by Jerry H. Miller
BICKERDIKE 1898 - 1901
BERLIN C2 ... Machine ‘1’ Postmark Type 3a
RE-DIRECTED OFFICIAL GERMAN FOREIGN OFFICE, COLONIAL DEPARTMENT, FREE-FRANK MAIL
*
hs nhady $8 + ERS AS 7 aad hy soe hbo ren a St a
2 MAY 1901
Official German Foreign Office (Berlin), Colonial Department Cover, sent to a customs official at Kiel,
re-directed, upon arrival, to Hamburg.
Arrival Postmark: (Reverse)
“Hamburg Emsbiattel, 3 May 1901, 5-6 PM”
Free-Frank Mail cachet-endorsed as ‘Reichsdienstsache’ (lower left corner)
BICKERDIKE CHEMNITZ*1 & MANNHEIM GERMAN KIAUTSCHOU (CHINA)
(Type |)
Postmark: 25 & 24mm double-circle dater-dial with ‘bridge’ & vertical grill along with a ‘flag’ obliterator having a crown,
banner with tassels and postal horn.
Usage: Chemnitz: 4 July 1903 - 27 March 1906 Mannheim: 29 July 1903 - 29 October 1907
- — =,
| POSTKART 25 AUGUST 1904 oie terith s
CARTE-POSTALE ~ View Card UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE
(Baden Military 2 Litho Card), g An
sent to a marine 3 PZ Z stationed at = LE A
Tsingtau, endorsed “via
naval post office at Berlin”.
Arrival Postmark
“Tsingtau, Kiautschau,
30 September 1904” Of é Wohnung (LAenw) ara |
MA (Stragfe und Hausnummer)
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Cartolina postale — Dopisnice
Union postale universelle — Welt
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30 AUGUST 1905 ‘Gruss Aus’ Card,
sent to a telegraph- supervisor employed with the German Post
Office at Tsingtau.
Arrival Postmark “Tsingtau,
Kiautschau, 8 October 1906
4 J
5 Pfennig... Domestic postcard-rate valid for mail
to the German Colonies.
BICKERDIKE LEIPZIG 13 A GERMAN EAST AFRICA
Postmark: 24mm single-circle dater-dial with
‘horseshoe arch’ within dial having the year-date at the bottom of dial between a ‘star’ & an “A” with a ‘flag’ obliterator.
Usage: 29 August1901 -8 September 1902
GERMAN EAST AFRICA REPLY CARD USAGE
30 SEPTEMBER 1901
Reply-portion of reply-card pair, acknowledging receipt of a money transfer,
sent to an assistant medical doctor of the German Protection Service at Dar-es-Salaam, German East Africa.
28-day transit time.
Arrival Mark
“Dar-Es-Salaam, 28 October 1901”
3 Pesa = 5 Pfennig.. Domestic postcard-rate valid for reply mail
sent to German East Africa.
Only known example.
BICKERDIKE HALLE *(Saale) 2h GERMAN EAST AFRICA
... Postmark Type |
Postmark: 26 mm double-circle dater-dial with
‘bridge’ & vertical grill along with a 48mm
‘flag’ obliterator having a small cross in the
crown, banner with tassels and postal horn.
Usage: 14 June 1903-11 April 1905
FR?
24618
5 MARCH 1904
View-card,
sent to a police sergeant affiliated with the German
Protection Forces at Kilwa, German East Africa.
23-day transit time.
Arrival Mark:
“Dar-Es-Salaam,
28 March 1904”
5 Pfennig..
Domestic postcard-rate valid for mail
to German colonies
BICKERDIKE LEIPZIG 13B ... GERMAN EAST AFRICA
Arrival/Service Postmark
Postmark: 24mm single-circle dial with ‘horseshoe’ or ‘arch’ within, having the year-date at the bottom of dial between a ‘star’ & ‘B’ without an obliterator.
