Content of Deutschland-Spezial 2022 catalog Volume I: 1849-04/1945

Old Germany; Northern German Confederation and German Reich; local issues 1923; foreign post offices; colonies and maritime mail abroad; occupation issues of World Wars I and II; plebiscite areas, Belgian military mail in Rhineland, Eupen and Malmédy; Gdansk, Memel, Sudetenland; field post stamps; official mail, war and propaganda forgeries; international reply coupons.

• For this new edition, the Editorial Team focused on the sample prints and presentation cards of Old Wurttemberg and the chapter “forerunners and interim stamps in the area of Bohemia and Moravia”.
• Numerous new plate flaws have been confirmed: 20 of them alone in the collections areas of Belgian military mail, Eupen and Malmédy.
• Many other new special characteristics concerning the areas of Thurn and Taxis, Allenstein, Saar Region, Gdansk as well as France during World War II
• Completely revised introduction to countries regarding Luxemburg during World War Two
• Numerous price changes with several considerable increases found among the reprints of Hanover, the presentation cards of Wurttemberg, the German foreign post offices and colonies (with some brand new price quotations), Sudetenland and the collection area of general government
• More than 6150 colour photos and approx. 96,100 price quotations

The Michel Catalog Deutschland-Spezial has contained in-depth special information for experienced philatelists and collectors of specialties and type variations since its very first edition. In particular the first book, which contained only 436 pages, published in 1935, catalogued one of the most famous and expensive type variations of Old Germany.

The Baden misprint MiNo. 4F started with an appraised value of Marks 25,000 and has been very much sought after ever since. Its value culminated in 2019 when it was sold for more than one million Euros while launching the high-profile auction sale series of the collection of Erivan Haubs.

This first type variation of the Germany Special is considered to be the most precious German stamp there is, yet even in 2020 the last type variation of German collection areas prior to 1945 has not been sighted yet by far. New discoveries are constantly made and are included in our new reference books after they have been thoroughly examined and approved by experts. A particularly large number of formerly unknown specimens celebrate their philatelic debut since the 50th Anniversary edition of our Michel Catalog Deutschland-Spezial.

The catalog is organized according to collection areas. Cataloging within these sections is chronological, based on issue date. Special stamp types, like official stamps, are located at the end of a collection area section. In order to assist collectors organize their stamps, numerous illustrations are provided, as well as information on similar stamps to help avoid possible mix-ups.

When it comes to the older German collection areas, philatelic research never rests. Last year, which again was characterized by the Corona Pandemic, brought forth a striking number of new special characteristics, and the market for classic philately was more active than usually. In this latest edition of the Michel Catalog Deutschland-Spezial 2022 Volume I, the MICHEL Editorial Team has included these research findings and the changes in the market in detail and in a clear layout. In addition to the adjusted appraisals, which are of particular interest to collectors who are aware of the more extraordinary stamps in their possession, a closer look at the novelties may reward collectors with the discovery of new surprises. For example, owners of the postage stamps of Gdansk might find 25 new flaws in their own collections. Besides the new discoveries, the well-known plate flaws of these issues have recently started to show notable increases in the value of issues in mint condition.Illustration: Gdansk PO MiNo. 30

Press Release Volume 1

The obligatory tax stamps in occupied Romania from the years of 1917 to 1918 are certainly not among the more widely popular collection areas of German philately. However, they are well suited for specializing in a specific area while usually staying within a reasonable price range. In addition to papers, perforations and colours, this new edition of the Michel Catalog Deutschland-Spezial 2022 Volume I also lists a striking plate flaw – a large flaw in the stamp design as well as in the printed red frame – for the first time. However, that very flaw is one of the dear abnormalities of this small yet fascinating collection area.

The 20 newly recorded plate flaws found in the collection areas of Belgian military mail in Rhineland, Eupen and Malmédy are just as captivating, for instance the ”broken value plate“ of the 10-centime stamp or the 25 new flaws of the lion postage stamp from Gdansk. But the other collection areas – such as Thurn and Taxis, Allenstein, Saar Region or France in World War II – have lots of new details to offer that are suitable for specializing in that area.

Other focal points were the sample prints and presentation cards of Old Wurttemberg, the forerunners and interim stamps in the Bohemia and Moravia collection areas and the introduction to countries regarding the collection area of occupied Luxemburg.

The market of classic issues of German philately is extremely active – of course especially in the field of type variations and special characteristics. For instance, the prices for reprints from Hanover have gone up enormously – repeatedly for four times their former values and even more. The presentation cards of Wurttemberg, however, have even exceeded these developments. The collection areas of German foreign post offices and colonies with their many price increases and new quotations as well as general government – particularly the sample prints – and the issues from Sudetenland have also shown considerable activities.

The large and smaller collection areas of the classic Germany philately are constantly changing; research has revealed new findings in all areas. We therefore want to thank the experts and researchers who have been collaborating with us for their support while updating the Michel Catalog Deutschland-Spezial. And we hope our readers will have great fun and make surprising discoveries while browsing through the Germany Specialized as well as MICHEL Rundschau, the monthly journal that is at the very pulse of philatelic research.

