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Overview of the Germania Series
The Germania issues of 1900 to 1922 are Germany's longest running definitive stamp series. The issues span two major German political periods, the German Empire and the Weimar Republic, a time span which includes World War I and its aftermath. There are three major Germania types with numerous minor variation and a multitude of surcharges and overprints. The result is hundreds of collectible stamps. Many of the stamps are quite affordable with retail prices running from a few cents to several dollars. Of course with the series in use for such a long time, there are a number of hard-to-find and downright rare stamps to taunt collectors. Perhaps the most dramatic of the rarities is the 2-mark value from the 1920 series with a quatrefoil pattern watermark of which only four are known. The 1920 series was printed on paper with a lozenge pattern. The quatrefoil pattern was intended for revenue stamps and the 2-mark Germania is one of several accidental uses of the paper on postal stamps. Also very hard to find from the Germania series are intact booklet panes.
The Three Major Types
The three major types of the Germania series are illustrated in the graphic below. In the orginial design of 1900, stamps were inscribed Reichspost. Beginning with the series of 1902, the inscription was changed to Deutsches Reich. The last major change was seen in the issue of 1916-1919, when the shading lines in the stamp background were removed.
Watermarks
The three types of watermarks seen on Germania stamps are illustrated in the graphic below. The vast majority of stamps either have no watermark or the lozenge watermark. The early Germania stamps were printed on unwatermarked paper. Beginning with the issue of 1905-1919, stamps were printed on paper with a lonzenge patterned watermark. Late in the Germania lifespan for the issue of 1921-1922, three Germania stamps were printed on paper with a network patterned watermark. Two stamps from the 1920-1922 issue were printed on paper with the quatrefoil watermark. The quatrefoil paper was intended for use with revenue stamps.
Bi-Color and Colored Paper Variation
In addition to the variations in design and watermarked papers, the Germania issues also feature bi-color printings and issues that are printed on colored paper.
Germania Issues
German Empire
1900
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Type 13
Unwatermarked
1900
Germania - Bicolor
Colored Paper
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Type 13
Unwatermarked
1900
see Germany 1900-1902
1902
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Unwatermarked
1902
Germania - Bicolor
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Unwatermarked
1902
see Germany 1900-1902
1905-1913 (Peacetime printings)
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1905-1913
Germania - Bicolor
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1905-1913
see Germany 1905-1920
1915-1919 (War printings)
The war time printings are very similar to the peacetime printings but were generally printed on poorer quality paper with a gray or yellowish tint. Also, the colors are dull and the details course in comparison with peacetime printings.
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1915-1919
Germania - Bicolor
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1915-1919
see Germany 1905-1920
1916-1919
New colors and white background
Germania - White Background
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1916-1919
see Germany 1905-1920
Weimar Republic
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania - Bicolor
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
1920-1922
Quatrefoil variety. The 1 1/4 mark and 2 mark type 18 stamps were accidentally printed on paper with quatrefoil watermarks..
1921
With overprinted values.
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 10 M 10
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1921
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 5 Mark in Green
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1921
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 3 M 3
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1921
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 1,60 M
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1921
1922
The regular issue of 1922 included two Germania type stamps.
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1922
1919 - Semipostal
Surcharge for war veterans.
Germania - Semipostal
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted fur Kriegs-beschadigte
Surcharge 5pfType 18
Lozenge Watermark
1919
Germania - Semipostal
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted fur Kriegs-beschadigte
Surcharge 5pfType 24
Lozenge Watermark
1919
Bavaira
1919
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Freistaat Bayern
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1919
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Freistaat Bayern
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1919
Danzig
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Danzig
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Danzig
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania - Bicolor
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Danzig
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Danzig
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 1¼ M 1¼ DANZIG
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 2 Mark 2 DANZIG
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Mark 3 Mark Danzig
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Mk. 5 Mk. DANZIG
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Danzig
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Danzig
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
1920 - Airmail
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 40 40 Danzig with biplane
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 60 60 Danzig with biplane
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted MARK 1 MARK Danzig with winged posthorn
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Allenstein
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted PLÉBISCITE OLSZTYN ALLENSTEIN
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted COMMISSION D'ADMINISTRATION ET DE PLÉBISCITE * OLSZTYN * ALLENSTEIN * TRAITÉ DE VERSAILLES ART. 94 et 95
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Marienwerder
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Commission Interalliee Marienwerder
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Commission Interalliee Marienwerder with value
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Memel
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Memel-gebiet
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1922
Saar
1920 (March)
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Sarre
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Sarre
Overprint variation - note "S" sits lower and control mark (line) under obliteration bar.
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
1920 (April)
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted SAARGEBIET
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
1921
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted 20 SAARGEBIET
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1921
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Mark 5 Mark SAARGEBIET
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1921
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Mark 10 Mark SAARGEBIET
Type 24
Lozenge Watermark
1921
Upper Silesia
1920 - Official
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted C.I.H.S.
Type 18/24
Lozenge Watermark
1920
German Post Offices Abroad
China
1900
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted China (handstamped)
Type 13
Unwatermarked
1900
1901
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted China
Type 13
Unwatermarked
1901
1905
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted China with value
Type 18
Unwatermarked
1905
1906-1913
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted China with value
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1906-1913
Marocco
1900
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted Marocco and value
Type 13
Unwatermarked
1900
1905
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Marocco and value
Type 18
Unwatermarked
1905
1906-1911
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Marocco and value
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1906-1911
1911
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Marokko and value
Type 18
Lozenge Watermark
1911
Turkey
1900
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted PARA and value
Type 13
No watermark
1900
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted Piaster and value
Type 13
No watermark
1900
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted PIASTER and value
Type 13
No watermark
1900
1903-1905
Overprints for the 1903-1905 series are heavier. Note the shape of the "A" which is flat on top with thick serifs.
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted PARA and value
Type 13
No watermark
1903-1905
Germania
Inscribed REICHSPOST
Overprinted Piaster and value
Type 13
No watermark
1903-1905<
1905
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Para and value
Type 18
No watermark
1905
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Piaster and value
Type 18
No watermark
1905
1906-1912
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Para and value
Type 18
Lozenge watermark
1906-1912
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Piaster and value
Type 18
Lozenge watermark
1906-1912
1908
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Centimes and value
Type 18
Lozenge watermark
1908
Occupation Issues
Belgium
1914-1915
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Belgien Centimes and value
Type 18
Lozenge watermark
1914-1915
1916-1918
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Belgien Cent.and value
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1916-1918
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Belgien F. and value
Type 18
Lozenge watermark
1916-1918
France (Western Command)
1916
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Cent. and value
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1916
Latvia
1919
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted LIBAU
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1919
Lithuania (Eastern Command)
1916-1917
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Postgebiet / Ob. Ost
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1916-1917
Poland
1915
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Russisch-Polen
Type 18
Lozenge watermark
1915
1916-1917
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Gen. Gouv. Warschau
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1916-1917
Romania
1917 (June)
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted M.V.i.R. Bani and value
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1917
1917(July)-1918
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted M.V.i.R. Bani and value
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1917-1918
1918
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Rumänien Bani and value
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1918
1918
Germania
Inscribed DEUTSCHES REICH
Overprinted Gültig / 9. Armee
Type 18/24
Lozenge watermark
1918
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