Bavaria - Bayern

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Bavaria, or Bayern, was a hereditary constitutional monarchy, forming part of the German Empire, with a population well in excess of six million, the majority of whom were Roman Catholics.

Bavaria was the first of the German States to adopt adhesive postage stamps, its pioneer labels appearing in November 1849, giving Bavaria the distinction of being one of the first adhesive postage stamp issuing countries in the world.
Numeral Issues - 1849-1862

THE FIRST ISSUE

An ordinance of King Maximilian, dated June 5th, 1849, authorised the issue of postage stamps and fixed the rates of postage. From that date until 1876 the currency of the kingdom was the florin of 60 kreuzer. Its first adhesives were usually cancelled with identifying numerals and these were allocated to individual towns.

The stamps intended for the prepayment bear the figures of the single rates, according to the new tariff for the interior of Bavaria, of 1 kreuzer in black, of 3 kreuzer in blue, and of 6 kreuzer in brown-red colors. Each stamp of the last two kinds carries in itself a red silk thread running from top to bottom, as evidence of its genuineness.

The design, common to all three values, shows a double lined numeral, ornamented with arabesques, within a square frame. In the top border is "BAYERN" (Bavaria), in. the bottom one is "FRANCO" (Free), at the right is "KREUZER", and at the left the value in words "EIN", "DREI", or "SECHS". In the small squares in the angles the value is denoted in figures on a checkered ground.

The large central numeral on the 1kr is on a ground of mazework which occupies the whole of the interior square. In the case of the 3kr and 6kr the numerals are on a circular ground of solid color, this circle being flattened where it meets the inner lines of the border, thus causing the type generally known as "broken circle." The spandrels, or spaces in the angles, are filled with arabesque ornamentation.
All the Bavarian stamps of the numeral design were printed in sheets with colored separator lines between each of the stamps, to allow the stamps to be evenly trimmed, when cut apart for sale at the post office.

The 1 Kr. black was imperforate, as were all the numeral issues through 1862, and it was printed on regular paper without security threads. Two plates were used for the 1 Kr. denomination. Plate 1 was put into use on November 1, and Plate 2 was put into use in May 1850. The stamps from Plate 1 are the commonest of the two plates.

A "neudruck" or "reprint" on the 1 Kr. is shown in the scan above. Due to the rarity of this issue, forgeries are frequently encountered, so examples should be purchased that have either certificates or expert certification markings on them.

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Two additional denominations of Bavarian stamps, the 3 Kr. (Plate 1) and the 6 Kr (Plate 1), were also issued in November 1849.  These two stamps are imperforate and are printed on paper with silk security threads, as were all the remaining numeral issues through 1862. They have the distinct characteristic of having a "broken circle" around the numeral in the center of each stamp. On these, the lattice work pattern along the inner frame ends in a sharp angle to the inner frame lines. On subsequent issues, the lattice work flows into the inner frame line, having the effect of being a "complete circle" around the numeral.

The 3 Kr. denomination was printed from five plates. Their periods of use are as follows:





Plate 1: 1849-1850
Plate 2: 1850-1854
Plate 3: 1854-1858
Plate 4: 1856-1862
Plate 5: 1858-1862
The colors of the Plate 1 printings of the 3 Kr. range from dark blue to Prussian blue. The printings from Plates 2-5 come in many shades, with the colors ranging from grayish blue to greenish blue.
The 6 Kr. denomination, with the broken circle, was printed from one plate, from 1849 to 1850.
Both of the 1849 printings of these two stamps are very scarce. The later printings of the 3 Kr., from Plates 2-5, are common.

The two denominations, with the broken circle variety, are shown in the scan above. The 3 Kr. stamp shown is actually from Plate 3 (1854), though this issue still has the broken circle characteristic.

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 THE SECOND ISSUE

In April, 1850 Bavaria joined the German-Austrian Postal Union and beginning in July 1850, a new series of Bavarian stamps of the numeral design was released. These stamps were all printed on paper containing silk security threads, they all have a "complete circle" around the numeral.

The 3 Kr. variety with the "broken circle" was continued through this period, and the 6 Kr. issue of 1849 was now printed from a new plate having the "complete circle" variety. The color of the 1 Kr. stamp was changed to pink, and three new denominations were added, the 9 Kr. in green, the 12 Kr. in red, and the 18 Kr. in yellowish orange.

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The design of this new 9kr is very similar to that of the 3kr and 6kr of 1849 with one important exception the circle containing the large central numeral is a perfect sphere and not flattened where it touches the frame lines.

The stamps were imperforate and printed on the paper with silk threads.

An official notice, dated October 1st, 1850, announced that the color of the 1 kreuzer stamp would be changed from black to rose. But not only was the color changed but the design was altered to conform with that of the other denominations. It was similar to that of the 9kr; the circle being complete and not intercepted by the inner lines of the inscribed border. The plate was made by the same process, the sheets consisted of ninety stamps in two panes as in the case of the 9kr, and the same silk-thread paper was used.

On August 1st following, a similar 18kr stamp made its appearance.

A postal convention between Bavaria and France came into operation on July 1st, 1858, it being mutually agreed that the postage on a letter not exceeding 10 grammes in weight should be 12kr. A new stamp representing this rate was placed on sale in Bavaria on the day the new convention came into force, the design corresponding to that of the other values then current.

