Preussen year 1858 – 1861 Used stamps

Preussen year 1858/61 Used stamps

The years 1858-1861 for Prussia (Preußen) fall in the middle period of the Kingdom’s stamp production, featuring issues with the portrait of King Friedrich Wilhelm IV.

Here are the key stamp issues for that period, typically found used (gestempelt):

1. The 1858 Issue (Portrait, Crossed-Line Background)

This issue is a transitional one, continuing the use of the portrait design but with a change in the background pattern for the low-value stamp. All of these stamps are imperforate.

2. The 1858-1860 Issue (Portrait, Solid/Smooth Background)

This series is a continuation of the 1857 stamps, featuring the King’s portrait on a smooth, colored background. They are also imperforate.

3. The 1861 Issue (Prussian Eagle, Rouletted)

In 1861, King Wilhelm I ascended the throne, and a major new design was introduced featuring the Prussian Eagle in the coat of arms. This issue is notable because it was the first to use a mechanical separation method, a type of rouletting (a form of separation, not true perforation).

Key Collecting Points for Used Stamps in this Period:

• Imperforate vs. Rouletted: The 1858-1860 issues are imperforate (must be cut from the sheet), while the 1861 issue is rouletted (separated by slits, not holes).
• Margins: For the imperforate stamps (1858-1860), a premium is placed on “used” copies that show clear and even margins on all four sides, as they were often cut carelessly by post office clerks.
• Cancels: Used stamps from Prussia often feature the distinctive Four-Ring Numeral Cancel (Vierringstempel), which consists of a post office identification number surrounded by four concentric circles. The town name cancel (Ortsstempel) is also common.