Postage stamps and postal history of Schleswig-Holstein

This is a survey of the postage stamps and postal history of Holstein, Schleswig-Holstein, Schleswig and incidentally Lauenberg. Separate stamps were issued for Holstein (1850), Schleswig (1864-1867), Holstein (1864-1866), Schleswig-Holstein (1865) and Schleswig (1920).

Historical development

Schleswig and Holstein have at different times belonged in part or completely to either Denmark or Germany, or have been virtually independent of both nations. From 1460 until 1864, the King of Denmark was both a Danish Duke of Schleswig and a German Duke of Holstein.[1] Napoleon did not annex either Schleswig or Holstein in 1810 when he annexed the rest of northwest Germany including the Duchy of Lauenburg, but at the Congress of Vienna in 1815 Holstein did become part of the German Confederation, though continuing to owe allegiance to the Danish King. Also at the Congress of Vienna, Lauenburg was placed under the Danish throne.[1] The First Schleswig War (1848–1851) was inconclusive, but after the Second Schleswig War, the Danish King lost Lauenburg and Denmark lost both Holstein to Prussia and Schleswig to Austria under the Gastein Convention of 14 August 1865. Austria lost Schleswig to Prussia the following year.[2][3][1] Saxe-Lauenburg in southern Holstein was an autonomous duchy until 1 July 1876, when it was incorporated into the Royal Prussian Province of Schleswig-Holstein.[4] Denmark only regained northern Schleswig after the plebiscite of 1920.[2]

Postal systems in Schleswig and Holstein developed out of the commercial messenger routes of the Hanseatic League that began to be established in the mid 13th century. In the late 16th century these began to be supplemented in Holstein by those of Thurn und Taxis. While the Danish established their initial postal routes in Schleswig and then in Holstein following the order of King Christian IV of 1624. At its greatest extent the Danish post extended through Holstein to Kiel, Lubeck and Hamburg. Originally run as a commercial monopoly, the Danish post was taken over by the government in 1711.[5]

This early post was carried by ship,[6] or on foot, but Danish postal riders were introduced beginning in 1640.

First stamps

The first stamps were issued by Holstein on 15 November 1850 during its brief autonomy in the First Schleswig War. It issued two stamps a blue one schilling stamp, and a rose two schilling stamp. The stamps featured a double-headed eagle surrounding an embossed center with the initials S and H in the upper two corners, respectively. The lower two corners showed the denomination.[7][8]

The first Danish stamps for use in the Duchy of Schleswig were introduced on 1 May 1851,[9] and on 15 April 1852 they replaced the previous Holstein stamps and were also authorized for use in use in Lauenburg when Holstein's and Lauenburg's postal services were integrated into the Danish Post.[10] However, Lübeck remained independent with its own postal administration, although the Danish postoffice in Lübeck used Danish stamps beginning on 1 August 1855.[11] Schleswig, Holstein and Lauenburg used Danish stamps until occupied in 1864, and formally detached from Denmark by the Treaty of Vienna signed on 30 October of that year.

Second Schleswig War and under Prussia and Austria

15 May 1864 issue,
Michel #7, Scott #18

On 1 March 1864, Holstein, while under occupation by the German Confederation, issued a stamp, denominated 1¼ schillings, in blue and grey, lithographed, imperforate.[12] That same day, the Austrian-Prussian occupying forces in Schleswig issued two stamps inscribed "Herzogth. Schleswig",[13] a 1¼ schilling in green and a four schilling in carmine.[14][15]

Subsequently, on 15 May, the German Confederation administration issued a second stamp in a new design, in blue with rose hatching, which was also 1¼ schillings and imperforate, but produced typographically.[16]

1¼ s. stamp (Scott #4, Michel #9) used in Uetersen, 11 July 1867.

Beginning in February 1865, the joint Prussian-Austrian administration issued a set of five stamps for the combined Schleswig-Holstein, similar to the previous year's issue, but inscribed "Schleswig-Holstein".[17] On 1 November 1865, the newly Prussian only administration of Schlewig issued a set of five in the same denominations, but with the "Herzogth. Schleswig" design and in new colors.[18] The Austrian administration in Holstein in turn issued a set of five stamps inscribed "Herzogth. Holstein" on 1 November 1865.[19] The Austrian administration issued two additional members of that set, a 1¼ schilling brown-lilac in February 1866, and a 2 schilling blue in July 1866.[20] On 1 January 1867, the postal systems of Schleswig and Holstein were integrated into the Prussian postal system and placed under the direction of the postmaster in Kiel.[1] One stamp was issued under the Kiel postmaster, similar to the 1¼ schilling Prussian issue of 1965, inscribed "Herzogth. Schleswig", but in a reddish-lilac with purple, and a color variation of grey-lilac with bluegrey.[21]

North German Postal Union

Beginning on 1 January 1868, the North German Postal Union (Norddeutscher Postbezirk) was responsible for the mail in Schleswig, Holstein, Lauenburg and Lübeck. They were in the "Northern District" and the stamp values were in groschen and thalers.[22] These stamps were replaced with the stamps of the German Empire inscribed "Deutche Reichs" in 1872.

