Postal history and postage stamps of Prussia

In the 19th century, the Prussian Post was the predominant post in northern Germany, similar to Thurn and Taxis in southern Germany. On the basis of the post office gazettes, the history of the postal service, i.e. the shipping regulations and the tariffs for the individual items to be sent, is treated here, as is the organizational form of the Prussian Post. For the beginnings of the post in Prussia up to 1808 see Prussian Post Office .

The Prussian Post 1808 to 1868

Post house sign Prussia 1776

After the Battle of the Nations near Leipzig (1813), the formation of French states disappeared. The old states were restored. The second section of Prussian postal history began here. By evaluating the official Prussian post office gazettes, the shipping conditions and tariffs became the main part of this work in addition to the organizational history.

On December 16, 1808, the constitution of the highest state authorities with regard to the internal state and financial administration was changed. The post office was previously subordinate to the Department of Factories and Commerce, but the General Post Office has now been assigned to the 1st Department of the Ministry of the Interior (General Police). The technical administration remained independent. As early as October 27, 1810, the General Post Office formed a special department (4th) within the Ministry of the Interior.

On June 3, 1814, the postal administration was detached from the ministry and subordinated to the postmaster general. However, control and directing remained reserved for the State Chancellor. With the death of Karl August von Hardenberg on November 26, 1822, the position of State Chancellor remained vacant. The postal administration under the postmaster general Karl Ferdinand Friedrich von Nagler now became independent and was directly subordinate to the king (Kab. Ordre of March 4, 1823). There was no provincial authority at the time . The post offices were directly subordinate to the General Post Office in Berlin. The head of a post office was the postmaster. The official title of Ober-Postdirektor and Postdirektor were honorary titles for the heads of the post offices at government offices and at the border post offices , but they were without further powers.

• The post offices, including the court post office and the upper post offices , were responsible for the correct collection of postage and the calculation of postage. They also had to provide replacements if mistakes were made by subordinate authorities. They mediated the traffic of people, letters, money and parcels on the postal courses and were responsible for the security on these courses. For items of high value, the postmaster was authorized to allow armed men to accompany the mail . In order to monitor the postage, the postmaster or his deputy had to carefully check the incoming and outgoing mail. The postmaster also had to ensure that the items were delivered quickly and correctly. The post offices were assigned subsidiary post offices . The post office keepers , also called post administrations and post expeditors, were founded in the reign of Friedrich Wilhelm I (1713-1740). With regard to cash and accounting, they were assigned to the nearest post office, but were otherwise directly under the general post office. The administration of the post office was usually entrusted to local residents as a sideline. Occasionally the Stein-Hardenberg administrative reform , which also brought some changes in the post office system, were given the name Post-Expeditions to the post office staff , without any change in their accounting under the post offices. The postman had only a relatively small business group to manage. He had to pay compensation for any loss caused by his mistake and therefore had to give a deposit to the local post office. He had to note the arrival and departure times of the post in the time sheet, to enter the items of mail from the bill of lading into the “manual”, but to record the items passing through only in summary in order to save time. He had to calculate the incoming cards himself and send them to the post office in front of him every day. His duties also included keeping horses and carts ready for the extra items, or at least quick clearance. Relay dispatches were quicker to take care of. Collections of letters had been set up in smaller towns . As the name suggests, the business circle was limited to the handling of the postman or the delivery of the existing letters to the post office, the collection and delivery of the local correspondence and the calculation of the postage received.

1816 Prussian posting stamp

Postage stamps were introduced in Prussia from 1816. These stamps should be used by the post offices for all mail sent abroad. The letters arriving from the post office attendants and destined for foreign countries were stamped with the stamp of the post office from which they were sent. These letters had to be covered with land postage . As early as March 1817, it was determined that all letters should be postmarked, and internal postage was no longer charged. Old stamps, e.g. B. in the newly added areas could be used.

In 1819 the first express mail from Berlin to Magdeburg was set up, and more were to follow.

Postage January 1, 1822

Until 1824, the fee rates mostly date from the time of the French postal administration , were confusing due to a myriad of special agreements on some courses and were still quite high. In addition, the coin edict of September 30, 1821 resulted in small fee increases when it was decided to convert the taler to 30 silver groschen (instead of 24 good groschen ). At the same time, in principle, only half fractions should be used in the tariff. The smaller fractions were rounded up. So from 6 good pfennigs (Pfg), which had now become 7½ pfennigs due to the currency changeover, became 1 Sgr. rounded up.

Tariff for newspapers from 1822

newspaper	A.	B.
	Pfg.
for the whole bow	4th	5
for half the arch	2½	4th
for the quarter arc	1½	2½
for the insert sheet	1½	-
for half the sheet	1	-
Printed matter under the cruciate ligament
ordinary sheet of paper	8th
single half arch	5
single quarter arch	4th
1 sheet in music format	10
½ sheet in music format	10

A first start was made with the fees for newspapers, the circulation of which had grown considerably. The following fees for newspapers were applied:

• A. domestic newspapers, under cruciate ligament .
• B. Foreign newspapers with the exception of the French papers (regulates postal treaty with France) [next change October 1, 1848].

The fee was calculated based on the number of sheets each newspaper had on average each year. At the same time, the sending of printed matter under a cruciate tape is permitted. Printed matter includes books, printed documents, sheet music, price lists, open printed circulars and samples. Eight sheets of paper smaller than octave format are also considered to be normal printed sheets. Maps may not be delivered rolled up. Only paperback books are meant, never bound books. The senders are obliged to note their names and the number of sheets on the cruciate ribbon. The postage rates were the same for all distances within the country.

