Introduction

At a time when the colonies had already been largely lost as part of WWI, the Reichspost continued its programme of replacing the standard Yacht issues with stamps on water-marked paper. Many stamps never reached the colonies, but were available for sale in Berlin. Even after the war was over, and Germany had capitulated, stamps and postcards were printed. In the end these had to be disposed of, both by public auction, and by sale by tender for lots.

The document reproduced here is such a tender document, in this case for surplus stamp and postal stationary stock from the German Caroline Islands. Note that the prices reflect the high level of inflation already occurring in Germany at the time.