Schwaneberger Verlag
Editors

Content of Deutschland-Spezial 2022 catalog Volume II: 05/1945-

German local issues starting with 1945, including official stamps and private products; joint issues; Berlin and Brandenburg; the Soviet Zone; German Democratic Republic; Berlin (West); Saarland as well as Saarland as federal state of F.R.G.; the French Zone, the American Zone and the British Zone; F.R.G., foreign post offices; international reply coupons.

• Fully revised special knowledge on German collection areas as of 1945
• Lots of new special characteristics and type variations found in various areas, including over 40 new plate flaws in the areas of local issues, Berlin and the Federal Republic of Germany
• Numerous changed appraisals of local issues, Soviet occupation zone, GDR registered mail stamps, French Zone, bi-zone and the early years of Berlin
• Pay attention to the “Welt der Briefe (World of Letters)“: Since several issues are produced by different printing plants, Germany’s youngest postage stamps series will most likely become a new special collection area – the first difference has already been recorded.
• Publication of the numbers of issues of the commemorative stamps issued by the Federal Republic of Germany in 2021
• Over 10,200 colour photos and approx. 116,700 price quotations
• Presents all novelties up to and including April 2022

Due to tireless research, even the younger German collection areas offer a multitude of stamps with special characteristics by now that provide not only versatile options to philatelists but also extremely sought-after and therefore expensive individual pieces. Last year the market of many such collection areas was particularly active. The Editorial Team had to lower price quotations for several traditionally expensive issues for the first time after quite a while. In return, collectors can rejoice about newly catalogued issues and higher price quotations. Many German local issues, for instance, were among the winners, such as MiNo. 69 from Fredersdorf, which has shown an increased value in its most inexpensive version as well as in various variations. In consideration of so many and such distinct changes, any collector of Germany is well advised to take a good hard look at the latest edition of the MICHEL Germany Specialized.Illustration: German local issues Fredersdorf MiNo. 69

Press Release Volume 2

Since the first postage stamp series – the 16 values of the post horn set that were published between June 1951 and April 1952 – 15 other permanent series in the German Federation collection area have been issued up to now.

The series “Theodor Heuss“, which contained two different portrait drawings of the first federal president of the F.R.G., was the second postage stamp series, followed by the series ”Number in Ornamental Lettering“. On 13 November 1986 one of the longest running German series was launched: ”Women in German History“, which ran for about 16 years, and 6 November 1987 marks the beginning of the series “Famous Attractions“, which ran for the same length of time. The postage stamp series of this new millennium are “Flowers“, which totaled 66 motifs issued over a period of 17 years, the complementary series “Numbers” and the series “World of Letters”, which was launched in December of last year.

On the publication date of the Michel Catalog Deutschland-Spezial 2022 Volume II, 15 different values of the new series are already available; they show creative combinations of the world outside and letters and are rather interesting from a technical point of view, too, because the production of several self-adhesive stamps was divided among different printing plants. Therefore differences may be expected to be found in the printed motifs of one and the same stamp – as is the case with the first self-adhesive stamp of the series, the letter water lily. So it may pay off to keep your eyes open in the “World of Letters”.

However, the Germany Specialized also presents plenty of new details in the sector of plate flaws. In the collection areas of local issues, Berlin and German Federation, 40+ recorded flaws motivate specialists to take another close look at the specimens in their possession. The current numbers of issues of German commemorative stamps from 2021 are waiting for collectors interested in production technology, and market observers can look forward to notable price fluctuations in the areas of local issues, Soviet Occupation Zone, GDR registered mail stamps, French Zone, bi-zone and Berlin in the early years.

The Michel Catalog Deutschland-Spezial 2022 Volume II contains all postage and commemorative stamps novelties up to and including April of 2022 plus the current international reply coupon in an Abidjan pattern. A subscription to MICHEL Rundschau, the philatelic journal published by MICHEL, is recommended so as to receive the latest philatelic research information and findings every month.

We say a heartfelt “Thank you” to all those experts and researchers out there who have been assisting us for their support – and we wish you, dear readers, an enjoyable time with this new Specialized.

Schwaneberger Verlag
Editors

Target Group:

Stamp collectors specialized in stamps of Germany, experts, dealers, thematic collectors, study groups, teachers

The catalog is organized according to collection areas. Cataloging within these sections is chronological, based on issue date. Special stamp types, like official stamps, are located at the end of a collection area section. In order to assist collectors organize their stamps, numerous illustrations are provided, as well as information on similar stamps to help avoid possible mix-ups.

Title: Deutschland-Spezial 2022
Volumes: I (1848-04/1945), II (05/1945-05/2022)
Edition: 52nd edition, in colour
Pages: Volume I ca 1216, volume II ca. 1472
Format: 155 mm x 230 mm, hardcover with three book markers
Publisher: Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH
Publication Date: 29 April 202w
Language: German

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