Detail from the postcard from the Prussian state, Berlin, 1829

On April 4, 1823, the General Post Office became independent under General Postmaster von Nagler. It was directly subordinate to the king. All post offices were directly subordinate to the General Post Office in Berlin. The postmaster presided over a post office. The official titles of senior post director and post director were honorary titles. The post offices were assigned subsidiary post offices . The post office attendants, also known as postal administrations and postal dispatchers, were assigned to the nearest post office with regard to cash and accounting, but were otherwise directly below the general post office. The administration of the post office was usually entrusted to local residents as a sideline. The post offices were later given the name Post Expeditions . Collections of letters had been set up in smaller towns . The business circle was limited to the handling of the postman or the delivery of the existing letters to the post office, the collection and delivery of the local correspondence and the calculation of the postage received. To calculate postage, the straight line distances of all post locations in the country were determined from each other. The measurement and production of the necessary precise maps lasted from 1823 to 1825. Eight surveyors were on the road for 1½ years to determine the distances and had to determine 1,386,596 distances.

The first Prussian postmarks were introduced around 1825. The letter collections and post office keepers were given a two-line text with the day and month in digits under the place name. In the two-line lines for the post offices, the month was given, abbreviated, in letters.

1825 Prussian stamp form

Postage January 1, 1825

A major reform was worked out and passed on December 18, 1824. The new fees came into effect on January 1, 1825. It was the first comprehensive postal order.

The main provisions of the first complete Basic Law on the Post Office are as follows: The letter, parcel and money tax between all post offices is based only on the direct distance, but not on the routes covered by the post. Thus, the inland postage also stopped . Postage between all Prussian post offices is only calculated and charged in one sum. All exceptional postage increases, surcharges such as discounts for individual courses and locations are no longer applicable. The new Posttax law was applied equally to all citizens. There are no differences in the parcel tax based on the content of the shipment (merchant goods, victuals ); The same tariff applies to all parcels, so that only weight and distance are decisive for the valuation, in the case of money transfers the distance and the value amount. Instead of the indefinite rate for papers au porteur , a rate is introduced for all papers subject to the exchange rate; the presentation of the papers and the sealing of the letter in the post office as well as the modified differences in the rate are omitted.

Section I. Letter, parcel and postage

A. Postage

1825 Prussian postage

Postage		Weight
miles	Sgr.	Lot	x times
2	1	¾ - 1	1½
2 - 4	1½	1 - 1½	2
4 - 7	2	1½ - 2	2½
7-10	2½	2 - 2½	3
10-15	3	2½ - ​​3	3½
every additional 10 miles = 1 Sgr. more
each additional ½ lot = ½ times more postage
Files and correspondence are transported by regular mail
2 lot		Postage
2 - 8		3 times
6 - 16		4 times
15 - 24		5 times
to 1 pound		6 times
every additional pound = simple postage more
Printed matter under the cruciate ligament
¼ of the letter or file tax
Samples
up to 1½ lot		Postage
over 1½ lot		½ postage

The postage fee is calculated according to the distance and weight, whereby the "simple letter" ¾ lot could be heavy (1 lot = 4 quents = 14.606 g). At the highest distance in the Prussian postal area one came to 19 Sgr. for the simple, up to ¾ lot heavy letter [previously 18 Sgr.].

(§ 8) Letters up to 2 lots incl. Heavy belong exclusively to the riding post . Up to this weight, the weight progression takes place, regardless of whether the transport takes place in parts or entirely by riding, express, driving or messenger mail.

(§ 9) All letters sent to the post office in Germany with a weight of over 2 lots belong to the driving mail, unless the sender has expressly requested transport by riding or express mail to the address in writing. Postage and progression sets of files and documents, with the driving, Karriol - and messenger posts.

(§ 11) If several similar items belong to the same address, the postage will be charged for each individual item according to the progression. The postage for consignments of printed and other non-written items packed in letter form, with the exception of those under cruciate ligament and valuables, is paid after the parcel tax. [until 1827]

(§ 14) Postage for consignments under the cruciate ligament cost the fourth part of the file tax. There is a Franko obligation. On request also by post, then ¼ postage. Maximum weight 16 Lot, above that after the package tax. 1848 date and signature are allowed as handwritten additions.

(§ 17) Samples of goods in letters or attached to the letters, insofar as they are recognizable as such and the letter without the samples does not weigh more than ¾ lot, the simple postage fee is charged up to 1½ lot [weighed together]. If the weight is exceeded, half of the tariff postage fee will be offset against the riding and express post . [until 1852] The registered letter (introduced in the Rhineland in 1821, for double postage) was accompanied by 2 Sgr. for the delivery of the postage and the simple postage for the return receipt. The notes are stamped with a fee and are treated like cash by the postal service (circular no. 47, of the General Post Office from 1824). In 1839 it was decreed that registered letters must be delivered within six hours without exception, regardless of the declaration of collection [Schwarz]. From 1844 the receipt will only be returned at the request of the sender, for a delivery fee of 6 Pfg.

(§ 20) The sender receives a dispatch note. At the domestic post office, the recipient of the letter issues a certificate, which is sent back to the colliding post office and given to the sender in return for the posting slip.

B. Parcel postage

1825 Prussian parcel postage

Parcel postage 3 pounds per pound and 5 miles at least
to 4 pounds	2 times the postage fee
about that	3 times the postage fee
Excess miles count as a full 5 miles. Excessive perpendiculars are not taken into account. Cover letters up to ¾ Lot were free, from excess weight, the fee is charged. Upon request, for 2 Sgr. a postal receipt issued for the posting.

(§ 22) The parcel postage is regulated

• a) after removal (as with letters) and
• b) according to the weight of the package

(§ 23) The parcel postage increases after a progression from 5 to 5 miles with ¼ Sgr. or 3 pounds for each pound. For smaller parcels, however, the letter postage tax is applied in such a way that up to the weight of 4 pounds two times the letter postage, over 4 pounds three times the postage, insofar as the postage is no longer according to the progression rates for parcels.

