German Offices – Turkey stamps year 1900 Unused MH lot

German Offices – Turkey stamps year 1900 Unused MH lot

The stamps for German Post Offices in Turkey issued in 1900 belong to a popular and historically significant area of German philately, known as “German Offices Abroad.”

Since you are asking about an Unused MH lot (Mint Hinged lot), here is a breakdown of the stamps you would typically find in that group:

1. The Base Stamps (The “Germania” Issue)

The 1900 stamps for the German Offices in Turkey were actually standard definitive stamps of the German Empire (Deutsches Reich) that were overprinted with a new value in Ottoman currency.

• Design: The stamps are from the famous “Germania” series, featuring a portrait of Germania, the personification of Germany.
• Original Denomination: The base stamps were denominated in German currency (Pfennig and Mark).
• Inscription: The base stamps bore the inscription “REICHSPOST” (used from 1900 to 1902).

2. The Overprint

The base stamps were surcharged with values in Para ($\text{pa}$) and Piaster ($\text{Pi}$ or $\text{Pia}$), the currency of the Ottoman Empire (Turkey) at the time.

• Overprint Style: The overprint was typically a horizontal, rectangular text box with the new value in Piasters/Paras. These were done in a standard Roman or “Latin” font, which distinguishes them from the later issues in 1905 which used a Gothic font.
• Key Values in the 1900 Series: This set comprises a range of denominations, with the lower values being more common and the higher values becoming scarcer:

3. Catalog Numbers and Varieties

• Michel Catalogue: In the Michel stamp catalogue (the standard for German philately), these issues are generally found in the range Michel Nos. 11-22 (and subsequent lettered varieties for high-value stamps) for the stamps with the “REICHSPOST” base stamp and the Piaster overprint.
• Color of Overprint: The color of the overprint ink varied, usually being black, blue, or red, chosen to contrast with the base stamp color. For example, the 4 Piasters on 80 Pfennig is typically a carmine/black base stamp with a black overprint.
• “Lot” Condition (Unused MH): A “Mint Hinged” (MH) lot means the stamps have their original gum but have been previously affixed to an album page using a stamp hinge. This condition is common for stamps of this era and is less valuable than “Mint Never Hinged” (MNH). The value of the lot will depend heavily on completeness, overall condition, and the presence of the higher (Mark) values, which are significantly more expensive.

In summary, your lot of German Offices – Turkey stamps year 1900 Unused MH should contain the 12 key values of the Germania series (5 Pf to 5 Mark) surcharged with Turkish Piasters/Paras.