Old Germany / Bavaria – Bayern 1881 ☀ 1 Mark / Munich Cancel Watermark
The Bavaria 1 Mark stamp from the 1881 issue, especially with a clear München (Munich) cancel, is a classic piece of philately.
Here is a breakdown of the key information regarding this stamp:
🏰 Bavaria (Bayern) 1 Mark (1881 Issue)
| Detail | Description |
| State/Region | Kingdom of Bavaria (Bayern) |
| Year of Issue | 1881 (Part of the “Coat of Arms” definitive issue) |
| Denomination | 1 Mark (1 Mark = 100 Pfennig) |
| Design | Features the Bavarian Coat of Arms in an embossed design. |
| Color | Typically seen in Lilac or Reddish-Purple shades. |
| Catalog Number | Michel: 53 (The primary German catalog number) |
| Watermark | Features a Watermark of Vertical Waves (Michel Wmk 1). |
🔍 Focus on the “Munich Cancel”
The cancellation mark is critical for Bavarian stamps, particularly the high values:
- “MÜNCHEN” (Munich) was the capital city and a major postal hub.
- Significance: A clear, neat, and complete circular date stamp (CDS) from München is generally desirable. For some earlier Bavarian stamps, the location of the cancel can significantly affect the value, but for the 1881 issue, a clear cancel is a condition factor.
- The Best: A “light” or “favor” cancel that does not heavily obscure the design, but is fully legible, is what collectors look for.