(§ 24) If several parcels belong to one address, the weight is reduced. If the postage is less than 3 times the postage based on the total weight, this must be charged.

(§ 26) Smaller parcels can, if possible, be sent with the express post. There is then an increase in the postage rate of 50%.

(§ 28) The letter belonging to a package is free up to a weight of ¾ lot. Postage is only charged for excess weight - for fast items according to the weight progression for letters, for tickets over 2 lot also according to the file tax.

(§ 29) Items whose value for the pound is 10 thalers or more must be declared and the value stated on the address. In the case of objects of lower value, the value may or may not be stated at the choice of the sender.

(§ 30) Postage from 10 thalers is charged according to the gold tax, - under 10 thalers according to the package tax.

C. Monetary postage

1825 Prussian money postage

Send money silver
up to 1 thaler	1 Sgr.
1 - 20 thalers	2 Sgr.
20 - 50 thalers	3 Sgr.
50-100 thalers	4 Sgr.
from 100 thalers staggered from 5 to 5 miles
up to 1,000 thalers
50 thalers each	2 Sgr. more
100 thalers each	4 Sgr. more
over 1,000 thalers
50 thalers each	3 Sgr. more
100 thalers each	1½ Sgr. more
Money transfers gold
up to 50 thalers	2-fold
50-100 thalers	like for 100 thalers
from 100 thalers graduated from 5 to 5 miles
up to 1,000 thalers
100 thalers each	3 Sgr. more
50 thalers each	1½ Sgr. more
over 1,000 thalers
50 thalers each	1 Sgr. more
100 thalers each	2 Sgr. more
March 19, 1826 Postage for gold = ½ silver tariff
Paper money
domestic	½ silver tariff
foreign	¼ silver tariff
modified in 1825	${\displaystyle 1/10}$ Silver tariff
1848	like domestic
Course papers	¼ silver tariff
Mixed shipments (gold, coins, paper money)
up to 4 lot	2-fold
4 - 8 lot	3 times
The bill fee of 2 Sgr.

(§ 31) The cash postage is calculated a) according to the distance and b) according to the value

(§ 32) For minted and unminted silver and cutting coins according to the table, sums up to 100 thalers according to the postage fee. With sums of and over 100 thalers a tax progression occurs, which increases from 5 to 5 miles with 4 Sgr. for every hundred, and with 2 Sgr. for every ½ hundred until the shipment reaches 1,000 thalers in full, progresses, from where for every further 100 thalers 3 Sgr. and for every 50 thalers 1½ Sgr. from 5 to 5 miles. Foreign silver is converted: 12 Gulden Reichsgeld after the 24 Guldenfuß are equated with 7 Taler and 111 Mark Hamburger Banco 56 Taler Prussian silver money.

(§ 34) For copper coins the postage is paid according to the package tax.

(§ 35) The following is charged for gold and valuables: up to 50 thalers = double postage - over 50 thalers to 100 thalers as for 100 thalers, but double postage must be achieved. The weight does not matter. With sums of 100 thalers and above, the tax progression occurs which from 5 to 5 miles with 3 Sgr. for every 100 and progresses with 1½ for every half hundred. Here, too, if the first 1,000 thalers are exceeded, the rate is reduced to 2 Sgr. or on 1 Sgr. a.

When calculating the gold value, a Friedrich d'or at 5 thalers and a ducat at 2¾ thalers are assumed. [Changed to the ½ silver tax in 1826]

(§ 37) Paper money and course papers. All domestic and foreign paper money, as well as all papers bearing the course, must be declared on the envelope by the sender, namely:

• a) domestic paper money according to face value
• b) the foreign paper money and all course papers according to the every time course in Preuss. Curant, -

if the fixed postage for letters or files according to the weight is not reached, the postage for silver money is levied [reduced to 1/10 of the silver tariff in 1825].

(Section 39) If there is a suspicion that the declaration has been omitted or incorrect, the post office officials have the right to request the sender or recipient to open the letters or parcels in the post office. Possibly. we filed a criminal complaint.

(§ 43) On the other hand, no post office clerk may allow himself to violate any letter in order to research its content or with any other intention.

(§ 44) Postage for mixed shipments - The packaging of different types of items, as gold, curant, paper money, etc. in writing, in a letter, is only allowed up to a weight of 8 Lot, unless the postage of the separately charged is allowed higher after the cash tax.

(§ 46) In the case of consignments of greater weight, a mixing of such items, for which there is a different tax, is not permitted if they also belong to one address, specially packaged and then treated in the same way as if items with different addresses are sent to the post office would have been given.

(§ 48) Shipments of money and paperwork of value are usually only sent by driving post. If the post office has the option of sending such items with express mail, the tariff increases by 50%.

(§ 50) The accompanying letter belonging to the money shipments will be treated in the same way as for parcel shipments.

(§ 51) Land postage. - In places where there are no post offices themselves, but which are touched by the mail passing through, the municipalities, if they want to use the post office passage, must issue such an order [e.g. B. the exchange of mail bags] that the delivery of letters can be done without the post office and without the Schirrmeister or postilion having to leave the car.

(§ 52) For the carriage of letters from such places a) from and to the next station, b) from and to the places which are occupied between the next and the following station, the postage is charged at the lowest rate. This postage is called land postage. If the correspondence continues or comes further, so that two or more stations are touched, only the normal postage is charged and no land postage is added.

(§ 53) Postage increase when Fourage inflation occurs has never come to fruition [Moch]

Section II.

(§ 54) Token change - The postal service is obliged to issue posting slips:

• a) on money, paper money, papers subject to the exchange rate, if the amount exceeds 1 thaler, valuables and recruited letters
• b) via ordinary packages. However, this only at the request of the sender, which must be expressed on the address by the comment: "against bill".

