The post office history of Berlin forms into the Philatelie its own area. This is because of political conditions in Germany after the Second World War, which drew own issues of stamps for (west) Berlin. By Berlin the Philatelist understands generally this assembly area. In addition there are seven expenditures, the so-called bear marks, which appeared 1945 for completely Berlin.

1945 ago

During the introduction of the stamps Berlin lay like the whole Kingdom of Prussia in the range of the Prussian state post office. Accordingly the following issues of stamps were relevant for Berlin:

• Marks of Prussia 1850 - 1867 (valid by 31 December 1867, with exception of some service marks)
• Marks north Germans of the federation 1868 - 1870 (valid by 31 December 1871 with some exceptions)
• Marks of the German Reich 1871 - 1945

From 1945 to the currency reform

Municipal authorities of the city Berlin decided to 20. May 1945 the expenditure of own stamps, the "bear series in such a way specified" or "bear marks" (main motive was the citizen of Berlin bear). The marks were valid by 31 October 1946 in (large) Berlin.

Further issues of stamps used in Berlin were:

• To-post office-marks valid from 8 December 1945 by 31 December 1946 in all sectors, before only in the west sectors
• Expenditures for community of the allied control council by 23 June 1948.

The bear series leads the assembly area SBZ in the Michel catalog (Michel numbers 1-7), although it was actually an expenditure of all allied ones and thus also as expenditure for community could be understood.

From the currency reform to 4 February 1950

On 24 June 1948 the Soviet Union accomplished in its zone of occupation as reaction to the currency reform into the west zones its own currency reform, which included the area of large Berlin with, of which westallied was however not recognized. With the currency reform different overprinted expenditures of the expenditures for community in new currency (ostmark) were spent and used immediately in the SBZ and in the Soviet sector from Berlin. From this moment on also the postal separation developed with the economic separation of Berlin in west and east Berlin.

The western allied ones ordered thereupon on 25 June 1948 an own currency reform in West Berlin, the new ostmark was here however just as valid as the new SBZ marks. On 3 September 1948 in the western part of the city a new stamp series was spent. In addition 20 marks of the so-called 2 became. Expenditure for control council (thus expenditures of allied occupation for all-German country) with a black print "Berlin" overprints (black print). With this black imprinting the assembly area Berlin began. The marks were not recognized and were not complained of however in the SBZ. That was the beginning citizens of Berlin of the post office war. On 20 January 1949 and to 21. March 1949 appeared a further, this time red overprinted series of the 2. Expenditure for control council (red print). The marks with red print were only sold against D-mark. To 21. March 1949 was explained the D-mark as the exclusive currency in West Berlin.

The use of the SBZ marks was gradually limited in West Berlin:

• Starting from 11 September 1948 no transmissions with SBZ marks more were transported over the air lift
• Starting from 14 January 1949 SBZ marks were allowed no more only on transmissions to east Berlin, into which SBZ are used or abroad, for transmissions within West Berlin or into the three western zones of occupation.
• Starting from that 21. March 1949 the SBZ marks in West Berlin no more could not be used.

By 15 September 1949 the citizen of Berlin post office war continued. In the final phase also the SBZ marks for mails from the SBZ to West Berlin were not no more recognized and were occupied with additional postage. Only after it four powers agreed on the mutual acknowledgment of the respective stamps.

Starting from 20 January 1950 the citizens of Berlin marks were valid during their validity period also in the Federal Republic.

In West Berlin also the still valid marks of the Bizone starting from 27 October 1949, which French zone and the Federal Republic are used, were allowed. Final and durable permission for using Maken of the German Federal Republic during its validity time also in West Berlin was given on 4 February 1950.

From 4 February 1950 up to the German reunification

With 4 February 1950 the following corner points were certain, which remained unchanged up to the reunification essentially:

• There were the areas in Germany to Federal Republic, West Berlin and GDR (with collecting tanks briefly: Federation, Berlin and GDR), the stamps publications. (To in the middle of 1959 still the Saarland was added). East Berlin did not have special status within the GDR.
• The marks of West Berlin and the Federal Republic were mutually valid.
• Except for few exceptions however no citizens of Berlin marks were sold and turned around at the Postschaltern of the Federal Republic.

A change in the citizen of Berlin postal service gave it 1955. Up to then the West-Berliner senate was responsible as successors citizens of Berlin of municipal authorities for the expenditure of stamps. 1955 were created the national post office management Berlin. This was however no part of the Federal Postal Administration, but owed its tasks and its rights of an appropriate permission by the westallied. The allied ones agreed however that starting from 1955 the Federal Post Office Berlin was allowed to stand on the marks.

Starting from 1959 all citizens of Berlin continuous series in motive and in the value corresponded to the appropriate expenditures of the Federal Postal Administration. The expenditure designation the "Federal Post Office Berlin" was with these marks the only difference. With special marks became in the years 1964 - 1967 frequently exactly the same proceed, in accordance with it only in individual cases.

1990 received the full sovereignty to Germany in the two-plus four-contract. Apart from other restrictions also the special status of West Berlin was waived. Own citizens of Berlin issues of stamps were not necessary any longer. The last citizens of Berlin appeared to mark on 27 September 1990, few days before the reunification. The last months brought again some changes in the validity periods:

• Still valid marks of West Berlin could be used starting from 2 July 1990 also in the GDR.
• Starting from 2 July 1990 in the GDR marks in D-mark currency were spent. These marks were valid in reverse also in West Berlin by 31 December 1991.
• The validity of all citizens of Berlin marks ended on 31 December 1991.

Thus Berlin was final as own assembly area.

Overview of the expenditures

Beginning with the expenditure for black print the citizens of Berlin expenditures end with the Michel number 879. Since four numbers were not assigned, had Berlin 875 expenditures and 8 of block). Of it were:

• 80 independent continuous marks, of it 38 positive pressure of the 2. Expenditure for control council (black, red and green print) and 42 others (citizen of Berlin buildings and citizen of Berlin of townscapes)

• 159 continuous marks, motive and worth to the appropriate marks of the Federal Postal Administration, distinguishable by the inscription the "Federal Post Office Berlin" (Heuss (Medaillon), meaning German, German buildings from 12 centuries I and II, Brandenburger gate, Federal President Gustav Heinemann, accident prevention, industry and technology, castles and locks, women of German history, objects of interest). 3 of these marks appeared only in Berlin, in order postage for postcards within Berlin to cover to be able (8 Pf. "Buildings II", 8 and 15 Pf. "Heinemann"). Same marks of the Federal Postal Administration had in each case the same expenditure day with exception 20 of the Pfennig Pfennig of the "castles and locks" and 60 the Pfennig Pfennig of the "women of German history". Since the series "women of German history" and "objects of interest" were continued after the reunification by the Federal Postal Administration, these sentences from Berlin are substantially smaller. But during the citizens of Berlin expenditure time not all marks in Berlin (it appeared already were missing: the value to 1.20 DM of the "women" and the values to 33 Pf., 38 Pf., 45 Pf., 90 Pf. and 2.80 DM of the "objects of interest"). The 90-Pfennig-Wert of the "important Germans" was before the only value of these series, which was not spent in Berlin.

• 587 independent citizens of Berlin special marks. In addition also the 8 of block belongs.

• 49 special marks, motive and worth to the appropriate marks of the Federal Postal Administration with the inscription the "Federal Post Office Berlin". Same marks of the Federal Postal Administration had in each case the same expenditure day.

Starting from 1987 there were automat marks also in Berlin. Motive was the lock Charlottenburg

Articles in category "Berlin (post office history and stamps)"

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