Usage: 6 September 1901 - 12 September 1902
1 JUNE 1902
‘German East Africa’ Postal Stationary Card, postmarked at Korogwe, German East Africa, transit at Tanga (3 June),
sent to Leipzig, with arrival postmark applied by an experimental ‘Bickerdike’ Machine (2"4 machine at Leipzig).
23 day transit time.
Arrival Postmark: “Leipzig 13 B,
24 June 1902, 4-5 PM”
Sender: George Martienzen, planter and businessman, who arrived in German East Africa in 1895,
built and managed a rubber plantation, various businesses and a hotel: subsequently became local national guard leader at Mombo 1913-191 7;
and interned by the British at Ahmednagar, India in 1917.
5 Pfennig.. German domestic postcard-rate valid for
mail to & from a German colony.
RUTTGER BERLIN C.2. GERMAN EAST AFRICA
Postmark: 20mm single-circle dater dial with an obliterator having an integrated ‘R’ in a series of diagonal lines...
(early trial) lines descended to the right, (later trial) lines ascended to the right.
Usage: Early Trial.. 28 January - 5 March 1904 (obliterator lines descending)
Later Trial... 11 March - 21 October 1904 (obliterator lines ascending)
Postkarte — Carte postale Weltpostverein — Union postale universelle-
SS SW PS Correspondenzkarte -— Dopisnice Sy Af, \ o Big a Levelezé- Lap — Korespondenéni list ey fp a oon Dopisnica -—- Karta Korespondenzyjhw ff Sf. JPL d Briefkaart — Cartolina//Postale Lf ff ZF F Brefkort — Tarjets j ox ; f 3 fit i ES
UU ae
Se Sei se
18 MARCH 1904
View-card, sent to a government-employed teacher in Kilwa, German East Africa.
24-day transit time.
Transit & Arrival Postmarks: “Dar-Es-Salaam,
8 April 1904” “Kilwa, 11 April 1904”
5 Pfennig.. German domestic postcard-rate valid for mail to German colonies.
Only known ‘Ritiger’ Machine Postmark on mail to a German Colony.
BICKERDIKE BRAUNSCHWEIG “lo... GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA
Postmark: 27mm double-circle dater-dial with ‘bridge’ & vertical grill along with a ‘flag’ obliterator having a crown, banner with tassels and postal horn.
Usage: 1 March 1903 - 10 February 1905
Z | 4 Rae Lita bys UGE eee Liable
H of
Vath ee
(dg Whe Exp. Jaschke BPP
17 JANUARY 1905
View-card, sent to a lieutenant serving with the German military in German Southwest Africa
engaged in the revolt of the Herero Tribe between 20 January 1904-31 December 1907.
10 Pfennig ...
UPU international Postcard-Rate.
3 Pfennig value has plate error “DFutsches Reich”
BICKERDIKE HALLE (Saale) 2h GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA
Postmark: 26 mm double-circle dater-dial with ‘bridge’ & vertical grill along with a
‘flag’ obliterator having a crown,
banner with tassels and postal horn.
Usage: 14 June 1903 — 11 April 1905
15 OCTOBER 1904
View-card,
sent to a German naval medical doctor with the military expedition corps in German Southwest Africa by way of the
Imperial government postal station at Berlin,
re-routed the mail to the Naval Post Office,
Which then forwarded the mail to Okahandja, German Southwest Africa. 28-day transit time.
Arrival Mark (Berlin): “ (Berlin) Post Office 9,
20 October 1904”
Arrival Mark (Africa): “Okahandja, German Southwest Africa,
17 November 1904”
5 Pfennig.. Domestic postcard-rate for mail sent to German
colonies
BICKERDIKE LEIPZIG *13a ... GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA
Postmark: 24mm double-circle dial with ‘bridge’ & vertical
grill along with a ‘flag’ obliterator having a crown, banner with tassels and postal horn.
