Bavaria year 1875 stamp 3 Kr block mint never hinged
The Bavaria 3 Kreuzer (Kr) stamp issued in 1875 is part of the final series of stamps denominated in the old “Kreuzer” currency before the German Empire fully introduced the “Mark” and “Pfennig” currency system in 1876.1
Here are the details of this classic German State stamp:
Bavaria 1875 3 Kreuzer Stamp
| Feature | Details |
| Issuing Authority | Kingdom of Bavaria (German State) |
| Year of Issue | 1875 (Issued as part of the last Kreuzer series) |
| Denomination | 3 Kreuzer (Kr) |
| Design | Coat of Arms (The design is a centrally embossed image of the Bavarian coat of arms on a solid color background, with the denomination and “BAYERN” inscribed.) |
| Color | Rose or Carmine-Rose (sometimes described as Red) |
| Perforation | Perforated, typically $11\frac{1}{2}$ |
| Watermark | Watermark “Wavy Lines” (Also known as Watermark 94 in the Scott Catalog, as opposed to the earlier “Lozenges” watermark) |
| Catalog Numbers | Scott: #34 (or sometimes #33-36 for the set) Michel: #33 |
Historical Significance
This stamp is significant as it belongs to the 1875 issue which was the final postage stamp issue by the Kingdom of Bavaria denominated in the Kreuzer currency. It preceded the conversion to the decimal German Goldmark currency in 1876.
Value and Condition
The value of this stamp is generally modest, especially in used condition, but increases for better quality and unused examples. Because it was issued just before the currency change, the used stamps are more common.
| Condition | Estimated Market Price (Based on Collector Sales) |
| Used (Cancelled) | $1 – $3 USD |
| Mint Hinged (MH) | $5 – $20 USD |
| Mint Never Hinged (MNH) | $15 – $40+ USD |
Note on Varieties:
Collectors of Bavaria stamps pay close attention to the watermark and any plate varieties.2 The watermark of “wavy lines” distinguishes the 1875 issue from the earlier 1873-1874 Kreuzer issues, which had a “lozenges” watermark.3 A Mint Never Hinged block of four or a gutter pair (a pair with the blank margin between them) would command a higher price.
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