For the posting slip, the sender must have 2 Sgr. pay. This note bears the stamp: "Two silver groschen", [they are valid at the post office like cash]. This note is signed and sealed by the recipient or the post office, for which nothing has to be paid [1827 for parcels on 1 Sgr. reduced].

Section III.

Order fee

Order fee
Letters up to 16 lots	½ Sgr.
all other	1 Sgr.

(§ 56) Order fee - For the first time, the post offices have undertaken to send all letters arriving by post to the recipients' home. This applies to carefree letters and parcels up to 16 lot as well as for money letters up to 1 thaler for the ½, for all others 1 Sgr. is to be paid.

The order fee must also be paid by the authorities and for postage-free correspondence, etc. Letters can also be picked up yourself upon written declaration, the order fee will then not be charged. Parcels can also be delivered if circumstances permit.

Land delivery: Letters up to 16 lots on 1½ miles 1 Sgr. - up to 2 miles 2 Sgr. and up to 3 miles 2½ Sgr. For small packages up to max. 6 pounds and double the rate for bills for sending money. In unfavorably located places every eight days up to 5 Sgr. In 1833 funds were also allowed to be served. [Moch]

For newspapers, 12 Sgr., More often 20 Sgr. to be paid annually. [Moch]

Section IV.

Packing room money

Packing room money
for the first 4 days
package
to 30 pounds	1 Sgr.
to 60 pounds	2 Sgr.
over 60 pounds	3 Sgr.
money
up to 100 thalers	1 Sgr.
up to 500 thalers	2 Sgr.
up to 1,000 thalers	3 Sgr.
every 1,000 more	1 Sgr.

(§ 60) Packing chamber fee (storage fee) - Until 1825, an ancillary fee for packing chamber officials in larger cities. Starting one day after delivery of the accompanying address for the first four days according to the table opposite.

(§ 62) After four days, double the amounts per week had to be paid. Parcels will be returned after 14 days. If the sender cannot be identified, the description of the package will be posted and "advertised" in the local intelligence sheet. After three months they go to the General Post Office.

Section V.

Advance mail

Advance mail
a) Postage b) Post money, as if the sum had been sent by post (until 1842) c) Procuration fee for the civil servant
from 5 to 15 Sgr.	1 Sgr.
over 15 from ½ to ½ thaler
up to 10 thalers	1 Sgr.
above each ½ thaler	½ Sgr. more

(§ 66) Post advance payment - There is no obligation on the part of the postal service to make advance payments on letters. It is up to the post office clerk to make an advance payment or to reject it. The advance payment should not be paid out immediately, but must be noted in the account until it is certain that the advance payment has been accepted.

(from § 69) Nobody can be forced to redeem. If a package is handed over before the advance payment has been made, the General Post Office is liable. Return of the unaccepted advance payment after ten days at the latest.

(§ 73) Return letters up to 2 lots were free of charge for the return journey, but heavier letters, parcels and money required the full postage for the return journey. A letter that was not accepted or that could not be delivered cost a lot of postage.

(§ 77) Routing slip - In cases where there are doubts about the correct delivery of items to the post office, the sender is permitted to issue open requisitions (routing slip), in which the postal service must provide information about the whereabouts of the shipment. The issuer has a fee of 5 Sgr. to be paid, which will be paid back if there has been an irregularity in the post.

Section VI. - Rules for sending money and parcels

(§ 83) Complained letters are accepted up to 16 lots.

(§ 88) Bulky or badly packed packages will be rejected. If the sender nevertheless requests the transport, this is only done at his own risk and must be noted on the postage.

Section VII. - Payment and calculation of postage

Conversion table

(from § 90) All postal rates and fees, excluding postage charges, are noted on the addresses and bills in silver groschen and paid in Prussian currency. If there are pennies in the calculation, they will be collected and calculated according to the table below. No receipt will be issued for postage paid.

If the post office clerk credits postage, he can charge an account fee for it. Incorrectly calculated postage under 15 Sgr. cannot be reclaimed from the sender. Unpaid postage can be sued in court. Because of the postage exemption there is a special regulation.

Given, Berlin d. Dec. 18, 1824 Postmaster General v. Nailer

Changes from 1825 to 1850

So much for the changes of 1825. The following changes are to be reported for the following period.

During this time, the so-called thimble stamps, small single-circle stamps, were introduced in which the location information was adapted to the upper circular line and the information for day and month was to be read in the middle. Around the same time, a two-circle stamp with the place name between the circles and the information for the day and month in the inner circle was delivered. Some of these stamps were still used to cancel the stamps of the German Empire.

1830–1850 thimble and double circle stamp

Upon request, the court authorities will be given a file certificate to certify the proper delivery of orders or insinuatios documents . Fee 3¾ Sgr. [Moch]

The principality of Birkenfeld was completely surrounded by Prussian territory. On the basis of a contract with the Oldenburg government and the Prince of Thurn und Taxis with Prussia, the postal system was transferred to Prussia on November 1, 1837.

It didn't take long after the major fee changes and the first changes came. The fee for exchange-rate papers was too high. On March 6, 1825, it was reduced from ¼ to 1/10 of the silver tariff, as was foreign paper money, both of which could from then on also be sent in registered letters.

Changes between 1825 and 1840

On March 19, 1826, the fee for gold shipments was reduced to half the tariff for silver shipments. At the same time, the postmaster general was able to grant his major customers a discount of 10% of the fee for silver shipments of 25,000 to 50,000 thalers, and even 15% for over 50,000 thalers. The same was possible for parcels with a shipment amount of £ 10,000 to £ 20,000 10% and over £ 20,000 15%. Of course, this is always about shipping within one year.

On November 5, 1827, the tariff for files and documents over 16 lots was reduced to double the package fee; in the same ordinance, the bill money for packages was also reduced to 1 Sgr. lowered.

