| Message: |
Dave,PORTO CDS & m/s markings are indeed known during all of the postal periods, including December 1923. Surprisingly though even during the chaos very few postal items were underfranked or if sent went undetected. The amount due was if memory serves was always 1.5 times the missing amount.
Meter marks initially did display the full amount of postage paid with all the 0's. But as the rates increased it became impossible to display every 0 and as such the date and the letter M usually indicates whether the rate refers to Million or Milliarden Marks having been paid. Most machine cancels are commercial as the post office if they had run out of stamps simply applied Gebuhr Bezahlt (cash paid) and hand written sum paid noted,with a signature.
Sometimes though a shortfall was noticed and the item returned to sender to pay the missing anount with no surcharge. Hopefully the attached scan explains this. The card shows a commercial card from Augsburg, OPD München - Mettmann franked initially with pair of Mi 331b dated 17.11.23. This was enough to meet the printed matter rate only. The request for C.O.D. 75 Milliarden and 50 Million Marks fee should have been paid by the sender. This fact was missed by the post office and the shortfall noticed by the sorting office. Card was then returned to sender who then had to pay the missing 5 Milliarden Marks. This was paid and a franking of five Michel 325 P applied. These are dated 19.11.23. Mettmann arrival cancel applied on 21.11.23. with handwritten 23.11. in blue denoting day card was delivered. Perfect example showing the confusion at the time on who was responsible for paying certain fees.
|