Usage: 25September 1902 - 22 December 1908
Postkarte. — Weltpo
8 AUGUST 1904
View-card,
sent to a sergeant serving with the German forces in German Southwest Africa, engaged in fighting the revolt of the Herero Tribe between 20 January 1704-31 December 1907.
Upon arrival at Windhuk,
it was determined that the recipient was deceased
and this mail was returned to the sender.
Arrival Postmark (Africa): “Windhuk, 3 November 1904”
Returned-Mail Arrival Postmark (Germany): “Leipzig, 7 December 1904”
Cachet Mark (purple ink):
“Recipient deceased, (signed)
Altenkirch, Post Office Windhuk”
Cachet Mark (black ink):
“Return to Sender”
5 Pfennig... German domestic postcard-rate
valid for mail to German colonies.
BICKERDIKE GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA
AACHEN, MAINZ & STETTIN
INBOUND FREE-FRANK SOLDIER’S MAIL
Postmark:
ope tee ae 27mm double-circle et | | Oe | me «= dater-dial with ‘bridge’ &
eee | | On © ee vertical grill and an ge! | Oe Se obliterator having six eat tases po | wavy-lines in three
<n Be pam . groups separated by two ee? | | | pair of vertical bars.
Usage: |
18 February 1905 -
2 September 1907
e ose : RESTAURANT Z 95 Cg Potttarte ee
a N NO
Hn ite
olee ‘fit Ma
Erta Sirass
Ap St f
Un
AACHEN *1p
31 AUGUST 1905
MAINZ *3*
2 AUGUST 1905
Cartolina Postale - Leevelez6- leg Brefkort - Briefkaart - Brevkoft
OTKPbITOE TIMCbMO
STETTIN *1k
13 DECEMBER 1906
Free-Frank Fieldpost Mail during the Herero Revolt/War (1904-1907).
BICKERDIKE HALLE (Saale) 2h GERMAN NEW GUINEA
Postmark: 26 mm double-circle dater-dial with ‘bridge’ & vertical grill along with a ‘flag’ obliterator having a crown,
banner with tassels and postal horn.
Usage: 14June 1903-11 April 1905
e " a
se) es Julius Becker
Bank commercial-mail Fe postcard, Mortineborg °
sent to “Franz Hellwig” at Peinen onthe primary
Hermit Island(s), Ip An Bismarck Archipelago, A. German New Guinea. 69+-day transit time. | an DMEEBL
Transit Postmarks: | ¢ “Herbertshohe. |
German New Guinea, | : 25 September 1903” BY Use
“Matupi, : GZ, i x
26 September 1903” ain ccatasehl dovles
| 11. 00, | z
Postkarte — Carte postal Weltpostvercin — Union postale universglle
' Levelezi-Lap — Correspondenzkarte — Dapia ioPO 8 O4 HI N ;
Karla korespondencyjna — Korespondencniligtex wes
29 AUGUST 1904
“Gruss Aus” Halle
View-Card,
sent to “Franz
Hellwig" on
Matupi Island, German
New Guinea.
71-day transit time.
Arrival Postmark:
: “Matupi, oo 7 November
te ofthe Lia | 1904 i
Breas |
5 Pfennig.. Domestic postcard-rate valid
for mail sent to German Colonies.
Franz Emil Hellwig:
Businessman (Hernsheim Company) & ethnologist researcher
who participated in the ‘South Seas Expedition of 1908-10’.
BICKERDIKE GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA BAVARIAN POSTAL ADMINISTRATION MUNCHEN 2 B.P. (Munich)
Machine ‘1’...
THE BAVARIAN POSTAL ADMINISTRATION ACQUIRED TWO BICKERDIKE
POSTMARKING MACHINES ... one in 1905 and a second in 1906.
The first machine was in service at ‘Munich Post Office 2’ while the second was for service at Nuremberg. Both applied postmarks to out-going mail.