THE THIRD ISSUE

In October 1862, yet another (and final) set of the numeral issue was released, all with color changes.
The use of the plates of the 3 Kr. variety with the "broken circle" was continued, but the color was now changed to rose red, with shades ranging from rose to carmine.

The color of the 1 Kr. was changed to yellow, the 6 Kr. was changed to blue, the 9 Kr. was changed to ocher brown, the 12 Kr. was changed to yellow green, and the 18 Kr. was changed to vermilion. These stamps continued in use, until the numeral definitives were replaced in 1867.
An official notice, dated July 6th, 1862, announced that on October 1st following, various changes would be made in the colors of the different values, viz.

The 3 kreuzer, taken as equivalent to 5 Austrian neugroschen or 1 silbergroschen, will for the future be printed in rose instead of blue. The 6 kreuzer, equivalent to 10 Austrian neugroschen or 2 silbergroschen, will be printed in blue instead of brown. The 9 kreuzer, equivalent to 15 Austrian neugroschen or 3 silbergroschen, will be printed in light brown instead of green. The colors of the remaining values will be altered from the same date as follows :

The 1 kreuzer, from rose to yellow.
The 12 kreuzer, from red to green.
The 18 kreuzer, from yellow to vermilion red.

The change in the colors of the 3, 6, and 9 kreuzer was made so that these denominations would correspond to those of the other signatories to the German-Austrian postal union and this, of course, necessitated the changes in the other values to prevent confusion.

The exact dates of issue of the new varieties is not known. All we know is that the stamps in the new colors were placed on sale as the stocks in the former tints became exhausted.

The stamps were printed from the same plates as before and in most of them considerable variation of shade may be found. The 6kr in ultramarine is a rare shade worth looking for.

This completes the history of the "numeral" stamps of Bavaria but before dealing with the later issues it will be as well to refer to certain varieties, printed in black on colored paper, so that there may be no misunderstanding as to their status should any of our readers come across them. We can best do this by reprinting the following paragraph from the Philatelic Record:

It was the custom in Bavaria to make up the stamps for the supply of the post-offices into packets of fifty sheets, and these were placed in covers of various colored paper, on which a copy of the stamp, with the number of sheets and stamps in the packet, was printed in black. No order for this is found among the official documents relating to the earlier issues, but the system continued in use till the close of the numeral issues.

During the period which commenced subsequently to the issue of the 1 kreuzer, type II, down to October, 1862, the color of the paper for the 1 kreuzer was gray, that for the 3 kreuzer was blue, that for the 6 kreuzer was brown, that for the 9 kreuzer was green, that for the 12 kreuzer was red, and that for the 18 kreuzer was yellow. The stamps impressed on the covers had no postal value whatever, and were simply printed on the covers as an indication of the particular value of the stamps contained in them.

In June 1866 Bavaria, like Hanover, sided with Austria against Prussia, but made peace on 22 August 1866 and had to pay the penalty of its choice in the shape of an indemnity and the cession of territory to Prussia.

Embossed Arms Issues - 1867-1875

In 1867 other German states, with the exception of Württemberg, were joining the North German Confederation and abandoning their postal systems for that of the North German Postal Union. Bavaria, however, did not join the North German Confederation, and they retained their own currency and postal system.

At this time, Bavaria issued a brand new series of definitive postage stamps, featuring the embossed royal Bavarian coat of arms, with a colored frame around it. The Bavarian stamps, denominated in Kreuzer, continued in use until 1875.

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The first set of embossed arms stamps, shown above, was issued on January 1, 1867. They were imperforate, and, like the numeral series, they were printed on unwatermarked paper with silk security threads. This makes closely trimmed copies easy to attribute, as the subsequent perforated issues were printed on watermarked paper without security threads.

Reprints exist of the 1 Kr., 3 Kr., and 6 Kr. denominations, and they were printed on paper without security threads. They are much more expensive that the mint original stamp issues.

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In October 1868, two new denominations of the embossed arms Bavarian stamps were issued. The 6 Kr., with the color changed to ocher brown, and the 7 Kr. in ultramarine. 

Reprints also exist of these two postage stamp issues. Their characteristics are the same as those noted for the 1867 issue.

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In July of 1870, Bavarian stamps of the embossed arms design were issued perforated. The stamps were of the same designs and colors as the imperforate issues, but otherwise they were very different.
The new stamps, which were perforated 11 1/2, did not have the silk security threads, and they were printed on paper with a narrow lozenge watermark. An example of the watermark is shown above, at the top.



The new issue included the 1 Kr., 3 Kr., 6 Kr., 7 Kr., 12 Kr., and the 18 Kr. The 1 Kr. through the 7 Kr. are shown in the scan above. The 12 Kr. denomination is very rare and is seldom obtainable.
The 9 Kr. and 10 Kr. denominations, on narrow logenze watermarked paper, were added to the issue in January of 1873. The 9Kr. is included in the scan above.

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Paper containing a wide lozenge watermark was also used for the July 1870 issue. An example of the watermark is shown above, at the top.
The wide lozenge watermarked issue also included the 1 Kr., 3 Kr., 6 Kr., 7 Kr., 12 Kr., and the 18 Kr. The 1 Kr. through the 7 Kr. and the 18 Kr. denominations are shown in the scan above. The 12 Kr. denomination in this group is also very rare and is seldom obtainable.
The 9 Kr. and 10 Kr. denominations, on wide lozenge watermarked paper, were also added to this issue in January of 1873. The 9Kr. and 10 Kr. are included in the scan above.


