Gallery

> POSTMARKS OF THE SMALLER OFFICES IN THE FREE STATE

b) Double-circle datestampp
Type 2a - Office name at the top. The base contains three stars or a district number or code letter between two stars.  -  -   Type 2b - Office naime at the top. The base contains a district naine between two stars. The right-hand star may sometimes be replaced by a code letter.   -  -  Type 2c - As type 2a, but without the bars above and below the date bridge.  -  -  Type 2d - As type 2b, but without the bars above and below the date bridge.

Group 2
The markings introduced by the Free State P.O. are much less varied. Type 3 is the standard type. They are almost all 29 mm. in diameter and different lengths of name are accomodated by using letters of varying width. Four of the major variants have been illustrated as follows:

Variant a - Used to accomodate long hyphenated office names. Variant b - With FREIE STADT DANZIG in the base differently arranged. Used at Güttland only. Variant c - With FREI STADT DANZIG in the base and smaller (27.5 mm.). Used at Kalthof only. This was the first mark of the new administration to be introduced in November 1920. Variant d - With office name in small letters. Used at Grosszünder only. District numbers or code letters — These are placed in the segment above the date bridge. Time of posting - In the vast majority of cases, the 12-hour system (e.g. 9-10V or 7—8N) was used to show the time of posting. A few markings, however, used the 24-hour system and these are noted where they occur. The Group 2 marks were gradually introduced to replace the Group 1 marks throughout the years 1921-3 and by the end of the inflation almost all the offices had the new type. Some of the Group 1 marks, however may be found cancelling stamps in 1924. Examples are Bohnsack, Langenau and Pasewalk.

The offices and their markings
The following alphabetical listing shows the markings so far found, together with any other relevant information:

ALTMÜNSTERBERG   -  -  Type 1b - District name KR. MARIENBURG WESTPR. Listed in Michel as a Poststelle under Kalthof,

BODENWINKEL - - No postmarks yet seen. Billig records the district name as Danziger Niederung.

BOHNSACK  -  -  Type 1c - District name DANZIGER NIEDERUNG.  -  -  Type 3.

BOLKAU - - Type 2b - District name WESTPR.  -  -  Type 3.

BRÖSEN - -  Michel lists this office as Brösen, Danzig-Brösen and as a Poststelle under Danzig-Neufahrwasser. Billig only lists Danzig-Brösen. I have never seen a Brösen—only postmark, but only those of Danzig Brösen.

BRUNAU  - -  Type 2b - District name WESTPR. Type 3.

 

Danzig Report   Nr. 8 - March - April - 1976, Page 6.