Postmark: 27mm double-circle dater-dial with ‘bridge’ & vertical
grill and obliterator having six wavy-lines in three groups
separated by two pair of vertical bars.
Usage: 18 February 1905 - 2 September 1907
21 JANUARY 1906
UPU Correspondence Card, postmarked at
Munich, sent toa medic serving with the
4 Battery of the Imperial Forces in German Southwest
Africa
27 AUGUST 1907
Fieldpost cover, postmarked at Munich,
sent to a 1* Lieutenant of the Imperial Forces at Warmbad, German
Southwest Africa
Arrival Postmark: (reverse)
“Warmbad, German
Southwest Africa, 27 September 1907”
Free-frank Fieldpost Mail during the Herero Revolt/War
BICKERDIKE
BAVARIAN POSTAL ADMINISTRATION GERMAN SOUTHWEST AFRICA
“NURNBERG AUSSTELLUNG”
(Nuremberg Exhibition of 1906) Machine 2...
A SECOND ‘BICKERDIKE’ MACHINE, purchased by the Bavarian Postal Administration
with operation at Nuremberg, APPLIED POSTMARKS TO OUT-GOING MAIL AT THE
“NUREMBERG EXHIBITION OF 1906’.
Postmark: 28mm dater-dial with ‘bridge’ & vertical grill along with a horizontal seven-line 38mm obliterator.
Usage: 1 May -30 October 19706
8 AUGUST 1906
‘Nuremberg’ Viewcard, sent to a soldier with the Imperial Forces in
German Southwest Africa during the Herero Revolt Period (1904-1907)
Free-frank mail to overseas military personnel.
BICKERDIKE LEIPZIG 13 ... GERMAN TOGO
Arrival/Service Postmark
Postmark: 24mm single-circle dial with ‘horseshoe’ or ‘arch’ within, having the year-date at the
bottom of dial between a ‘star’ & ‘b’ and without an obliterator combined.
Usage: &September 1901 - 12 September 1902
Wohnurg (Strafe und Sausnumuner)
Exp Eibenstein BPP
5 NOVEMBER 1901
‘Togo’ German Colony Postal Stationary Card, sent from Klein Popo to Leipzig,
where, upon arrival, it received an arrival postmark applied by an experimental ‘Bickerdike’ Machine.
Arrival Postmark:
“Leipzig 13 B, 24 November 1901, 9-10 PM”
5 Pfennig.. German domestic postcard-rate valid for
mail to & from a German colony.
BICKERDIKE LEIPZIG 13 ... GERMAN POST OFFICE MOROCCO
Arrival/Service Postmark
Postmark: 24mm single-circle dial with ‘horseshoe’ or ‘arch’ within, having the year-date at the bottom of dial between a ‘star’ & ‘b’ and without an obliterator combined.
Usage: 6September 1901 - 12 September 1902
Doftfarte — Weltpoftverein
10 FEBRUARY 1902
‘Morocco’ German Offices UPU Postal Stationary Card, commercial mail, sent from Rabat to Leipzig,
where, upon arrival, it received an arrival postmark applied by an experimental ‘Bickerdike’ Machine.
Arrival Postmark: “Leipzig 13 B,
20 February 1902, 8-9 AM”
10 day transit time.
10 Centimos..
UPU International Postcard-Rate
COLUMBIA
HAMBURG *** ... GERMAN POST OFFICE IN TURKEY
Postmark: 25mm double-ring dater dial with a flag-style
& integrated ‘DR’ as obliterator.
Usage: 23 April 1906-9 January 1907
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x 23 SEPTEMBER 1906
View-card, sent to Constantinople, Turkey.
(now ‘Istanbul’)
Mail transferred upon arrival from
German Post Office to local Turkish post office.
Arrival Postmark
(German Post Office): “Constantinople,
27 September 1906...”
Arrival Postmark (Turkish Post Office):
“Constantinople 3, 27 September 1906”
10 Pfennig ... UPU International Postcard-Rate