THE FOURTH ISSUE




The adoption of a new design for the stamps of Bavaria evidently involved much serious consideration for, though the idea was mooted in the early part of 1865 and proofs were actually existent twelve months later, it was not until January 1st, 1867, that the stamps were really issued. The approaching change was 'announced by means of a Government Notice dated December 14th, 1866, the salient provisions of which were as follows :

With the Royal approval a new issue of postage stamps has been prepared, which will be issued according to the consumption of the stock of the existing values. The new stamps are, like the former, printed in color on white paper traversed by a red silk thread, and bear the Royal Arms of Bavaria, with the two supporters in white relief on a colored ground, and with the numeral of value in each angle.

The stamps will, like the former, be issued for the values of 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18 kreuzer. The colors of the stamps of 3, 6, 9, and 18 kreuzer are, as in the former issue, carmine-red, blue, light brown, and vermilion-red; the stamps of the 1 kreuzer are green in place of yellow, and those of 12 kreuzer violet in place of green.

The design consists of the Arms of Bavaria surmounted by a Royal crown with lions as supporters. Under the Arms is scroll ornamentation with "KREUZER" in small capitals below; while above is the name "BAYERN."

The preceding details are on a background of solid color and of somewhat eccentric shape. In the angles are numerals in white on solid colored discs to denote the various values, while the spandrels are filled with ornamental scrolls.


The original or matrix die was engraved on steel by Peter Reiss, a medal coiner employed at the Royal Mint. The secondary dies, on which the numerals of value were engraved, and the brass blocks which formed the printing plates were also struck at the Mint.


The plates were constructed by a process similar to that employed for the numeral series. Each plate consisted of sixty brass cliches arranged in two panes of thirty each (6 rows of 5) placed side by side. A space about the width of a stamp separated the panes.

The design was embossed in slight relief on a colored ground the series being a particularly attractive one. The paper was similar to that used for the preceding issues, having silk threads embedded in its substance in such a manner that one thread was apportioned to each vertical row of stamps. It is probable that the use of this paper prevented the adoption of perforation which, at that period, was in general use.


There is a well-known minor variety of the Ikr in which the numeral in the upper right hand corner has a distinct colored stroke across the centre.


On January 1st 1868, a new postal arrangement was made with the North German Confederation, Wurtemburg, and Baden involving a postal rate of 7kr. Later this rate was extended to include the agreements with Denmark and Belgium and the natural outcome was the issue of a 7 kreuzer stamp.


The issue of this new value was announced in a Government decree dated August 30th, 1868, and at the same time it was decreed that the color of the 6kr would be changed to brown so as to avoid confusion with the 7kr. These new varieties were placed on sale on October 1st and a month later the 9kr was withdrawn from use and the 6kr in the old color of blue was demonetised.

The new 7kr value was similar in design, impression, and paper to the other denominations of the series.


All values of this issue are said to exist on laid paper and as such are recorded in Scott's catalogue. M. Moens, in a note in his catalogue observed that "the paper is found with fine lines resembling laid paper." It seems quite certain that the variety is not a true laid paper but is merely due to some slight imperfection in manufacture.

The "laid" and "wove" varieties may be found on the same sheet and the former is generally considered of such minor importance as to be hardly worthy the attention of even an extreme specialist. It would, therefore, appear that the "laid" paper varieties are hardly worthy of catalogue rank. Most of the stamps of this issue provide considerable variation in shade.

1871-1914

Bavaria sided with Prussia against France in 1870. In December 1871 King of Bavaria proposed that King of Prussia should become Emperor of Germany. The kingdom became part of the German Empire but continued to issue its own stamps.
In 1886 the throne of Bavaria passed to Otto Wilhelm Luitpold who, however, owing to mental incapacity never took any active part in the government of his kingdom. His uncle, Prince Leopold, was appointed Regent and was virtually ruler until the time of his death at the advanced age of 90 years.


THE FIFTH ISSUE.

Although, as we have previously observed, Bavaria was the first of the German States to issue postage stamps it was the last to make use of any provision for their easy separation. This was apparently due to the fact that the silkthread paper was considered such an excellent safeguard against counterfeiting that the authorities were loath to give it up. At last, however, the obvious
convenience of perforation made its adoption indispensable and the silkthread paper was replaced by a new watermarked paper.

A Government Notice dated June 12th, 1870, stated that a new issue of postage stamps of the values of 1, 3, 6, 7, 12, and 18 kreuzer would be made and issued as soon as existing stocks of the old series were exhausted. It was stated that the paper would no longer contain the red silk threads and that the stamps would have the edges indented, but no mention was made of the watermark. The stamps were ready for issue on July 1st, and were placed on sale just as quickly as the corresponding values of the imperforate series were sold out. The same plates were used, and the same colors were retained, the differences being confined to the watermark and perforation.

The watermark consisted of a number of crossed lines forming a diamond pattern generally known as "lozenges." There are two varieties of this watermark in one of which the diamonds or lozenges are 17 mm. wide, while in the other they are narrower and only measure 14 mm. in width.

