Postage Stamps used in the German Marshall Islands
Postal Regulations 1903
by Dirk H.R. Spennemann

Postal regulations 1903

 

1.) Standard and Registered Letters

a) Sent between Germany and the protectorates among each other

Letters up to 20 grams franked 10 Pf, unfranked 20 Pf, over 20-250 grams franked 20 Pf, unfranked 30 Pf.

Postcards (standard) franked 5 Pf, unfranked 10 Pf.--Postcards with reply 10 Pf.

Printed Matter up to 50 g 3 Pf; over 50 - 100 grams 5 Pf., over 100 - 250 grams 10 Pf, over 250-500 grams 20 Pf., over 500 grams up to 1 kilo grams 30 Pf.; over 1 - 2 kg 60 Pf.

Trade samples up to 250 grams 10 Pf, over 250 to 350 grams 20 Pf

Business Letters up to 250 grams 10 Pf; over 250 grams up to 500 grams 20 Pf; over 500 grams up to 1 kg 30 Pf., over 1 -2 Kgs 60 Pf.

Collated items (printed matter, trade samples and Business Letters) up to 250 grams 10 Pf; over 250-500 grams 20 Pf; over 500 to 1 Kg 30 Pf; over 1-2 Kgs 60 Pf.

 

b) Sent between the protectorates and foreign countries

Letters franked 20 Pf, unfranked 40 Pf for each 15 grams.

Postcards (standard) franked 10 Pf, unfranked 20 Pf.--Postcards with reply 20 Pf.

Printed Matter, Trade samples and Business Letters 5 Pf for each 50 grams, with a minimum of 10 Pf for Trade samples and 20 Pf for business letters. Maximum weight for printed matter and business letters 2 kilograms, for trade samples 350 grams

Collated items (printed matter, trade samples and business letters up to a total weight of 2 kilograms) 5Pf for each 50 grams, but at least 10Pf if the sent items contains printed matter and trade samples; at least 20 Pf if the sent item contains business letters

Registration fee 20 Pf; reply card fee 20 Pf

 

2.) Letters and boxes with value

(only permitted to German East Africa (Bagamoyo, Dar-es-Salaam, Kilwa, Lindi, Mikindani, Mohorro, Pangani, Saadani, Tanga), Cameroon (Duala, Victoria), Kiautschou (Tsangkou, Tsingtau), and the German postal offices in Kiautschou (town) and Kaumi. The letter with value may only contain securities (Shares/Obligations, paper currency, dividend slips and so on). In the postal service with Cameron it is permitted to include coins

The boxes with value may only contain jewellery or valuable items. Not be included in boxes of value may be letters or items which resemble in nature correspondence, valid currency, bank notes, named shares, documents and items which are by nature business letters.--Letter of value: maximum weight 250 grams. Boxes of value: maximum weight 1 kg. Maximum value 8000 Marks. Rate for letters of value: 10 Pf up to and inclusive of 20 grams, 20 Pf for greater weights, plus 20Pf registration fee
Rate for boxes of value regardless of weight: to Cameroon 1 Mk 60Pf; to German East Africa and to Kiautschou 2 Mk 40 Pf

Insurance fee for letters and boxes of value: to Cameroon 16 Pf for each 240 Mk; to German East Africa and to Kiautschou 28 Pf for each 240 Mk

 

3.) Postal money orders

Maximum value 800 Mk (in the service with German New Guinea maximum value 400 Mk). Rate: up to 5 Mk: 10Pf; over 5-10 Mk: 20Pf; over 100-200Mk: 30 Pf; over 200-400Mk: 40Pf; over 400-600Mk: 50Pf; over 600-800Mk: 60 Pf
The emission of postal money orders has to use the form destined for use in international service, with values in Mark and Pfennig. Written communication of whatever nature are permissible on the stubs of the money orders
Postal money orders are permitted to be used in the service with:

German New Guinea: only to Berlinhafen, Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen, Herbertshöhe and Stephansort.

German East Africa: only to Bagamoyo, Dar-es-Salaam, Kilwa, Lindi, Mikindani, Mohorro, Pangani, Saadani, and Tanga. The deposit and withdrawal there will use the traditional local currency (means of payment) using on the daily exchange rate

German South-West Africa: only to Gibeon, Gobadis, Grotfontein, Kuribib, Keetmanshoop, Lüderitzbucht, Okahandja, Outjo, Reyebith, Swakopmund, Warmbad and Windhuk

Cameroon: only to Buea, Duala, Kribi, Riodel-Rey, Victoria

Carolines: only to Ponape and Yap

Kiautschou: only to Tsangkou, Tsingtau and the German post offices in Kiautschou (town) and Kaumi

Togo: only to Agome-Palime, Klein-Popo and Lome

Samoa: The withdrawal through the German postal office in Apia occurs in German currency or, if such is in short supply, in English currency or in the currency of the United States of America

 

