Introduction

Since 1882 German postal Stationery caried a number of identification marks that alllowed to determine the month and year of printing, as well as the paper manufacturer of the original card. As the early Vorläfer cards were unaltered German stationery these marks apply. Likewise, the later cards of the Eagles series were overprinted standard cards, which carry the same marks. Only after the introduction of the Yacht series of Stationery this practice changed.

This identification was first achieved by printing a small control number at the bottom right hand margin of the card, to which from 1894 a small letter indicating the paper manufacturer was added. In addition a gap in the dots on the fourth address line was added, which was also a coded letter (see table below).[1] For the 5 Pfg card this system was expanded by omitting a combination of dots (set in five-dot intervals) in the address line to reflect the month of printing. The 10 Pfennig and other (later) cards continued to use printed numbers at the right hand bottom which provide for the month and date of printing. These are set out in the description of each of the cards. In addition, we need to distinguish between various frame types.

Gaps in the Address Line

Since 1882 German postcards had identification marks, that could be used to determine the date or printing. This was achieved by ommitting a combination of dots (set in five-dot intervals) in the address line. Each gap corresponds with a month, whereby the gap on the first line indicates the month of printing. With multiple gaps a printing history from that plate can be reconstructed. Kalckhoff developed a "gap clock' (Punktlückenuhr) which allows to identify not only the month of printing but also, by sequencing the gaps, the printing history of the plate used for the manufacture of the Stationery (see illustration and table below). For example if the gaps identified are a,b,c and k, then they are to be ordered as c + b + a + k (because the longest gap exists between c and k). This then, combined with the watermark 99, allows to reconstruct that the actual card in question was printed in March 1899, but that the printing plate had already been used for printings in February and January 1899, as well as in October 1899. [2]

Watermarks

From 1895 onwards all 5 Pfg post cards carried a water mark that reflected the year of manufacture as well as the paper manufacturer.

Printing Codes

Frame types 1886 Eagle series Stationery

Frame Type V1 A (top) and VI B (bottom):
The difference between the two types rests in the ending of the meandering band. In subtype A the meander ends pointing left, in subtype B it ends pointing right (see detail at right).

Frame Type V2 A (top) and V2 B (bottom):
The difference between the two types rests in the ending of the meandering band. In subtype A the meander ends pointing left, in subtype B it ends pointing right (see detail at right).

Frame types 1889/91 Eagle series Stationery

Frame Type 2: At left margin first three fine, then one fat bar: IIII
The left thin bar can be very close to the corner square.

Frame Type 3: At right margin two fine line after the last fat bar: III
Example shown has a white print flaw line as well (variant).

Frame Type 4: At right margin only one fine line after the last fat bar: II