Gibbons catalogues both varieties in full applying much higher prices to the variety with narrower lozenges. Both, however, occurred on the same sheet so that the philatelic importance of the differences is not particularly great. The paper was intended to be horizontally laid but on the majority of specimens it is exceedingly difficult to find any trace of the laid lines, though they are
generally quite plain on the margins of the sheets. This appears to be due to the fact that the intersecting lines forming the lattice watermark were so much heavier than the "laid" lines on the
dandy roll that they received most of the pressure and, consequently, while they were deeply indented into the paper the horizontal lines of wire to which they were stitched made no impression at all. The paper is, therefore, best described as wove.

As the same"" plates were used as for the 1867-68 series it follows that the stamps were printed in sheets of sixty divided into two panes of thirty each.

The perforating machine was so constructed that an entire pane of thirty stamps was perforated at one operation, the gauge being 11^2. In 1872 certain revisions were made in the postal tariff a Post-office Notice dated November 30th, stating that for the future the rate on single letters to France, Great Britain, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Constantinople, and the United States via Bremen or Hamburg, would be 9 kreuzer ; and that the rate to Italy, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Alexandria, and the United States via Cologne, would be 10 kreuzer. As these rates could not be made up by existing values except by the use of two stamps it was announced that labels of these denominations would be issued. At the same time it was stated that owing to the limited use for the 12 kreuzer stamp no more of this value would be printed.

On December 31st the provisions of this Notice came into effect the 12kr being withdrawn and the new 9 and 10 kreuzer stamps being placed on sale. Of these the 9kr was printed in pale brown and

the lOkr in yellow. The plates were of similar size to those of the other denominations and the paper and perforation were also similar.

Late in 1876 Bavaria, in common with many of the other German States, decided to make a clean sweep of its obsolete postage stamps, envelopes, etc. According to an article in the Monthly Journal the lot was placed on sale in October, 1876, and in addition to a list of the quantities of the different varieties a lengthy note was added of which the following is a summary :

All these articles, which were withdrawn from use on January 1st, 1876, have been stamped with an obliteration dated June 30th of that year; no reprints will be made; offers may be submitted for the whole stock, for the whole of one or more kinds, or for fixed quantities of different kinds separately. Offers must be sent in by January 1st, 1867, after which the Government will announce its decision. Preference will be given to the largest offers. No account will be taken of tenders submitted by firms or individuals who have no domicile in Germany or Austria-Hungary, unless they are vouched for by some firm domiciled in Bavaria, and of sufficiently high standing.

The entire lot was purchased by Mr. G. Zedmeyer, of Nuremberg, though the price paid was not made public.


THE SIXTH ISSUE.

On August 5th, 1874, a new stamp of 1 mark was issued, the value being expressed in Imperial currency. This denomination was specially intended for the prepayment of the rate on large parcels and packages within the Union of the German States. The die was engraved on steel by Herr P. Reiss, medal coiner to the mint, and the stamps were printed at the Mint of Munich. The design shows the Royal Arms, with supporters, surmounted by a crown and resting on a scroll pattern base. Above the crown is "BAYERN" in a curve, and under the base "MARK" in large capitals, the whole being embossed on a ground of solid color. In each of the four corners the value is expressed by a large "1" embossed in white on a disc of horizontal lines. The plate was constructed in the same way as those for the other values but consisted of fifty stamps arranged in five horizontal rows of ten. The same watermarked paper was used but as the stamps were of extra large size (measuring 25 mm. by 21 mm.) the impression fell very irregularly over the watermark, the paper, of course, being originally intended for stamps of much smaller size.

The stamp was at first issued imperforate as the only perforating machine available was not adapted for use on such large stamps. A new machine was ordered capable of perforating an entire sheet of fifty stamps at a time and on April 1st, 1875, the perforated stamps made their appearance. The gauge is similar to that of the lower values, viz.


THE SEVENTH ISSUE.

Towards the close of the year 1875 a change was made in the watermark of the paper, the crossed lines being superseded by a uniform pattern of undulating lines (placed horizontally) set 8^2 mm. apart. The paper was horizontally laid but as the watermark made such a heavy impression the laid lines of the paper are frequently impossible to detect. The same paper was used for the envelopes and wrappers which up to that time had been printed on plain paper. The same plates were used as for printing issue five and the colors and perforation also correspond to that series. The 1, 3, 7, 10, and 18 kreuzer values were printed on this paper and were placed on sale some time in November, 1875. They had but a short life, for on January 1st, 1876, they were withdrawn and replaced by a new series with values in Imperial currency.


THE EIGHTH ISSUE - NEW CURRENCY

In 1876 the Imperial currency of pfennige and marks was adopted.

In 1873, in order to have a uniform currency for all the German states, the German Empire established the Goldmark, or just Mark, as the official currency. The Bavarians kept their Kreuzer units of change, instead of adopting the German Pfennig, but they did adopt the German Mark as their unit of currency. Between 1874 and 1875, the Bavarian stamps were denominated in Kreuzer, with 35 Kreuzer now equal to one German Imperial Goldmark. A Bavarian 5 Mark coin of 1876 is shown in the scan above.

