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THE 1997 MICHEL DEUTSCHLAND SPECIALISED CATALOGUE

DANZIG SECTION
A short review by Giles du Bouiav

I wrote some observations on the Danzig section of the 1996 Michel Specialised catalogue in Danzig Report No.94. The 1997 catalogue includes a completely revised Danzig section which is such a great improvement on earlier versions that I thought this short review might be of interest to members.

There is a new introductory section with illustrations of the various cancellation types. The postal rates section (Free State period) has been expanded considerably to include rates for Drucksachen, Geschäftspapiere, Warenproben, Päckchen. and special delivery services such as Riickschein, Eiizustellung and Nachnahme. This is most welcome as it saves referring to different handbooks when checking on rates. TJnfortunatelv airmail fees have not been included in the revised table, although. curiously, they have in the newly and usefully included table of Port Gdarisk postal rates at the back of the section.

The pages have been set out in a new single full width, rather than double column, format. To my mind this is much easier to read. The new layout includes room for much more information, such as on stamp sheet formats. varieties and proof printings. There are more, but slightly smaller, fflustratioršs of the basic stamps than before, but we now have many more enlarged illustrations of stamp varieties which is most helpful.

There has been some rebalancing of prices within sets with further overall modest increases except for unmounted mint stamps where prices have shot up. For example the 1924 airmail set (Mi.202-206* *) rises from DM300 to DM475, the 1924 high value definitives (Mi.207-211 * *) go from DM800 to DM1400 and the 10th anniversary set (Mi.220-230* *) increases from DM1100 to DM1900. There are the usual warnings, particularly for used stamps and those with overprints, that the, prices quoted are for expertised examples only.

There is a much expanded section on the stamp booklets, those everyday items we all have in our collections ! I will not mention the prices quoted, they are for the real enthusiasts!

In conclusion. I welcome this newly revised section and recommend it to you. I just wish I had known about it before I bought mv 1996 catalogue!

 

Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 98 - January - February - March - 1998, Page 18.