issuer type
- Colonial postal administration
- Part of
- German Empire
About German Post Abroad stamps
Stamps from these offices typically bear German inscriptions, though some colonial issues were bilingual or featured local names. The postal administration ceased following the loss of these territories and the subsequent reorganization of German postal services after the Treaty of Versailles.
Further reading: Wikipedia
How to identify German Post Abroad stamps
- Look for 'Deutsches Reich' or 'Reichspost' inscriptions on the base stamp.
- Identify overprints indicating the specific colonial territory or post office (e.g., 'Deutsch-Ostafrika', 'Kiautschou', 'Levant', 'Marokko').
- Note the design of the base stamp, often Germania or the Hohenzollern Yacht.
Popular series
-
Yacht Issue (Hohenzollern Yacht)
1900-1919
Definitive stamps featuring the imperial yacht 'Hohenzollern', overprinted for various German colonies and post offices abroad.
-
German Empire Surcharges
1888-1900
Standard German Empire stamps (e.g., 'Reichsadler' or 'Germania' issues) overprinted with the name of the specific colonial territory or post office and sometimes a new value.
-
Kiautschou Surcharges
1900-1914
Stamps specifically issued for the German concession in China, often featuring the Yacht issue with 'Kiautschou' overprints.
Value overview
Typical ranges as orientation, not prices for a particular stamp. Condition, variety and demand decide the value of your copy; for current asking prices, check listings or the app.
- Common stamps
- €1–€20
- Scarce stamps
- €100–€10,000+
Value varies significantly based on the specific colony/post office, overprint variety, condition, and rarity. Early surcharges and high values from less common offices (e.g., Morocco, Levant) can be quite valuable. Errors and unissued stamps are highly sought after.
Catalogs. German Post Abroad stamps are listed in the major world catalogs: Scott, Michel and Stanley Gibbons. Catalog numbers and groupings differ between them; the Stamp Identifier app shows the numbers it can find for your stamp.
Questions about German Post Abroad stamps
German Post Abroad stamps refer to the postal issues used by the German Empire in its overseas colonies and post offices in foreign countries (like the Ottoman Empire and China) from the late 19th century until the end of World War I. These were typically standard German stamps overprinted with the name of the territory or a new denomination.
Yes, many German Post Abroad stamps can be quite valuable, especially early surcharge issues, high denominations, and stamps from less common offices or with rare overprint varieties. The 'Yacht' issue overprinted for specific colonies is also popular. Common examples might be worth a few euros, while rare items can fetch thousands.
To identify German Post Abroad stamps, look for the 'Deutsches Reich' or 'Reichspost' inscription on the base stamp, combined with an overprint indicating the specific colonial territory or foreign post office (e.g., 'Deutsch-Ostafrika', 'Kiautschou', 'Levant'). A photo in the Stamp Identifier app gives a first identification; check the catalog number in a specialised catalog before relying on it.
German Post Abroad stamps are extensively listed in major stamp catalogs. You can find them in the Michel Deutschland-Spezial-Katalog (often in a dedicated section for colonies and foreign post offices), the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue (under Germany and its colonies), and the Stanley Gibbons Commonwealth & British Empire Stamps catalogue (though some are listed under Germany).
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