In August 1874, the first Bavarian stamps of the embossed arms design in the One Mark denomination were issued. This first issue was imperforate and was printed on paper with a new watermark, consisting of horizontal wavy lines far apart. The wavy lines close together watermark is illustrated above.
In June 1875, the One Mark stamps were again issued, but now they were perforated 11 1/2.
Both of the One Mark issues are shown in the scan above.

In July of 1875, the 1 Kr., 3 Kr., 7 Kr., 10 Kr., and 18 Kr. denominations, from the 1870-73 embossed arms issue, were printed on paper with the horizontal wavy lines far apart watermark. The 1 kr. through the 7 Kr. denominations are shown in the scan above.
These were the last Bavarian stamps issued that were denominated in Kreuzer, and they were only in use for about six months. With the exception of the 3 Kr. denomination, used examples are very scarce.
After January 1876, all Bavarian stamps would be denominated in the currency of the German Empire, that being Pfennig and Marks.
Until the close of the year 1875 all the stamps issued in Bavaria, with the single exception of the 1 mark value issued in 1874, had the values expressed in South German currency but, with the idea of creating greater uniformity, the Imperial currency of marks and pfennige was introduced on January 1st, 1876.

This, of course, necessitated the issue of new stamps and particulars of the new series were announced in a Post-office Notice dated December 9th, 1875. We take the following summary of its contents from the Philatelic Record:

"The stamps will be issued: Value of 3 pfennige in light green. 5 dark green. 10 ' carmine red. 20 blue. 25 red-brown. 50 ' vermilion red. 1 mark in violet. 2 marks in orange yellow.

The new stamps, like that of 1 mark, will be embossed with the Royal Arms in oval shields, with the supporters and crown, and the name BAYERN above the crown in white on a colored ground. The value of the stamps will be expressed in figures in relief in the four angles, and the denomination PFENNIG or MARK in relief under the Arm?

The postage stamps with value in pfennig are of the same size as those of the former issue in kreuzer, and will be delivered to the Post-offices in sheets of 60. Those of 2 marks are of the same size as those of 1 mark, and will be delivered in sheets of 50."

The original dies for the new series were engraved on steel by Herr P. Reiss at the Mint of Munich and the design of the lower values, as will be understood from the above description, is very similar to that of the 1 mark of 1874 but on a smaller scale. The die for the 2 marks was a subsidiary one
made by taking an impression from the 1 mark and altering the corner numerals.

The plates were of similar size to those of the preceding issue and they were constructed in a similar manner. The paper was watermarked with the undulating lines placed %y2 mm. apart as in the case of the stamps of 1875 and, while it was apparently intended to be laid, the "laid" lines are very faint or fail to show at all. This, as already explained, was due to the greater pressure exerted on the pulp by the watermarked lines sewn on the dandy-roll. There was such a large supply of the 1 mark stamps on hand that it was not until 1879 it was necessary to print this value on the paper watermarked with wavy lines.

In consequence of the similarity of color of the 3pf and 5pf it was decided to change the latter and on December 4th, 1878, a Post-office Notice was published announcing the issue of the 5 pfennige stamp in violet and at the same time it was stated that the color of the 50 pfennige would be changed from vermilion to dark brown. The new stamps were ready on January 1st following and they were sold as the stocks of the old colors were used up.

The same perforating machines one for the pfennig and one for the mark values were used as before, both gauging ll l/2 . The 1 mark stamp of this series is an extremely rare variety unused, though in used condition it is comparatively common.

THE NINTH ISSUE.

Some time during the latter part of the year 1881, the contract for supplying the paper for postage stamps, which had up to then been held by the Pasing Mill, was awarded to the Munich-Dachau Paper Manufacturing Company a concern equipped with more modern machinery and able to turn out a better grade of paper. At the time of this change it was also decided to alter the style of watermark. A new dandy-roll was ordered from England and this made a watermark of zig-zag lines running in a vertical direction down the stamps, the lines being spaced about 7 l/2 mm. apart. This paper was white wove and the improved appearance of the stamps showed it was of better quality than that previously used. No alteration was made in the colors of the various denominations and the perforation remained the same as before. The first stamps on the new paper were ready for issue about November, 1881, and they were placed on sale as the stocks of the old varieties became exhausted.

It is probable that all except the 2 marks were in use before the end of the year. The 2 marks did not appear until 1891.



THE TENTH ISSUE,




Although the Imperial currency was issued in 1876 the pfennige values continued to be printed in the small sheets of 60 and these did not altogether fit in with a decimal currency. It was decided,

therefore, to alter the size of the sheets and in January 1888 some of the values made their appearance in sheets of 100 and before long all the pfennige stamps had appeared thus. The stamps were divided into two panes of fifty (five rows of ten) placed one above the other. An interval about the height of a stamp was left between the panes and across this space two thick horizontal lines were printed. The plates being of a new size the paper had to be cut accordingly

and, to avoid unnecessary waste, it was found best to cut the paper so that on the printed stamps the watermarked wavy lines run in a horizontal instead of perpendicular direction.



Naturally this change in the size of the sheets made the perforating machine, which had been constructed to perforate a pane of thirty stamps at a time, of no use and a new one had to be

ordered. This one was also on the harrow principle and perforated an entire pane of fifty stamps at one operation but the punches were smaller and placed closer together so that the gauge is

14^ in place of the 11^ found in connection with previous issues. No alteration in the size of the sheets of the mark values was made so that the watermark on these is vertical.