4.) Parcels

German New Guinea

a) via Bremen or Hamburg: up to 1 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; over 1-5 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; bulky goods permissible; 2 customs declarations (German).
b) via Austria and Italy (Naples): 1 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; over 1-5 kgs 3 Mk 20 Pf, 2 customs declarations (German<). br> Cash-on-delivery up to 400 Mk, permissible to Berlinhafen, Friedrich-Wilhelmshafen, Herbertshöhe, Stephansort; rate 1 Pf for each Mark, minimum 20Pf
For items sent to localities where no post office exists the recipient will have to incur the costs of delivery from the nearest post office to the (final) destination

German East Africa

a) via Hamburg: up to 1 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; over 1 - 5 kgs 2 Mk 40 Pf; bulky goods permissible; 2 customs declarations (German
b) via Austria and Italy (Naples): 1 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; over 1-5 kgs 3 Mk 20 Pf, 2 customs declarations (German)
Cash-on-delivery up to 800 Mk; rate 1 Pf for each Mark, minimum 20Pf
For items sent to the interior the recipient will have to incur the costs of delivery from the port of arrival to the (final) destination

German Southwest Africa

a) via Hamburg direct: up to 1 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; over 1 - 5 kgs 2 Mk 40 Pf; 2 customs declarations (German)
b) via Hamburg and Cape Town: up to 3 kg 4 Mk 95 Pf; 2 customs declarations (German)
Cash-on-delivery up to 800 Mk permissible to locations which can accept postal money orders; rate 1 Pf for each Mark, minimum 20Pf.
Bulky goods are permissible to Swakopmund, Lüderitzbucht, Cap Crotz
For items sent to the places which do not have a post office with parcel service, the recipient will have to incur the costs of delivery from the nearest post office with parcel service to the (final) destination.

Cameroon

via Hamburg: up to 5 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; bulky goods permissible; 2 customs declarations (German)
Value declarations permissible up to a maximum of 8000 Marks only to Duala and Victoria. Insurance fee 16 Pf for each 240 Marks.
Cash-on-delivery up to 800 Mk permissible to locations which can accept postal money orders; rate 1 Pf for each Mark, minimum 20Pf.
For items sent to localities where no post office exists the recipient will have to incur the costs of delivery from the nearest post office to the (final) destination.

Togo

via Hamburg: up to 5 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; bulky goods permissible; 2 customs declarations (German)
Cash-on-delivery up to 800 Mk permissible; rate 1 Pf for each Mark, minimum 20Pf.
For items sent to localities where no post office exists the recipient will have to incur the costs of delivery from the nearest post office to the (final) destination.

Kiautschou

a) via Bremen or Hamburg: up to 1 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; over 1-5 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; bulky goods permissible; 2 customs declarations (German)
b) via Austria and Italy (Naples): 1 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; over 1-5 kgs 3 Mk 20 Pf, 2 customs declarations (German)
Cash-on-delivery up to 800 Mk,; rate 1 Pf for each Mark, minimum 20Pf.
Value declarations permissible up to a maximum of 10,000 Marks (via Bremen or Hamburg), up to 800 Mk via Naples; Insurance fee via Bremen or Hamburg 16 Pf; via Naples 28 Pf for each 240 Marks.

Carolines and Marianas

a) via Bremen or Hamburg: up to 1 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; over 1-5 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; bulky goods permissible; 2 customs declarations (German)
b) via Austria and Italy (Naples): 1 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; over 1-5 kgs 3 Mk 20 Pf, 2 customs declarations (German)
For items sent to localities where no post office exists the recipient will have to arrange for the onwards delivery from the post offices (Saipan, Ponape and Yap).

Marshall Islands

a) via Bremen or Hamburg: up to 1 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; over 1-5 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; 2 customs declarations (German)
b) via Austria and Italy (Naples): 1 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; over 1-5 kgs 3 Mk 20 Pf, 2 customs declarations (German)
Cash-on-delivery up to 800 Mk, permissible,
For items sent to localities other than Jaluit the recipient will have to arrange for the onwards delivery from Jaluit.

Samoa

a) via Bremen direct: up to 1 kg 1 Mk 60 Pf; over 1-5 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; 2 customs declarations (German)
b) via Austria and Italy (Naples): 1 kg 2 Mk 40 Pf; over 1-5 kgs 3 Mk 20 Pf, 2 customs declarations (German)
Cash-on-delivery up to 800 Mk, permissible,
For items sent to localities other than Apia the recipient will have to arrange for the onwards delivery from Apia.

Heavy parcels (so-called postal freight) is permissible to all destinations listed above. The post offices will give directions on the conditions of service.

 

5.) Postal connections

German New Guinea

Norddeutscher Lloyd, six-weekly, Singapore-New Guinea-Sydney and back (with mail connections via Naples-Singapore and Brindisi-Sydney)

German East Africa

Deutsche Ostafrika Linie, Naples, fortnightly; Peninsular and Oriental S.V. Co. in connection with the British India-Line, Brindisi, four-weekly; Messageries maritimes, Marseille, monthly.