Since 1840 it has been possible to send cash orders in registered letters. In 1842, the fee for the handling (return) certificate was dropped for registered mail, and the “cash postage” was also abolished for letters with a post advance payment. The postage consisted only of the letter postage and the procuration fee for the official. In 1843 the regulation for the sending of cash register orders, all kinds of paper money and exchange-rate papers was abolished; they could now also be sent in an ordinary letter without an indication of the value.

1844 Reorganization of the postal tariff

There was a significant reduction in the postage rate for letters in 1844 due to the change in the distance levels. Since this change was understood as an anticipation of the complete revision of the previous tariff, the scope was limited to letters and mail. In the case of parcel and money shipments, provided the letter tariff was used, the old tariff remained valid. Of course, this also reduced international postage rates.

From 1844, the receipt (return receipt) for registered mail is only returned at the request of the sender, for a delivery fee (return receipt fee) of 6 Pfg. In 1847, postage for foreign paper money was equated with postage for domestic paper money.

The Railway Act of November 3, 1838 regulated the free carriage of letters, money and all items that were compulsory to post. The reason for this was "the prerogatives of the state arising from the post office shelf to transport people and things on fixed days and between certain places".

Changes between 1843 and 1848

As early as 1842, as a result of the carriage of mail on the newly built railways and the associated cheaper mode of transport, a reduction in the parcel fee to 1½ pfennigs per pound and 5 miles had been introduced on some routes. This rate was used from 1847 on all lines of the railway. The tariff for parcels not transported by rail was reduced in 1848 to 2 pounds per pound and 5 miles, and the minimum amount (double postage) was no longer to be calculated according to the 1824 tariff, but according to the new 1844 tariff.

1848 Tariff for sending money

In 1848, the tariff for sending money and valuables was redesigned to facilitate traffic . The mandatory declaration is completely eliminated. All packages are subject to a uniform weight fee and an insurance fee (insurance fee) is charged if the value is stated.

• I The postage for all kinds of money items and items whose value is stated should be made up of:
  • a) from the postage for the weight of the items after the letter or parcel tax and depending on the distance to the destination
  • b) from the insurance fee for the specified value. The insurance fee should be: on 1,000 thalers

Half of these rates for paper money and government bonds. The amount for the posting slip is included in the insurance fee. A replacement will only be made for the stated value of the shipment. This also applies to damage. Frauds are punished severely. The cover letter must contain the address of the recipient and the following information. External condition of the package (e.g. package in linen), the signature, etc. U. the value and the seal imprint as on the package. It must not contain any valuables (Official Decree no. 46/1849). For mixed shipments (money and paper money), the parcel postage, the insurance fee up to 100 thalers, depending on the largest portion, are offset. If the value is over 100 thalers, each part has to be calculated individually [Moch].

Table according to the legal text

Postage restitution (reduction) for significant annual mailings will subsequently no longer take place. The Postmaster General is authorized to temporarily reduce the guarantee premium in amounts of more than 1,000 thalers for three months to half the statutory amount. - A decree of June 25, 1848 removes the restriction, but determines that the sum of less than 1,000 thalers is the full tariff and only then should postage be reduced by 50%.

A cabinet order of April 8, 1848 cancels the bill money. Posting slips are only issued for registered mail, valuables and later for cash payments. For registered letters the registration fee of 2 Sgr. raised. Since May 1848, all types of mail can be registered. In August 1848, the mandatory franking for registered mail ends [Moch].

By resolution of the State Ministry, the commission for newspapers from October 1, 1848 is generally and evenly measured at 25% of the purchase price. In order to avoid an increase in price, the tariff of 1822 was used as the maximum fee. The fee for transferring a newspaper is 5 Sgr. if the simple amount of the commission is to be charged. if this is lower over the duration of the reference period [Moch].

1848 costs for the cash deposit

Since 1848, the post office has been obliged to accept cash payments of up to 25 thalers including for repayment to a specific recipient within the Prussian postal administration district when posting letters or postal addresses . The fees are ½ Sgr. for every thaler or part of it.

The tax regulations for the riding and express posts were repealed on October 1, 1848. The difference between riding and driving mail no longer exists. This will ensure that documents and files are placed on an equal footing with the letter tariff and that new, equal weight levels are introduced for both types of mail. File consignments are all sent with the express post if no difficulties arise. If files or documents are sent in parcel form, they are nonetheless subject to the postage fee [black].

1848 New weight progression for letters

On May 1, 1849, eight new " Post-Speditions-Ämter ", which were directly subordinate to the General Post Office and were solely responsible for the rail mail operations, were created. The eight "Post-Speditions-Bureaus" (railway posts) working on the trains were subordinate to the General Post Office. They used to be part of the service of the court post office in Berlin.

The calculation of postage had become easier and easier over time; Difficulties were caused to a large extent by the completely excessive fee-free system . In 1847 the General Post Office published a printed overview of the exemption from fees for the postal service, a book of 403 paragraphs and 254 pages, which after a short period of time received numerous changes and additions. The loss of income was calculated at around 2 million thalers with the post office's income of around 3 million thalers in 1849.

1850 renewed letter postage tariff, valid until 1860

With a law of December 21, 1849, valid from January 1, 1850, the postage within the Prussian postal area was changed and simplified. Distance levels and weight levels have been re-regulated. (§ 3) The postal administration has to initiate the production and sale of stamps (postage stamps), by means of which the franking of letters according to the tariff can be effected by affixing them to the letter. (§ 4) The fee for documents, files, documents, paper money, etc. is calculated in the same way, with the insurance fee being added to paper money with an indication of the value. (§ 5) The delivery fee for accompanying addresses and notes is, as for letters, on ½ Sgr. lowered. The law came into force on January 1, 1850.

With the formation of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Public Works in 1848, with the Post Office as the 1st Department, Postal Department, the post of General Postmaster was not filled; the Minister took over his duties. Since October 1, 1849, the top management of the post has passed to the Minister of Commerce , August von der Heydt . Heinrich Schmückert , General Post Director , worked under him , who was already involved in shaping the post under his predecessor von Nagler. The transition of the line also marks the beginning of a new section.

On April 6, 1850, the first German-Austrian postal union agreement came about. Schmückert was the head of the general post office the general post director. With him began a reorganization of the postal system, both in administration and in service.

By January 1, 1850, the administration of the postal system was centralized in Prussia. All post offices were subordinate to the General Post Office in Berlin. Now 26 Oberpostdirections came into being. The administration has been decentralized.

• For each administrative district and for Berlin one Ober-Post-Direction set up. All post offices in the district were subordinated to the Oberpostdirektion, only the Oberpostamt in Hamburg remained subordinate to the General Postamt. This designation was omitted for the other upper post offices.
• With Official Gazette Order 147 of July 21, 1850, four classes were introduced for the subordinate postal services. The 1st and 2nd class post offices were run by 1st and 2nd class provincial officials entitled to retirement. Third-class provincial officials were designated as heads of the 1st class postal expeditions. The 2nd class postal expeditions were given to local residents. All these post offices settled with the district upper post office. The General-Postkasse in Berlin had been closed as early as 1849. As an exception, the shipping offices were not taken into account in this classification. They were administered on a case-by-case basis on the basis of special orders, with the post director at their head. The heads of post offices 1 received the official title of post director and the rank of higher provincial officials in the fifth class, the heads of post offices II received the title of postmaster and the rank of III. Class of subalterns.
• The postal expeditions had now become independent postal agencies, they were directly subordinate to the Oberpostdirektion. The heads of the 1st class postal expeditions were terminable specialist officials with the official title of postal expedition, those of the second class were local residents with the title of postal expeditor. The official designations Post-Speditionsämter and Post-Speditions-Bureaus were renamed to Railway Post Offices and Railway Post Offices in Official Gazette Order 20 of January 29, 1856.

different railway postmarks

On November 15, 1850, the Prussian Post issued its first postage stamps. A four-ring stamp was issued for cancellation. A number in the middle of the stamp was assigned to each post office. When it was introduced, the numbers were assigned alphabetically, Aachen was given the number "1". Around the same time the most common frame stamps came into use. In a rectangular frame is the name of the post office at the top and the day and month below, separated from the hourly submission by a point, star or rosette. If a note was required for the place name, this stamp was also given in three lines. Reductions of this varied stamp shape are known until 1879.

1850 Prussian frame stamp

Postal Law of September 1, 1852

The Postal Act lifted the obligation to post for travelers and for packages over £ 20 (previously £ 40). For all money and parcels transiting through the Prussian area on a distance of less than 5 miles without reloading, the postage obligation is lifted. When sending by express mail and when sending and traveling from places from and to places where no mail is sent, the restrictions from the mandatory postal service already ceased under the previous legislation (until the next post office on the way). There is also no obligation to post on items that the items are not obliged to accept (glass, liquids, explosives, etc.). As before, the following are subject to the mandatory postal service: Coined money and paper money, uncoined gold and silver, jewels and precious items (all without difference in weight!) As well as newspapers and advertising papers that are subject to stamp tax.

The guarantee claims are regulated: For example, you pay 14 thalers for a lost registered letter , and 10 silver groschen for every pound of the shipment for a normal package . In the case of valuables, the specified value is replaced. However, if Swiss Post can prove that the actual value is lower, it only has to replace this. If it can assume fraudulent intent, the sender not only loses any right to compensation, but is also reported to the court.

According to the Postal Act, the Post was authorized to determine the conditions and fees itself through regulations. Other sections dealt with the prerogatives of the post. The penal provisions for postal and postage violations, etc.

Given, Bellevue, d. June 5, 1852

Regulations for the Postal Act For cross- band consignments , which must be franked, the regulations for the Postal Act set the postage, regardless of distance, at 6 pfennigs for each 1 customs lot. Maximum weight 16 lots. [until 1856]

The tariff since 1852

For product samples , must together with the letter of the simple, the weight of 16 Lot not exceed and patterns. For such consignments, we charge the simple, maximum six-fold postage postage per 2 customs lot. In the case of unfranked or insufficiently franked samples, the postage surcharge will be charged for every 2 lot of the total weight. Calculation no longer according to the driving post tax.

Registered mail is permitted for normal letters, cross-band consignments and samples, for a fee of 2 Sgr. A posting slip is issued. A return receipt is issued with the note "against delivery note". There is no charge for this. (Sauter)

Insured letters must not weigh more than 16 lots. The value must be in Prussian silver currency, in the case of letters on the address of the letter, in the case of other items on the accompanying letter and on the item with the signature. A posting slip is also issued for insured letters. The stated value may not exceed the real value.

1852 order money

All letters, cross-band consignments and samples, accompanying letters for parcels without a specified value and delivery notes for letters and parcels with a specified value are delivered. When delivering with the country mail carrier , the country letter order fee for letters and parcels up to 16 lots, insured letters up to 1 thaler, insinuation documents, addresses and delivery notes and all return letters between ½ and 1 Sgr. The double set (2 Sgr.) For letters and parcels over 16 lots, items of value over 1 thaler, registered letters, together with the delivery note and letters and notes for cash payment, provided that the money is delivered at the same time. For newspapers, double the rate of local delivery. The reduced land letter or order fee rates arranged for individual locations and districts remain in place. Acceptance and ordering of city ​​letters , for a fee, takes place in some places. At other locations, only undeclared local items are delivered. With simultaneous delivery of 100 city letters and above, only an order fee of 4½ Pfg. [Until 1868, then 4 Pfg.], For 25 letters ½ Sgr. raised. Only express shipments have to be “ordered by express mail”, even if they arrive at night. Special fees are charged for this. The note “to be ordered by express delivery” cannot be replaced by a mere advance payment of the order fee.