An official notice issued by the Post Office authorities under date December 23rd, 1889, foreshadowed several changes of color. It was stated that the 3pf would be issued in brown, the 5pf in green, the 25pf in orange and the 50pf in redbrown.

The result of these changes was to make a more marked distinction between the colors chosen for the various denominations and it also gave the 5pf its proper Postal Union tint.

These new varieties were placed on sale as the stocks of the old ones were used up. Their actual date of issue is indefinite but all four were probably on sale by March, 1890.

Early in 1900, the set was enriched by the addition of four new values 2pf, 30pf, 4Qpf, and 80pf. They were probably placed on sale on January 1st. In design, watermark, perforation, and

size of sheets they correspond exactly to the values previously described.

About this period it was noticed that paper of a whiter appearance was being used but these are listed as separate varieties in Gibbons' catalogue, the distinction is one of comparatively little

importance. Most of the values of this series provide a pleasing array of shades.


THE ELEVENTH ISSUE.


The necessity for stamps of a higher facial value than 2 marks resulted in the issue of 3 and 5 mark stamps on April 1st, 1900. These are exactly similar in design to the 1 and 2 mark values

and it is evident that the dies were secondary ones, struck from the matrix of the 1 mark, with the appropriate numerals inserted in the angles. These stamps were also printed in sheets of fifty and the same perforating machine gauging 11y2 was used. The watermark, also, is perpendicular as in the case of the earlier mark stamps.




THE TWELFTH ISSUE.


Early in March, 1903, the 5 pfennige stamp appeared with the watermark vertical instead of horizontal. This is the only one of the small size stamps with the perforation gauging 14^ to appear

with the watermark in this position.
THE THIRTEENTH ISSUE
In December, 1910, the four mark values appeared with the watermarked zig-zag lines horizontal instead of vertical.

For what reason the change was made meaning, of course, that the paper was cut in a different way, is not known but there seems to have been only one printing for in the following year the portrait stamps made their appearance.


THE FOURTEENTH ISSUE.
On March 12th, 1911, Prince Leopold Regent of the kingdom of Bavaria, celebrated his ninetieth birthday, and the event was marked by the issue of a new series of stamps bearing his portrait.

The change was something in the nature of a revolution considering the Arms type had been in use for a period of no less than forty-four years. The Prince was born at Wurzburg on March 12th,

1821, and his life and career were bound up with the historic episodes of modern Europe. Professionally Prince Leopold was a soldier but when his nephew, King Otto, succeeded to the throne in 1886 he was appointed Regent owing to the mental deficiency of the ruler.
Prince Leopold was regarded with the greatest affection by the people and his birthday was observed throughout Bavaria with the heartiest enthusiasm. The special stamps issued to mark the

event show two designs. That for the pfennig denominations shows a profile bareheaded portrait, looking to left, on a solid rectangular background. In the upper left corner of this rectangle

figures of value are shown and in the top right angle are the letters "Pf".

Above, on a narrow tablet of color, is the date "12 MARZ 1911", and at the base is the name "BAYERN" in colored capitals. The stamps vary in size, the lower values being smaller than

those of a higher facial value. The mark stamps are of extra large size and show a portrait of the aged Regent looking to right. In this instance he is shown wearing a hat. On each side of

the portrait are ornate columns, resting on corner rectangles of solid color, that on the left bearing the numeral of value, and the one on the right a letter "M".

In the centre, at the top, is the date "r.)ll". The portraits are strongly drawn and are the work of the celebrated German artist, Prof. Fritz von Kaulbachs. The stamps are printed by a process of photo-lithography. They were on sale some few weeks before the actual birthday celebration and after the

31st March all previous issues were demonetised.
The stamps were printed on the paper watermarked with close zig-zag lines which has been in use since 1881. On the values from 3pf to 25pf inclusive, the lines are horizontal while on all others they are vertical. In what size sheets these stamps were printed we do not know (possibly 100 for the pfennig and 50 for the mark values) but it seems probable that a new perforating machine

was brought into use. As we have already shown the 14 l/2 and 11^ machines used from 1888 and 1881 respectively were of the harrow kind and could, therefore, only be used for stamps and

sheets of the size for which they were constructed. The values from 3 to 25pf are of the same size as the lower values of the preceding issue and it is evident the 14 l/2 harrow machine was used for

these; the 30pf to 80pf stamps are of the same size as the mark stamps of the Arms design and doubtless the old 11^2 harrow machine was utilised for these; but the mark stamps were too large for either of the existing perforating machines and a new one, possibly a single line machine was used. We are not quite positive on the point as we have only single stamps to refer to but a

single-line machine was certainly used for the next issue in which the stamps are of the same large size.


A 60pf value in the same design as the others was added to the series in October, 1911, Bavaria, in accordance with its usual policy following Germany's lead in the issue of new values. The 5pf and lOpf values are known in tete-beche pairs these being from sheets printed for binding in book form. The same values may also be found with advertisements attached, these also being from sheets intended for binding into stamp booklets. Most of the values exist in several pronounced shades.

Prince Leopold died in the closing weeks of 1912 and was succeeded as Regent by his son, Prince Ludwig.




THE FIFTEENTH ISSUE.


