| Vineta provisional | |
|---|---|
| Country of production | German Empire |
| Date of production | 13 April, 1901 |
| Nature of rarity | Bisect with overprint |
| Number in existence | 600 |
| Face value | 3 Pfennig |
The Vineta Provisional (German: Vineta-Provisorium) is a German stamp made on April 13, 1901 on board the cruiser SMS Vineta. As the postal officer had not been supplied with 3 Pfennig Germania stamps, he bisected his 5 Pfennig stamps (Michel nummer 55) of the series and stamped them by hand with a "3 PF" mark. Mail with the Vineta provisional stamp was sent from Pernambuco to Germany on April 17, 1901. Only 600 stamps were issued making the provisional one of the rarer stamps in German philately.
The stamp gained notoriety because it had been catalogued by the Michel catalogue as a regular stamp and given the number 67. Collectors who aspired to put together a complete collection of issues of the Reichspost had an interest in acquiring this stamp. However, because philatelists generally considered the stamp a self-made variety, not an official issue by the Reichspost, the #67 assignment was heavily criticised and eventually withdrawn.[1] As a result prices for this stamp have declined.
Falsifications of this stamp are known to exist.