Letters "poste restante" with the notation ( general delivery at the post-Anstalt be) kept to three months until the receiver picks them up. As " insinuation fee " came 3 Sgr. in approach. (Sauter) The package money remained unchanged. Ordinary and registered letters, insinuation documents and court orders against the posting slip will be forwarded. Other programs only on request.

Cash payment tariff

The postal administration takes on the task of accepting amounts below and up to 50 thalers in cash from the senders and paying them out to addressees within the Prussian postal administrative district ( cash payment ). Every deposit must be accompanied by an ordinary letter or an empty envelope; on it must, in addition to the exact address of the recipient, the note "paid on this .... Rthlr. .... Sgr. ... Pfg. ”And the sum of the talers must be given again in letters. The sender receives a posting slip. The recipient receives a delivery note on which the amount is paid out. These mail items can be posted franked or unfranked. In addition to the standard letter postage, there is a deposit fee of at least 1 Sgr., Or ¼ Sgr for each Taler or parts thereof. [Replaced by postal order in 1865]

Tariff for postal advances (cash on delivery)

The postal administration took on the task of collecting cash amounts of up to 50 thalers from the addressees within the Prussian postal administrative district and paying them out to the senders (advance items, postal advances). Letters and other items on which amounts were to be collected could not be franked or registered. With the note "advance payment .... Rthlr. .... Sgr. ... Pfg. ”, The sender received a certificate stating that the amount should be paid out as soon as the shipment was redeemed. If it was not redeemed, it had to be returned after eight days at the latest. The following had to be paid: the standard postage for the letter and the procuration fee.

In cases where the postage is credited, an account fee of 5%, but at least 5 Sgr monthly. to raise.

An accompanying letter or address is required for every parcel . Several parcels for an accompanying letter are permitted, but either all with or without an indication of the value.

It is also about Estafetten , passenger transport, luggage, extra items and courier transport.

The regulations come into force on September 1, 1852.

Maximum value of the 1st issue in intaglio printing

The new postage stamps are issued on November 15, 1850 in the values ​​of ½, 1, 2 and 3 silver groschen. Initially, they could only be used to postage letters within Prussia and the German-Austrian association area.

1852, the new parcel postage

The tariff difference between rail and road shipping for parcels is abolished with the law of July 1, 1852, through the introduction of a uniform tariff. Thereafter, the package fee on all routes is 1½ pounds per pound and 5 miles, but at least double the postage fee must be paid. The excess plumb bob is calculated as a full pound. Several packets going to one address are billed individually. There was also a change in the accompanying addresses, so the letter was free up to one customs lot (16.66 g); if it was heavier, it was charged entirely as a letter. The postage compulsory weight has been reduced from 40 to 20 pounds. Of course there were also discounts for value parcels and for the excess weight of travelers (30 pounds were free). The 50% postage surcharge for the use of express mail is abolished (August 7, 1852, Moch).

From the tariff fixings of 1824, only the following provisions were now in force: on letter inserts, unstamped items to authorities, land postage, packing chamber money, postage advances and the rounding off of postage differences [Moch].

last changes

For the Prussian domestic traffic was with Official Journal Verf. No. 85 v. May 31, 1853 permits samples of goods also packed in a sealed envelope to be attached to the letter. Swiss Post had the right to have the sender or recipient open the envelope [Schwarz].

In 1854 the maximum fee for cross- band mailings was limited to the postage fee and in 1856 the Prussian domestic fee was also reduced to 4 pfennigs, after this tariff had been in effect for a long time in association traffic and therefore many business people posted their printed matter abroad.

The law brought relief on January 1, 1853.

• (§ 1) The same insurance fee that is set for cash should be charged for paper money and government paper when they are sent by post.
• (§ 2) The customs weight should also be used for goods and money shipments to determine the weight and estimate the same.

Another postage change was the lowering of the printed matter tariff from 6 to 4 pfennigs per customs tax and the equation of the place with the land tariff for newspapers to the cheaper local tariff of August 12, 1859. It stipulated that printed matter and samples must not exceed the normal postage rate. (Sauter)

Following the Frankfurt Conference of the German-Austrian Post Association (1860), the maximum weight of letters, printed matter and product samples was set at half a pound = 15 lots. The fee for printed matter and product samples did not exceed the normal postage. It left the return receipts for registered letters free, as before, but asked for 2 Sgr. a return receipt to the mail. The proxy fee for post advance mail was reduced to ½ Sgr. for every thaler or parts of a thaler, with a minimum rate of 1 Sgr. In land delivery , the weight limit, which was decisive for the single and double postage charges, was set at 15 lots, and registered letters were set equal to simple letters, i.e. only single postage charges.