In June, 1911, two stamps were issued for use in the kingdom of Bavaria commemorative

of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Regency of Prince Leopold. The portrait is somewhat similar

to that of the pfennig values of the birthday set this being enclosed by a large wreath held on each side by cupids.

The dates "1886-1911" are shown on the wreath and in the lower angles are the figures "5" or "10" to denote the value. The name "BAYERN" is shown on a straight tablet between the figures. Each

value is printed in three colors and they are somewhat extraordinary productions. The background is black, the ribbons binding the wreath are yellow, and the rest of the design is green for the 5pf

and red for the lOpf. They have a crude cheap-looking appearance that is all the more marked on comparison with the delicate workmanship characterising the contemporary birthday series.

The stamps are said to have been in use only a limited time. They were printed on unwatermarked paper and perf. lI l/2. These two labels conclude Bavaria's philatelic history to date.

1914-18

A new issue was released in March 1914 and these were the first stamps in the world to he printed by the photogravure process.

Bavaria entered the war in August 1914. However, during the strains of the later war years the monarchy collapsed. Revolution broke out on 7 November 1918 and a republic was proclaimed the following day.

1918-39

Accused of showing blind loyalty to Prussia, Ludwig became increasingly unpopular during the war. As the war drew to a close, the "German Revolution" broke out in Bavaria. On November 7, 1918, Ludwig fled from the palace in Munich with his family, being the first of the monarchs in the German Empire to be dethroned. His flight was viewed as an "abdication".
On November 7, 1918, the first anniversary of the Russian October Revolution, Kurt Eisner of the Independent Social Democratic Party of Germany (USPD) declared Bavaria a "free state". Eisner then became Minister-President of Bavaria. Though he advocated a "socialist republic", he distanced himself from the Russian Bolsheviks, declaring that his government would protect property rights.

Source

Eisner was assassinated in February 1919, ultimately leading to a Communist revolt, and the short lived Bavarian Socialist Republic was proclaimed on April 6, 1919.
After violent suppression by elements of the German Army, the Bavarian Socialist Republic fell in May 1919.
During this period, the Bavarian stamps of King Ludwig III were overprinted "Volkstaat Bayern", "People's State of Bavaria", as shown in the scan above.

Source

In May 1919, after the fall of the Bavarian Socialist Republic, Bavaria declared itself a "free state" in association with the new Weimar Republic.
During this period, the Bavarian stamps of King Ludwig III, as well as the Germania Issues of the Weimar Republic were overprinted "Freistaat Bayern" or "Free State of Bavaria".

Source

In February 1920, a new series of Bavarian stamps was issued for the Free State of Bavaria. One of the high-value denominations is shown above.

Source

In April 1920, Bavaria became a member state of the Weimar Republic.
At this time, the current Bavarian stamps were overprinted "Deutsches Reich", for use throughout Germany, though most of the issue was used inside of Bavaria. One of the high-value definitives is shown above. Since then, regular German postage stamps have been used in Bavaria.
Stamps of Bavaria overprinted 'Volksstaat' were issued in 1919 but the leader of the new government, Kurt Eisner, was assassinated on 1 February 1919. There followed a Communist uprising and this was only quelled after fierce fighting. On 5 May 1919 Bavaria became a 'Freistaat' and new overprinted stamps appeared on 17 May. A new, un-overprinted issue appeared on 14 February 1920 and the P0 was incorporated into that of the Weimar Republic on 29 April 1920.


Bavarian stamps ceased to be valid on 30 June 1920. However, official stamps for Bavaria had been issued on 1 April by overprinting Bavarian officials 'Deutsches Reich' and a similar overprint for use in the whole of Germany was applied to remaining stocks of Bavarian stamps on 6 April 1920.


THE POSTAGE DUE STAMPS


The first postage due stamps for Bavaria were set up from ordinary printer's type; the next issue was printed from plates made by the stereotype process from "dies" set from type; and since 1876 stamps of the Arms type, printed in grey or greenish-grey, have been overprinted for this purpose. All are distinguished by the peculiar inscription "Vom Empfanger Zahlbar", meaning "To be paid by the recipient", which is quite different from that found on the postage due stamps of any other country. The first "set" consisted of but one value 3 kreuzer.

The stamps were printed in black on white paper, and were issued imperforate. The design is simple
in the extreme. In the centre is a large numeral "3" and in the rectangular frame around this we find "Bayer. Posttaxe" (Bavarian Post Tax), at the top; "Vom Empfanger Zahlbar", at the bottom; and "3 kreuzer" reading upwards at the left, and downwards at the right. All the inscriptions are in Gothic lettering. As we have already stated the design was set up from ordinary printer's type, the sheet consisting of ninety stamps arranged in two panes of forty-five each (five horizontal rows of nine), placed one above the other. A space equal to about half the height of a stamp divides the panes and between the vertical rows lengths of printers' rule are inserted. The paper was the silk-thread variety used for the contemporary postage stamps but in these labels it is horizontal instead of

vertical as in the postal issues. This is due to the different arrangement of the stamps the vertical rows of the Postage Dues occupying about the same area as the horizontal rows of the ordinary
stamps.


Naturally, as the plate for this 3kr stamp was set from type minor varieties abound. The only one of particular importance occurs on the fourth stamp of the second row of the upper pane. On this the final "r" of "Empfanger" is omitted. This, as the catalogue quotations indicate, is an exceedingly scarce variety.


