SOUTH WEST AFRICA, Deutsch Südwest Afrika (German colony)

Return To Catalogue - Germany Overview - South West Africa (mandate of South Africa)

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
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The first German post office was opened on 16th July 1888 in the town of Otgimbingue. This post office was moved to Windhoek on 13th October 1891.

Stamps of Germany used in South West Africa (so-called Vorläufer) in 1896 cancelled "OTJIMBINGUE" and "SWAKOPMUND"

"DEUTSCHE SEEPOST LINIE HAMBURG WESTAFRIKA" cancel in an ellipse on a 20 p stamp of Germany

1898 Stamps of Germany, overprinted "Deutsch Sudwest-Afrika" (with "-" between "Sudwest" and "Afrika")

On numeral issue:

  3 p brown
  5 p green

On eagle issue:

  10 p red
  20 p blue
  25 p orange
  50 p brown

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries

Fournier has made forgeries of these stamps (forged overprints on forged German stamps, for distinguishing characteristics click here). In his 1914 pricelist Fournier offers them (all 6 values) for 3 Swiss Francs.

Forged overprints as taken from a Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries; the last overprint is from the next issue

Fournier forgeries of the 25 p and 50 p values (the 25 p uncancelled was sold as genuine on a prestiguous Internet auction).

Two other forgeries of the 25 c and 50 c values with "GIBEON 1/5 98" cancel, possibly Fournier products. The basic stamps are also forged.

1898 Stamps of Germany, overprinted "Deutsch Sudwestafrika" (no "-" between west and afrika)

On numeral issue:

  3 p brown
  5 p green

On eagle issue:

  10 p red
  20 p blue
  25 p orange
  50 p brown

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Cancels

The cancels that can be found on the 1898 issues are from the towns: Bethanien, Cap Cross, Gibeon, Gobabis, Grootfontein, Gross-Barmen, aris, Hatzamas, Hohewarte, Jaklswater, Karibib, Keetmannshoop, Kasis, Kubub, Kuis, Lüderitzbucht, Maltahöhe, Marienthal, Okahandja, Okombahe, Omaruru, Otavi, Otjimbingue, Outjo, Ramansdrift, Rehoboth, Seeis, Swakopmund, Windhoek, Ukamas, Warmbad and Waterberg. See at the end of this section for more information on cancels.

Forgeries

(Fournier forgeries)

Fournier has made forgeries of these stamps (forged overprints on forged German stamps, for distinguishing characteristics click here). In his 1914 pricelist Fournier offers them (all 6 values) for 2 Swiss Francs. I have seen these forgeries with the cancel "RETHANIEN DEUTSCH-SÜDWESTAFRIKA * 1/5 99 *". I have also seen some Fournier forgeries with "GIBEON 1/5 98" cancel (I have seen all values except the 3 p).

Forged overprints as taken from a Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries, the first overprint is from the previous issue

Forged overprints on genuine stamps, note the wide "D" in "Deutsch".

1900 German colonies type, ship

Small size

  3 p brown
  5 p green
  10 p red
  20 p blue
  25 p orange and black on yellow
  30 p orange and black on red
  40 p red and black
  50 p violet and black
  80 p red and black on red

Large size

  1 M red
  2 M blue
  3 M violet
  5 M black and red

The small values have perforation 14 x 14 1/4. The Mark values have perforation 14 1/4.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Other values with watermark seem to exist, but they are proofs (45 p, 50 p and 80 p).

I've seen a cut from a postal stationary in the value 10 p red.

Forgeries

Fournier has made forgeries of these stamps (the pfennig values only, for distinguishing characteristics click here). They are not mentioned in his 1914 pricelist. Examples:

(Fournier forgeries)

A rather primitive forgery of the 1 M value.

Some non-issued fiscal stamps exist for German South West Africa, they have the inscription "STEMPELMARKE SUDWEST AFRIKA". The values 25 p, 50 p, 1 M, 2 M, 3 M, 5 M and 10 M exist. Furthermore a surcharged stamp: 25 p on 1 M.

For stamps of South West Africa under the mandate of South Africa (after 1923), click here

Literature on fiscals etc of the German South West Africa:

• Erler / Norton: Catalogue of the Adhesive Revenues of Germany: II German Colonies and Overseas Steamship Lines. The following chapters are included: German East Africa, German South West Africa (the other colonies did not use revenue stamps), Africa Lines, Deutsche Ostafrika Linie / Woermann Linie, Hamburg-Amerikanische-Paketfahrt AG, Hamburg Südamerikanische Dampfschiffahrtsgesellschaft, Americanische Verkehrsgesellschaft, Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Hamburg; (1998) 37 pages.

CANCELS

A stamp of Germany with cancel "AUS WESTAFRIKA":

("AUS WESTAFRIKA" cancel)

A railway cancel "BAHNPOST ZUG 2" on a stamp of German South West Africa

The website http://www.namibstamps.com/gswapostoffices.htm lists all the post offices and postal agencies for German South West Africa. The site http://www.namibstamps.com/gswapostofficesagencies.htm is also very informative.

The following table was obtained from this website:

I've been told that this is a forged cancel of a Gochas 'wanderstempel' with manuscript town name on a genuine stamp (reduced size)

Mourning labels for the German colonies

Labels commemorating the loss of the German colonies exist, including for German South West Africa. They have the size of the large 'Hohenzollern' yacht issue. The stamps have a coloured center surrounded by a black design.

Reduced sizes

Websites

http://www.namibstamps.com/gswapostofficesagencies.htm, try also http://www.namibstamps.com with many items for sale.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer