I came upon this sheet of German stamps and have been doing a bit of investigation. Here is what I can read from the special mark that was used to cancel each.
The mark is from July 18, 1947. It commemorates the 1400th year since the death of St. Benedict, who died in March 21, 547. It even has a picture of him and a cross.
I can read "Ebenhausen" and looked that up to find "Baar-Ebenhausen" - a municipality in Bavaria. I put "schaftlarn" into a translator and got "do business," provided there is an umlaut over the "a."
Since these stamps are worth more in used condition, I am thinking that they were cancelled in this manner to make them "used," but since they are not "postally used," this may not have resulted the the outcome that was desired. In any case, you will notice that #148 in row 3 position 2 was put on later, and was not marked with the stamp.
So that's all I know, and want to know if anyone here can give me any other information about this unusual find to add to what I already know. Any and all input will be appreciated.
re: Interesting sheet of German stamps with special cancel
These are cancelled to order stamps. These pages of stamps were put together by municipalities and given away to business partners and dignitaries as gifts. As such the sheet is more than just a bunch of cancelled stamps, and more a relic of German town life.
re: Interesting sheet of German stamps with special cancel
Hey ProfessorMel,
Nice collection sheet.
However, I see that it used to be cut into several pieces.
But about that stamp on the 3rd row.
It shows a farmer just like the stamp next to it, but the yellow one is from another time era. Between 1919 and 1923 to be exact so not from the 1946 - 1948 time period.
So-called WEIMAR ARBEITER. (Smith, Miner and Farmer)
I think that the original stamp fell of the sheet and someone glued this stamp (unused !!!) on this place.
Bad mistake because this reduces the value of this sheet very much.
Can you scan the cancellation mark so that I can read what the mark says?
And furthermore I agree with the comment of smauggie
re: Interesting sheet of German stamps with special cancel
Hi Hockey Net,
The sheet is intact, but was folded in the middle at one time, and was taped in the back cover of this 1953 Minkus album. There were 5 pieces of tape on the left side and one in the upper right corner. The top of the sheet was essentially shredded, and I trimmed it off (likely devaluing it more!).
Here are some scans of the cancellation. I had to inspect all of them to be able to get all of the information that I did get.
re: Interesting sheet of German stamps with special cancel
Thanks,
The cancellation is in the catalog of Julius Bochmann "Der Deutschen Gelegenheitsstempel"
and is called "Bochmann S3 Ebenhausen"
The Bochmann catalog is published by "der poststempelgilde 'Rhein-Donau'"
I have some of these booklets but none where this cancellation is in.
Ebenhausen is a part of the municipality Schäftlarn, Munich district, Bavaria.
It refers to the Schäftlarn abbey that was founded in the year 762.
It was founded as a monastery for monks from the Order of Saint Benedict.
This booklet is just one of the 20 I have.
By the way I found another picture of the same cancelation.
re: Interesting sheet of German stamps with special cancel
It is a lot of money for the complete set of booklets but here it is :
Bochmann catalog of special and advertising cancelation stamps (occasional stamps)
(PHILATHEK publishing house delivery) Price per unit (pieces): € 750.00
Bochmann catalog of special and promotional cancelation stamps (occasional stamps) in Germany
Complete edition: Years 1880-1986
Consisting of basic work, continuation I + II, preferential price with total acceptance of all three Bochmann parts.
69 volumes, 4,900 pages, A5 format, stapled.
Bochmann Stempelwerke: Detailed basic work of German stamps (with areas).
All stamps described (occasion, first day, motif) and evaluated, a majority of them are shown.
With a detailed introduction to handling.
The catalogs are sorted alphabetically (by cities and towns) and chronologically.
You can quickly look up the cancelation stamp you are looking for.