We have already shown that the use of the silk thread paper was discontinued, so far as the postage stamps were concerned, about July, 1870, and in its stead paper watermarked with

crossed diagonal lines was used. At the same time perforation was introduced. This change affected the Postage Due stamps in the following year a Royal Proclamation, dated March 30th, 1871, announcing that new Ikr and 3kr Postage Due stamps would be issued and that they would be printed in black on watermarked paper and be perforated like the contemporary postage

stamps. Like the stamps of the Arms type they were printed in sheets of sixty divided into two panes of thirty each (five rows of six) placed side by side.

It is evident one original die (probably set up from type) served for both values. The design is similar to that of the first 3kr but with "Bayer" abbreviated to "Bayr" and with larger lettering. The shape of the large numeral "3", too, is quite different from that of the type-set variety. The matrix die, consisting of frame only, formed the foundation for the two necessary subsiduary dies in which the large numerals were inserted. From these sufficient casts were taken in type-metal to compose the printing plates. The same perforating machine was used as was employed to perforate the postage
stamps. The use of the 3kr value has already been explained. The Ikr value was introduced to denote the sum to be paid by the recipient of certain official letters which had not been prepaid.

While most official correspondence was carried free certain official local correspondence was subject to postage but at a reduced fee, and it was for the collection of deficient postage on the latter that the Ikr stamp was necessary.

The change to the Imperial currency of pfennige and marks in 1876 led to the issue of new Postage Due labels. In the Post-pfnce Notice of December, 1875, referring to the new postage stamps the issue of new 3pf, 5pf, and lOpf, Dues is also recorded. The lOpf took the place of the 3kr and was for
use on unfranked private letters, while the 3pf and 5pf were intended to indicate the amount payable on unfranked dutiable official correspondence. The new stamps were formed by printing the ordinary postage stamps in grey and then overprinting them "Vom Empfanger Zahlbar" in two lines in red. They were, of course, like the contemporary postage stamps printed on the paper watermarked with zig-zag lines set horizontally and wide apart.


In 1883 all three values appeared on the paper watermarked with vertical zig-zag lines close together, which had been introduced for the ordinary stamps about two years before. The lOpf provides three errors in the overprint viz. "Empfang", "Empfanper", and "Zahlhar".

In 1889, again following the lead of the postage stamps, we find the Postage Due labels perforated 14 V and watermarked horizontal zig-zag lines placed close together. These, as a reference to the history of the contemporary .postage stamps will show, were printed in sheets of 100. The 3pf of this series is known with overprint inverted. In July, 1895, it was reported that a 2pf stamp was to be added to the set but this was not actually issued until some months later. The fear that this value would not be ready in time led to the issue of Bavaria's only provisional.

On September 4th a small quantity of the 3pf value was surcharged in red with a "2" in each corner. As this variety is of some rarity its use must have been very limited. Since 1895 Bavaria has issued nothing new in the way of Postage Due stamps.

RAILWAY OFFICIAL STAMPS.

The only official stamps issued by the Kingdom of Bavaria is an unpretentious set issued in 1908 for the use of the Railway Department (Eisenbahn). This consisted of the contemporary 3, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pfennig postage stamps overprinted with a large capital "E". The overprint is in green on the lOpf and 50pf, and in red on the other three values.

RETURN LETTER STAMPS.


We cannot conclude this short history of the postage stamps issued by the Kingdom of Bavaria without making some mention of the so-called Return Letter stamps. These labels used to be
catalogued, are illustrated in some of the older printed albums, and are frequently found in collections and, consequently, are often a source of mystification to the tyro. These stamps are
not postage stamps in any sense of the term but are labels which only relate to the internal economy of the post office.

We grant, however, that they are at least as collectible as "officially sealed" or the numbered labels used in connection with registered letters in many countries nowadays.

When letters were unable to be delivered they were sent to the chief office of the postal district. In 1865 there were six of these offices; viz. Augsburg, Bamberg, Miinchen (Munich), Niirnberg, Speyer, and Wiirzburg. The letters were opened to discover the name of the sender and then returned, these return letter labels being used as seals to close the missives with. The labels were all printed in black on white paper and show the Royal Arms within an oval inscribed "COMMISSION FUR RETOURBRIEFE" (Returned Letter partment) and the name of the district chief office. This oval was enclosed in an upright rectangular frame with ornamented spandrels. The labels were printed by lithography in sheets of 84 and those for each office differ slightly from the others, while for all, except Bamberg, there were two or three printings showing slight differences of design. In the case of the labels for Nurnberg two types exist on the same sheet. (Sommijfion fur Hiicf briefe) In 1869 Regensberg (Ratisbon) was added to the list of head district offices and was furnished with a label reading "Retourbrief ( Kgl. Oberpostamt Regensberg)" in three lines within a single-lined oblong. This label was set up from ordinary printer's type. These labels, with various inscriptions, gradually
superseded the lithographed ones.

Most, if not all, were printed in sheets of thirty and being set by hand there are as many varieties as there are stamps on the sheet. Little care was exercised in their production and not only may lettering of different sizes and fonts be found on different stamps but such glaring inaccuracies as Rotourbrief" for "Retourbrief", and "Oherpostamt" for "Oberpostamt" are by no means infrequent.