Gallery

 

to 550DM (500% increase since 1978) and Mi.lOOXa, the 1922 5OMk brick—red, vertical watermark definitive, has also gone from - 250Mk to llOOMk in the same period. The 1923 air set (Mi.112-1l8) has leaped up since 1993, although prices are volatile, fetching DM1180 against DM275 in 1993.

The 1923 Gulden overprints (Mi.181-192) are also doing well at DM1756.50 for the genuinely used set, compared with DM514.50 in 1978. The 1924/38 definitives are doing much better as unmounted mint rather than used.

As stated above, genuinely used Dienstmarken have risen in value considerably, with the real stars being Mi.35 (30014k blue green! red) DM12 in 1978, DM50 in 1993 but 1)M600in 1996, and Mi.39 (500Mk slate/red) DM25 in 1978, DM150 in 1993 but I)MllOOin 1996 Some of the price rises on genuinely used Portomarken have been extraordinary. Mi.20X (the 1923 800Pf) has gone from DM20 in 1978 to DM250 in 1996, whereas Mi.16Y (the 200Pf) which also started at DM20 in 1978 has rocketed to DM1500!! The high inflation overprints have also done well with the Mi.2611-2911 set going from DM340 in 1978 to DM3000 in 1993 and DM5500 in 1996 H

Prices for stamps on cover were not given in the 1978/9 catalogue, so comparisons here are between the 1993 and 1996 editions. The 1920 lOPf red (Mi.2a) goes from DM25 to DM100, and the “tuberculosis” set (Mi.90-92) continues to do well at DM280, DM360 and DM330 each. The 1923 air set (Mi.112-118) has almost doubled in value, and Mi.150, the 100,000 on 20,000Mk overprint, has jumped from DM80 to DM200. The 1923 Gulden overprints continue to do well on cover, as do the 1924/38 definitives. Dienstmarken and Portomarken on cover show the same high potential for increase as genuinely used loose stamps. If you want to buy (or sell) some of the specific colour shades or varieties on cover, then the sky’s the limit I

As for prices of individual stamp varieties and other specialised items: unmounted mint stamps with “HAN” numbers are steadily appreciating, as indeed are some of the watermark rarities, for example the 1921 3Mk vertical watermark (Mi.86X) which has gone from DM400, genuinely used, to 1)M2000 in just three years. More varieties of the 1924 air set have been listed in 1996 as against 1993 and the booklets are just as impossible as they always have been.

In summary, Danzig stamps, particularly genuinely postally used, either on or off cover, have climbed in price over the last couple of decades, and some have shown remarkable increases in the last three years — which may be good news if you are selling, but not so good if you still have gaps to fill. Happy hunting

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 94 - January - February - March - 1997, Page 17.