Wow, new forum!

[Panzerass]

Hey, nice to see a new forum here. I have a nice brwon stamp with Hitler's head on it.

[ramon]

I have collected in this field for over 40 years and have amassed a representative collection encompassing stamps, covers, propaganda cards for Deutsches Reich 1933-45, occupied territories, and feldpost.

Anyone else interested in this field?

[Jason Pipes]

I am, very much! I just recently began to collect 1933-1945 German stamps, foreign legion stamps, and occupation issues. It's a facinating and very rewarding hobby. I already own a number of hard to find foreign legion stamps, but my collection is far from being established. I have at most 100 stamps so far. Many are Croatian in fact, which would fall under Axis stamps, versus German per-say. I just created this section of the forum so that I, and others, can post questions and answers and read messages re: this rewarding area. I find that even though I just started to collect stamps of this period, my background in researching the military history of the era is making it very simple to get up to speed in collecting.

Anyway, sorry to ramble! Thanks for posting here. I look forward to the many discussion we can have on this topic.

[ramon]

Good to hear of your start in the area, Jason.

I have a very nice collection Kroatien. Keep an eye on eBan. From time to time there are some very nice items up for sale. Recently, a mint NH Storm Division sheet with current Attest was up for sale and fetched a tidy sum the 3rd time if was offered.

Do you collect Germany using the Michel Katalog? Just as in the militaria field where it becomes imperative to have the best reference books, you'll find it helpful to gather the best literature in the stamp areas.

There is a wonderful book for Croatia author by the now deceased expert Dr. Rommerskirchen. You will find it immensely helpful to obtain a copy of this title. Have you gotten into the propaganda card field yet?

I am filled with questions for you. Let me hear from you again. If you are interested, perhaps I can send along some scans to your personal email.

Cheers

Ramon

[Jason Pipes]

Yes, I enjoy collecting stamps from Croatia, they are very interesting examples from the period. I would not mind having some examples of the storm division set, indeed!

I am indeed using Michel as my main reference. I also just finished creating a database the lists the Michel numbers against Scott's and various other well known references. In the US Scott's seems to be used most frequently, although obviously Michel is the best reference source on this area you could find. I also put on order a few harder to find reference books, namely "Philately of the Third Reich: Postage &
Propaganda" by Alf Harper.

I have not really gotten into the propaganda card field. Since I already have a strong collection of original photographs I don't think I'll likely go into that area. For some reason stamps really interest me, but not much the area of propaganda cards.

I'm interested, btw, in trading for new stamps. I have a rather large collection of original photos that I will be looking to sell or trade examples from to help finance the purchase of new stamps. If you have material available for trade let me know!

[ramon]

Philately in the Third Reich is a very nice book that I was priviliged to work on and contribute to. Many of the pictures are items from my collection. By the time Alf has submitted the early version of his manuscript to John Taylor of Album Publishing here in Raleigh NC, he had pisposedof his collection and only poor quality photocopies remaind. I had contacted Joh nad offered to use scans of items out of my collection to upgrade the pictures. For those items I did not possess, I contacted other sources to supply those illustrations. Sadly, Alf died soon thereafter. I was shocked to see John pass as well.

[Firebomb Fritz]

reply to #1

Yeah I have a brown stamp with Hitler's head on it too... i should go dig it up from were it is hiding

[Enrico Cernuschi]

Do not forget the Italian RSI stamps, Gentlemen.

They are still considered by the philatelics among the finest Italian creations of all times and were very original too.

Bye EC

[ramon]

You're certainly right, Enrico.

I have some very nice expertised covers with issues from Mussolini's last gasp.

While I have never collected seriously the Italian occupation stamps of WWII, they merit inclusion in any thorough 3rd Reich collection. I have an indepth collection of the German overprints for Zante and Zara mint, used and especially on cover with bedarfs usage.

[Enrico Cernuschi]

The Zara one is very interesting for me. Bye EC

[KampfgruppeMeyer]

any sites related to these stamps and currency with pics?

[ramon]

There are a couple of basic sites that should be consulted.

There is the Germany Philatelic Society (GPS).

Go to Yahoo. There is the Third Reich Stamp group.

I suggest using google to access both of these.

I will provide more info later.

[Kimmo]

Ah, I haven't visited Feldgrau for a long time, but this addition to forum is great!

I've also collected German stamps for a few years now and I've got a quite many of them. Most of the common stamps are there, but the rare and expensive ones are still missing for most part, as I haven't really seen them on sale. Like some of the occupation stamps from Estonia seems to be really expensive.
But I've got few interesting items, like a first day issue of Danzig stamps placed on a paper, with a swastika and a coat of arms of Danzig.
Adolf Hitler: Ehrenbürger der Freienstadt Danzig 20.April 1939.

I'm also colleting subject stamps that show some part of history on them.

Great addition this section!