Baden - a closer look at the stamps and issues

1860 Scott 10 1kr black  "Coat of arms"

Perf 13 1/2

Into the Deep Blue
Located in southwestern Germany, Baden was a Grand Duchy (origin 1806), and a member of the German Confederation. The principal city was Karlsruhe, and the population was 1,400,000  in 1864.

For more information on Baden (Map, BB checklist), see the original post.

Stamps were first issued on May 1,1851, after Baden joined the German-Austrian Postal Union, and continued until 1868.

In 1871, Baden became part of the German Empire. The postage stamps of Baden were replaced by those of the German Empire on January 1, 1872.

For this supplementary post, we will take a closer look at the stamp issues of Baden.

A closer look at the stamps and issues
60 Kreuzer = 1 Gulden

1851-52 Scott 4 9kr black/rose "Numerals"

The first 1851-52 imperforate typographic issue for Baden featured a functional "Numeral" design.

The first issues, which were engraved in Frankfort, remind one of those from Wurttemberg.

The later issues are somewhat similar in design to those of Bavaria.

The first May, 1851 printing was on thin paper, has minor numbers in Scott, and a higher CV. The major numbers (August, 1851) for the 1851-52 issue has four denominations, and a CV from $10+-$250.

Interestingly, all the stamps were printed in black, but on different colored paper for each denomination. They consist of 1kr (dark buff), 3kr (yellow), 6kr (yellow green), and 9kr (lilac rose).

The stamps from 1851-1858 have frame-lines with very narrow spacing between stamps. Hence stamps with margins clear of the frame-lines on all four sides are not that common, and are at a premium.

1853 Scott 7 3kr black/green "Numerals"

Types of 1851-52 Issue

The 1853-58 four stamp issue (1kr (white), 3kr (green), 3kr (blue), 6kr (yellow)) was identical in design to those of the 1851-52 issue, but on different colored paper.

CV ranges from $10+-$30.

"Freimarke" ("Free- mark") indicates this is a definitive stamp.

1851-1858 Left panel of stamp

The 1851-58 stamp design has, for the left panel, the above script for"Deutsch-Österreichischer-Postverein" (German-Austrian Postal Union).

1851-58 Right panel of stamp

The right panel has script for "Vertrag 6. April 1850" (Treaty April 6, 1850), which is when the treaty for the German-Austrian Postal Union was signed.

1858 Scott 8 3kr black/blue

Note the five ring postmarks on the 1851-58 stamps? In the center of the cancel is a one to three digit number which indicates which town in Baden the stamp originated from and was cancelled. The numbers are not always legible, as above, but when they are, there may be a premium added to the value of the cancelled stamp depending on the origin.

The Scott 1840-1940 Specialized catalogue did not have a list of cancelled towns in my 2011, but by 2014 they were added. (Scott continues to improve the listings every year for the 1840-1940 catalogue.)

Black/white tint used on 1851-52 Scott 2 3kr black/yellow

to bring out numeral ("87")

The above scan shows a clear "87", which, according to the town tables, is Mannheim. 

There are ~ 345 different 5-ring numeral postmarks (including different color postmarks) listed in Scott for Baden. 

Mannheim does not have an increased value, but many postmarks do - up to $2,500!

I should note that most of the preceding issues stamps (Scott 1,2,3,6,7,8) were reissued on thick paper in 1865, except for Scott 9 6kr black/yellow on thin paper.

1861 Scott 12 3kr ultramarine "Coat of Arms"

Perf 13 1/2

Between 1860-1862, a new design was released on four stamps (1kr black, 3kr ultramarine, 6kr red orange, 9kr rose) on white paper, with perforations 13 1/2.

The perforations frequently cut into the design.

1861 Scott 13 6kr red orange

Perf 13 1/2

The Baden "Coat of Arms" figures prominently on the stamp..

Grand Dukes of Baden 

Coat of Arms 1808-1918

The Coat of arms was based on the personal arms of the Margraves and Grand Dukes of Baden. Note the griffins were added to the Coat of Arms in 1528 by margrave Phillip I.

 A legendary griffin has the body, tail, and back legs of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle, and eagle's talons as front feet.

1861 Scott 14 9kr rose
Perf 13 1/2

CV for the 1860-62 four stamp set ranges from $20+ to $175.

1862 Scott 17 9kr brown

Perf 10

In 1862, a three stamp set of the same preceding design was issued, but in perforation 10. The issue consisted of a 1kr black, a 6kr prussian blue, and a 9kr brown.  (Naturally, there are minor number shades recognized also.)

CV is $60+-$125.

1865 Scott 22 6kr ultramarine

Perf 10

Between 1862-1865, a new redrawn design (Coat of Arms on a white background) was issued. The 3kr rose can be found in both Perf 13 1/2 (Scott 18) and Perf 10 (Scott 20), but the rest of the issue ( 1kr black, 6kr ultramarine, 9kr brown, 18kr green, 30kr deep orange) is only found as Perf 10.

1864 Scott 23 9kr brown

Perf 10

CV for the total seven stamp issue is $4 to $400, but five stamps are priced up to $30+.

1868 Scott 26 1kr green
Perf 10

The last issue for Baden was released in 1868, and consisted of three stamps (1kr green, 3kr rose, 7kr dull blue).

The redrawn issue now has the lower panel scripted as "K.R.", rather than "Kreutzer".

1868 Scott 28 7kr dull blue

CV ranges from $2+-$20, rather inexpensive for Baden stamps.

Postage Due 1862 Scott LJ2 3kr black/yellow

Finally, there are the 1862 Rural Postage Due stamps with three denominations. They are fairly inexpensive unused (CV $2+-$30+). As used specimens are uncommon, and CV expensive ($100+-$13,000+), there are many forgery cancellations. !!

Deep Blue

1853-58 Issue in Deep Blue

Types of 1851-52 Issue

Deep Blue (Steiner) has three pages for the stamps of 1851-1868 Baden. All of the Scott major numbers have a space. There is enough room to add some extra copies on the page if one wishes. Otherwise, quadrilled pages should be added for a more in depth study.

1851-52 Scott 2 3kr black/yellow "Numerals"

Out of the Blue

I started my WW collecting in 2011, the same time as I started this blog. Back then, I didn't have many German States stamps; certainly not much Baden. I think my original Baden post reflects that. ;-)

But since then, I have added stamps, as Baden (and German States) collections are fairly available to the WW collector.

I'm pleased to be able to show the Baden issues in greater depth, as I now have some. !!

Note: "Coat of Arms" image appears to be in the public domain. 

Comments appreciated!