The GermanStamps.net Collection

The GermanStamps.net Collection

Germany & Related Areas, 1872 – 1945

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Morocco

1905 Germania Overprint (Reichspost)

In 1900, a German wine firm in Malaga speculated that they would see an increase in business if the sent their offer sheets to potential customers with German Morocco postage instead of standard German postage. As the firm was located in Germany, this required them to ship their printed matter to Morocco in crates, where each mailer then had to be individually stamped and canceled by the Tanger post office. Eventually, all five German wine firms in Malaga were using this method. Approximately 200,000 to 400,000 printed matter mailers were processed annually using this method. This eventually led to a high demand for the 5 Centimos on 5 Pfennig stamps, as this was the printed matter rate from Morocco to Germany.

This issue is known as the "Eintagsfliege" (mayfly) issue, as it was only sold at the postal counter on its day of issue, 30 September 1905. This was due to the introduction of a new set of overprint issues on the following day. Despite this single day of issue, approximately 22,000 were issued due to the demand for stamps of this face value. It is also notable in that it is the last issued Moroccan overprint on the 'REICHSPOST' Germania issues, and is the only issued Moroccan 'REICHSPOST' overprint to use a Fraktur font.

Set Date(s)

30 September 1905

Watermark(s)

None

Album Page(s)

1905 Germania Overprint (Reichspost)

In 1900, a German wine firm in Malaga speculated that they would see an increase in business if the sent their offer sheets to potential customers with German Morocco postage instead of standard German postage. As the firm was located in Germany, this required them to ship their printed matter to Morocco in crates, where each mailer then had to be individually stamped and canceled by the Tanger post office. Eventually, all five German wine firms in Malaga were using this method. Approximately 200,000 to 400,000 printed matter mailers were processed annually using this method. This eventually led to a high demand for the 5 Centimos on 5 Pfennig stamps, as this was the printed matter rate from Morocco to Germany.

This issue is known as the "Eintagsfliege" (mayfly) issue, as it was only sold at the postal counter on its day of issue, 30 September 1905. This was due to the introduction of a new set of overprint issues on the following day. Despite this single day of issue, approximately 22,000 were issued due to the demand for stamps of this face value. It is also notable in that it is the last issued Moroccan overprint on the 'REICHSPOST' Germania issues, and is the only issued Moroccan 'REICHSPOST' overprint to use a Fraktur font.

Set Date(s)

30 September 1905

Watermark(s)

None

Album Page(s)