The year 2014 marked the 50th anniversary of the first year of operation of the Germany & Colonies Philatelic Society following the amalgamation of the Germany & Colonies Stamp Club (established 1947) and the Stockton German Study Group (1960).
The G&CPS celebrated its inaugural year in 1964 with the first Germania Posta philatelic exhibition held in Stockton.
I have recently acquired three Norddeutscher Bund covers and am struggling with the rationale for the frankings. I have checked against Michel and a couple of other books and can’t explain the postage paid. In all three cases the envelopes suggest nothing weightier than up to 15g or 15-250g ordinary letters. Any advice?
Cover 1: Hamburg to Bordeaux via Paris
Commercial cover. Franked with single ½ Groschen MiNr 3 and two 2 Groschen MiNr 5. Total postage paid 4 ½ Groschen. Tied with Hamburg I.A. Übergangs-stempel K1g cancellations dated 24.03.69. Cover also bears P.D. cachet in red and transit stamps for Tour-T. Erquelines in blue dated 26.3 and Paris a Bordeaux 26.3. Receipt stamp Bordeaux dated 27.3.
Cover 2: Hamburg to Brussels
Pre-franked 1 Groschen postal stationery envelope. Postage rate for light ordinary inland letter to 15g but uprated to 2 Groschen with addition of pair of ½ Groschen MiNr 3. Tied with Hamburg P.E.3. Übergangs-stempel K1g cancellations dated 01.04.69. Cover also bears P.D. cachet in red and transit stamps for St. J_______ and Prusse dated 03.4. Receipt stamp Bruxelles dated 03.4.
Cover 3: Halle to Bury St Edmunds
Franked with strip of five 1 Groschen MiNr 16, total postage 5 Groschen. Tied with Halle A/S Übergangs-stempel K2a cancellations dated 01.12. Cover also bears P.D cachet in red and receipt stamp Bury St Edmunds dated 04.12.
Also – what does the P.D. cachet indicate?
Thanks.
Dom