Tariff for city letters

For the places of the post office delivered or collected by the country mail carriers, intended for recipients in the local or country order district, 1 Sgr. for the collection of: letters and parcels up to 15 lots (½ pound), registered letters and valuables up to one thaler, registered letters, letters with insinuation documents, and for letters accompanying normal letters and for delivery notes when the parcel or the valuable consignment is picked up, 2 Sgr. for items over ½ pounds and valuables over ½ pounds and over 1 thaler. In addition, there is a registration fee of 1 Sgr. or the insurance fee. Postal advances and cash payments are not permitted. When delivering at least 100 city post letters, the preferential price changed to 4 pfennigs instead of the previous 4½ pfennigs (Sauter). Associated invoices, etc., were allowed to be placed in parcels, and from 1861 even letters and documents. (Black)

Tariff for the forerunner of the postal order

A regulation of December 21, 1860 set the fee for the payment of cash at 1 Sgr. up to 5 thalers, on 2 Sgr. from 5 to 10 thalers and for another 5 thalers 1 Sgr. more solid. These fee rates were still much higher than the rates for items of value, and so the Prussian Post introduced the postal order on January 1, 1865 and demanded only 1 Sgr for up to 25 thalers and 2 Sgr for more than 25 to 50 thalers. Now the postage fee was too low, and so the fee was doubled in June 1866, but the previous rates for local traffic were retained. By order of May 1, 1865, postal money orders are introduced. In addition to the usual fee, the telegram fee 6 Sgr. on forwarding costs if the telegram has to be forwarded by post from the telegraph station. For poste restante -addressed telegrams a special fee of 2 Sgr. added. Just a few days later, on May 25th, the normal postage for non-registered telegrams will be used for onward transport, and 4 Sgr. For registered telegrams. required. For telegraphic postal orders, a fee is introduced for the transmission from the post office to the telegraph station, if it was not in the same building, as well as a special express delivery fee for express orders at the destination [Moch]. On December 11, 1867, regardless of the amount, the postal order fee was increased to 2 Sgr. fixed. (Sauter)

On May 1, 1861, a law simplified the postage rate that had existed since 1850 by abolishing the weight classes down to two. The single letter could now weigh 1 lot, double postage was required for letters over 1 lot; this also included a discount on printed matter, samples, registered and insured letters, since they were calculated from the postage rate.

1861 A new postage

(§ 2) For parcels, regardless of whether they contain the same writings or other items, the postage by weight stipulated in the law of 1852 is charged (final abolition of the tax on files and documents). (§ 3) The previously existing restriction regarding the packing of different types of objects in the letters and parcels to be transported by post is lifted. In Section 35 of the Postal Act, penalties are pronounced for violations of the postal monopoly. The penal provisions contained therein are no longer applicable.

According to a law of September 16, 1862, the order fee is reduced in 3 stages.

(§ 1) The fees set in 1824 and 1849 for ordering letters that have arrived by post and addressed to addressees in the village - not insured letters - in the same address for parcels and money, as well as delivery notes will be repealed, namely: with the publication of the law (September 16, 1862) for postage-free items and from July 1, 1863 for postage-paid items and from July 1, 1864 for postage-free items. Delivery fees are now only charged for parcels over 15 lots (½ pounds), insured items, for local items (local charges) for express items and for newspapers.

In the country delivery service, the letter order money was gradually reduced to ½ silver groschen or double the order money to 1 silver groschen. As of July 1, 1864, this was generally the case.

With Official Journal. No. 122 v. December 28, 1863, the shipment of samples up to 10 lots was reorganized on January 1, 1864. For product samples, 2½ lot = 4 Pfg. (⅓ Sgr.) Each were required. The samples were not allowed to have a purchase value.

Official Journal No. 3 v. January 5, 1864 allowed both shipping forms to be packed together and increased the maximum weight for samples to 15 lots. [Black]

In 1865 the printed matter card was introduced for a fee of 4 pfennigs, which had to be paid in postage stamps.

From January 1, 1867, the weight increase for printed matter from 2½ to 2½ plumb bob was carried out. It was introduced for product samples on January 1, 1863.

Printed matter card

The political events led to a radical reorganization of postal relations in Germany. Austria left the German Confederation.

If the postal relations in Prussia had developed into a modern postal system as a result of the reforms of 1825 and 1850, the takeover of new postal administrations required a reorganization of the postal service. The postal administration in the Duchy of Lauenburg came to Prussia on January 1, 1866. A royal Prussian decree of December 19, 1866 proclaimed the unification of the postal system of the former Kingdom of Hanover with the postal system in the old Prussian parts of the country (Oberpostdirektion Hannover). At the same time, the administration of the postal system in the duchies of Schleswig and Holstein , which had previously been jointly managed with Austria, came . (Oberpostdirektion Kiel) to Prussia. A contract between the Prussian state government and the Prince of Thurn und Taxis led to the transfer of the entire Fürstlich Thurn und Taxic postal system to the Prussian state. The takeover was announced in the Post Office Gazette No. 19 of 1867, under the Official Gazette Order No. 40. The postal rights previously exercised by Thurn & Taxis in eighteen countries had passed to Prussia, including countries in which the guilder was the currency. New head post offices were created in Kassel , Frankfurt am Main and Darmstadt .

The negotiations for the establishment of the North German Confederation were in progress. The constitution of the North German Confederation was published in an audience dated July 26, 1867. Article 4, number 10 concerned the postal and telegraph legislation as a federal matter, Section VIII the postal and telegraph system.

literature

Prussian Official Gazette

• Official journal of the Royal Postal Department, all relevant years.
• Wilhelm Heinrich Matthias: Representation of the postal system in the Royal Prussian States. Berlin 1817.
• Konrad Schwarz: Timeline of German Postal History Volume 22 from Postal and Telegraphy in Science and Practice. R. v. Deckers Verlag, G. Schenk, Berlin W 9.
• Heinrich Stephan: History of the Prussian Post from its origins to the present. Berlin 1859.
• Heinrich von Stephan: History of the Prussian Post, edited according to official sources until 1858 , Karl Sautter, revised and continued until 1868 , Berlin.
• Handheld dictionary of postal services . Berlin 1927.
• Handheld dictionary of postal services. Frankfurt (Main) 1953, with addendum to the 2nd edition, 1956.
• Werner Steven: The development of postage in Prussia since 1825 , in the Prussian studies of the Federal Working Group Prussia for Philately and Postal History eV in the BDPh.
• Werner Steven: Compilation of postage rates for correspondence with foreign countries, thaler currency, 1846–1875. Braunschweig 1985, in the unpublished, revised version from 2006.

Web links

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