1920 Slesvig Plebiscite

Michel & Scott #1

After World War I, northern and central Schleswig were given the opportunity to vote on whether to become Danish or remain with Germany. During the plebiscite period, special stamps were issued in these areas. One set of fourteen was issued by the Commission Interalliée Slesvig with the Schleswig coat of arms and the Danish name "Slesvig" in German currency. A second set of fourteen was issued with the Schleswig coat of arms and the Danish name "Slesvig" in Danish currency, overprinted "Zone 1". They were not issued without the overprint. A third set of fourteen official stamps for the use of the commission consisted of the first German currency set overprinted with the commission's initials, "C.I.S.".[23][24] The "C.I.S." overprints have been extensively forged,[23] as have postmarks on the Zone 1 stamps.[25]

Germany

1923, postcard used in Itzeroe, formerly in Holstein.

See also

Notes and references

  1. 1 2 3 4 Michel (Bund Deutscher Philatelisten) (2009). "Altdeutschland (Schleswig-Holstein und Laurenburg)". Michel Deutschland Katalog 2009/2010 (in German). pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-3-87858-044-7.
  2. 1 2  Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1922). "Schleswig". Encyclopædia Britannica (12th ed.). London & New York.
  3. ↑ See diagram at "German States – Schleswig-Holstein". Stamp World History. Archived from the original on 7 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "Lauenburg", in: Encyclopædia Britannica: 29 vols., 111910–1911, vol. 16 'L to Lord Advocate', p. 280.
  5. ↑ Cornelius, David (2004). An Introduction to the Postal History of Denmark 1624–1950. Bristol, England: Stuart Rossiter Trust Fund. ISBN 978-0-9545207-0-0.
  6. ↑ Poole, Bertram W. H. (1920). The stamps of Denmark. Portland, Maine: Severn-Wylie-Jewett.
  7. ↑ Scott #1 and #2, Kloetzel, James E.; et al., eds. (2008). "Schleswig-Holstein". Scott 2009 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. Volume 3 (165th ed.). Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Co. p. 91. ISBN 978-0-89487-417-8.
  8. ↑ Michel #1 and #2 Michel 2009, p. 93
  9. ↑ Although the 4 rigsbankskilling stamp (Denmark #1), paying the national Danish postage rate was released in Copenhagen on 1 April 1851, it was not authorized for use in Schleswig until 1 May. Michel 2009, p. 91
  10. ↑ Michel 2009, p. 91
  11. ↑ Michel 2009, p. 95
  12. ↑ This blue and grey stamp occurs with three major variations as Scott #15-#17, Kloetzel 2008, p. 91, volume 3; and Michel #5 Type I and II, and #6, Michel 2009, pp. 93–94
  13. ↑ "Herzogth. Schleswig" is short for Herzogtum Schleswig, or "Duchy of Schleswig".
  14. ↑ Scott #8 & #9, Kloetzel 2008, p. 91, volume 3
  15. ↑ The green 1¼ schilling stamp is pictured on cover at "1864 - Slesvig - DAKA 158.01 - 6780". Fyns Frimærke Service. Archived from the original on 16 June 2017.
  16. ↑ This stamp is listed as Scott #18, Kloetzel 2008, p. 91, volume 3, and Michel #7, Michel 2009, p. 94.
  17. ↑ Scott #3 through #7, Kloetzel 2008, p. 91, volume 3, and Michel #8 through #12, Michel 2009, p. 94.
  18. ↑ Scott #10 through #14, Kloetzel 2008, p. 91, volume 3, Michel #13 through #17, Michel 2009, p. 94.
  19. ↑ Michel & Scott #19 to #21, #23, #25, Kloetzel, 2008 & loc4volume 3, p. 91, Michel 2009, p. 95.
  20. ↑ Michel & Scott #22 & #24, Kloetzel 2008, p. 91, volume 3, Michel 2009, p. 95.
  21. ↑ Michel #18 a and b, Michel 2009, p. 95. These are not listed by Scott.
  22. ↑ Kloetzel, James E.; et al., eds. (2008). "North German Confederation". Scott 2009 Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue. Volume 3 (165th ed.). Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Co. p. 93. ISBN 978-0-89487-417-8.
  23. 1 2 Scott 2008, p. 1045, volume 5
  24. ↑ Michel (Bund Deutscher Philatelisten) (2009). "Deutsche Abstimmungsgebietr (Schleswig)". Michel Deutschland Katalog 2009/2010 (in German). p. 286. ISBN 978-3-87858-044-7.
  25. ↑ Kock, G. (1996). World Forgery Catalog (PDF). Helsinki, Finland: Porssitieto Ky. p. 38.

Further reading

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