German Southwest Africa

From Southampton to Cape Town, Union-Castle Mail Steam Ship Co., weekly; onwards from Cape Town Woermann Linie, monthly. From Hamburg with direct steamer of the Woermann Linie, monthly.

Cameroon

Woermann Linie, Southampton and Antwerp, monthly; African Steamship Co.; and British and African Steam Navigation Company, Liverpool, twice monthly.

Carolines Marianas and Marshall Islands

Jaluit Gesellschaft, every 18 weeks from Sydney via the Marshall Islands, Carolines, Marianas and HongKong and back (mail connections in HongKong and Sydney)

Kiautschou

to Shanghai: 1. Norddeutscher Lloyd, Naples, fortnightly; 2. Peninsular and Oriental S.N. Co., Brindisi, fortnightly. 3. Messageries maritimes, Marseille, fortnightly. from Shanghai to Tsingtau, Hamburg-Amerika-Linie, twice weekly

Samoa

via New York-San Francisco, every three weeks, Oceanic Steamship Company to Pago-Pago (Tutuila), from there with immediate steamer connection to Apia.

Togo

Woermann Linie, Southampton and Rotterdam, four times a month

 

6.) Telegrams

The length of words is defined as 15 letters or five digits.
1) German East Africa

(via Emden, Vigo, Suez, Aden, Bismarcksburg, Ujiji) 3.15 Mk, other stations 2.75 Mk

2) German Southwest Africa

(via Emden, Vigo, Madeira, Ascension or via Emden, Vigo, Madeira [or Teneriffe], Luanda or via Emden, Vigo, Suez, Aden) 2.75 Mk

3) Cameroon

(via Emden, Vigo, Madeira [or Teneriffe],) 6.70 Mk

4)Togo

(via Emden, Vigo, Eastern, Madeira [or Teneriffe], Cotonou) 6.55Mk

5) Kiautschou

(via Emden, Vigo, Madras) 4.55Mk

German New Guinea, the Carolines, the Marianas, the Marshall Islands and Samoa are not yet connected to the telegraph network.
Telegrams have to be routed: for German New Guinea to Singapore or Batavia (=Jakarta) or Macassar or Sydney (New South Wales) or Brisbane (Queensland); for the Carolines, the Marshall Islands and for the Marianas to Sydney (New South Wales) or HongKong; for Samoa to Auckland (New Zealand), or Suva (Fiji Islands) or Honolulu (Hawaii). The onwards delivery from the mentioned places will occur via mail.v

 

7.) Telegraph Lines

A) German East Africa

Dar-es-Salaam--Bagamoyo--Zanzibar: Cable of the Eastern and South African Telegraph Company
Dar-es-Salaam--Mohorro--Kilwa--Lindi--Mikindani: Land Telegraph Line
Dar-es-Salaam--Bagamoyo--Saandani--Pangani-Tanga: Land Telegraph Line
Dar-es-Salaam--Masisifähre--Mrogoro--Kilossa--Mpapua--Kilimatinde--Tura (Deutsch-Ostafrika): Land Telegraph Line
Abercorn (Northern Rhodesia)--Bismarcksburg--Ujiji: Line of the African Transcontinental Telegraph Company

B) German Southwest Africa

Cape Town--Swakopmund--Mossamedes: Cable of the Eastern and South African Telegraph Company
Swakopmund--Karibib--Okahandja--Windhuk: Land Telegraph Line

C) Cameroon

Duala--Bonny: Cable of the African Direct Telegraph Company
Victoria--Buea--Duala: Land Telegraph Line

D)Togo

Lome--Klein Popo: Land Telegraph Line and connection to the land telegraph network of the neighbouring French and British colonies.
Lome--Agome-Palime: Land Telegraph Line: and connection to the land telegraph network of the neighbouring French and British colonies

E) Kiautschou

Shanghai--Tsingtau--Tschifu: Empire owned cables

 

Source

Alfred Herfurth (ed.), (1903) Deutscher Kolonialkalender und statistisches Handbuch für das Jahr 1904. [German colonial calendar and statistical handbook for the year 1904]. Sechtzehnter Jahrgang. Berlin: Deutscher Kolonial-Verlag (G Meinecke). Pp. 38-46.



[Contents]    [Appendices]


Bibliographic citation for this document

Spennemann, Dirk H.R. (2002). Postage Stamps used in the German Marshall Islands. Postal Regulations 1903.
URL: http:/marshall.csu.edu.au/Marshalls/html/Stamps/Marshalls/Documents/Regulations1903.html

CONTACT:
Dirk H.R. Spennemann, Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, P.O.Box 789, Albury NSW 2640, Australia.
e-mail: dspennemann@csu.edu.au


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