Bayern year 1888/1895 Porto stamps Used set
That specific period refers to the Postage Due stamps (Portomarken) issued by the Kingdom of Bavaria (Bayern) before it fully integrated its postal service into the German Empire’s Reichspost.
These stamps were released in two main groups during the 1888-1895 timeframe, all featuring the Bavarian Coat of Arms (Royal Crest) as the central design.
🛡️ The Two Issues (1888 & 1895)
The common factor is the “Porto” (Postage Due) inscription, indicating they were affixed by the post office to collect insufficient postage from the recipient.
| Issue Date | Denominations | Michel Catalog Nos. (P = Porto) | Key Feature / Color |
| 1888 | 3, 5, 10 Pfennig | P 10, P 11, P 12 | Wider, taller design with Coat of Arms |
| 1895 | 2, 3, 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 Pfennig | P 13 – P 19 | Smaller, squarer design with Coat of Arms |
- Design: Both issues feature a centrally placed Coat of Arms (Wappen) of the Kingdom of Bavaria, often surrounded by the inscription “PORTO” and the value in Pfennig (Pfg or Pf.).
- Printing: They were generally printed in different colors for the value (e.g., green for 3 Pfennig, carmine for 10 Pfennig) on colored paper (e.g., yellowish or toned).
- Catalog Note: The Michel catalog references for the main set are P 10 to P 19 and their subsequent varieties.1
