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Stamp of the German New Guinea Company (1885) With the establishment of the German New Guinea Company, appeared the first stamp of that country on 15 February 1888; although this was primarily a private local issue, it was officially recognised and used for postal purposes. This was a parcels stamp of 2 Mark denomination, printed in red and featuring the emblem of the German New Guinea Company, a heraldic lion, and the words (translated) "Protectorate of New Guinea Company Parcel Stamp". As very few were evidently used prior to the introduction of the German Empire 2 Mark stamp, the parcels post stamps of the German New Guinea Company are scarce, especially in used condition. They exist with a blue control cancellation as well as with pen cancellations. Proofs in rose, blue, red-brown and olive-brown are known. German Empire stamps in German New Guinea (1885-1897) The first post-office in German New Guinea was opened at Stephansport on December 14th, 1889, and from that time until 1897 ordinary unsurcharged German stamps were used in the colony. These early issues for German New Guinea are distinguishable only by their postmarks, comprising the following post offices: Finschafen - opened 15 February 1888, closed 1893, reopened 1904. Hatzfeldhafen - opened 1st April 1888, closed 30th September 1891 Kerewara (in Duke of York islands, 20 miles east of Rabaul) - opened 4th April 1888, closed June 1890 Konstantinhafen (Erimba, a town SE of Bogadjim) - opened 15th May 1888, closed 30th Setpember 1891 Stephansort (Bogadjim) - opened 14th December 1889, closed 30th June 1914 Herbetshöhe - opened June 1890 Friedrich Wilhelmshafen (Madang) - opened 1st March 1892 Berlinhafen - opened 22nd May 1898 German Empire 2 Mark The German New Guinea Company stamp was replaced by the German Empire 2 Mark issue of 1880-1889 in various shades of purple, mauve and rose. German Empire general issue stamps In addition, the general issue German Empire stamps were used without overprint. Typographed, perf 13.5 x 14.5. Scott SG Michel Description Have 3 pfennig green 5 pfennig purple 10 pfennig carmine 20 pfennig blue 25 pfennig yellow-brown 50 pfennig olive-green German Empire stamps overprinted Deutsch-New-Guinea (1897-1900) In 1897, six values of the 1889-1900 German Empire stamps were overprinted "Deutsche-Neu-Guinea" at the Imperial Printing Office Berlin. These stamps were valid for postage until 30th September 1901. Concurrently with these, the previous un-overprinted stamps were still valid for postage and many examples are known with these later dated postmarks. Typographed, no watermark, perf 13.5 x 14.5. Scott SG Michel Description Image 1a 3 pfennig reddish brown 1b 3 pfennig yellow brown 2 5 pfennig green 3 10 pfennig carmine 4 20 pfennig ultramarine 5 25 pfennig orange 5a 25 pfennig orange, inverted overprint   6 50 pfennig red brown German Empire Overprinted Postcards (1897) 4 postcards were prepared for use. These used the same stamp design of 1897, the German Empire 5 pfennig and 10 pfennig stamps overprinted "Deutsch-Neu-Guinea". Description Purpose Image 5 pfennig green     5 + 5 pfennig green (including reply card)     10 pfennig carmine     10 + 10 pfennig carmine (including reply card)     German New Guinea (1900-1914) In 1900, all existing stamps were replaced by the general 'key' series for all the German colonies, depicting His Imperial Majesty's (Kaiser Wilhelm II's) Yacht Hohenzollern. The new stamps were printed at the Imperial Printing Office, Berlin. The stamps were valid for postage until 21 September 1914, and all values are known overprinted 'Specimen'. No watermark. Deutsch-New-Guinea has two hyphens. Scott SG Michel Description Perf Image 7 3 pfennig brown 14 8 5 pfennig green 14   9 10 pfennig carmine 14 10 20 pfennig ultramarine 14 2 11 25 pfennig orange and black on yellow 14 2 12 30 pfennig orange and black on salmon 14 2 13 40 pfennig lake and black 14 2 14 50 pfennig purple and black on salmon 14 2 15 80 pfennig lake and black on rose 14 1 16 1 Mark carmine 14.5 x 14 1 17 2 Mark blue 14.5 x 14 1 18 3 Mark black violet 14.5 x 14 2 19 5 Mark slate and carmine 14.5 x 14   During the period of issue of these stamps, additional post offices were opened in the colony and several of the older ones were closed. By 1914, there were 13 cancellations currently used: Finschafen Herbetshöhe Friedrich Wilhelmshafen (Madang) Matupi - opened 1st November 1894, closed 13th January 1906 Eitape (was Berlinhafen, renamed October 1912) Kawieng - opened 1st January 1904 Rabaul (was Simpsonhafen) opened 1st February 1906 Kieta - opened 25th April 1907 Maron - opened 1st January 1911 Namatanai - opened 9th September 1911 Manus - opened 6th December 1912 Morobe - opened 20th January 1913 Buka - opened 26th July 1913 Deulon (Alexishafen) - opened 1st January 1914 German New Guinea Postcards (1900 and 1909) In 1900, the previous four postcards were replaced by similar denominations using the Yacht stamps. Description Purpose Image 5 pfennig green     5 + 5 pfennig green (including reply card)     10 pfennig carmine     10 + 10 pfennig carmine (including reply card)     In 1909, the 10 + 10 pfennig postcard was reprinted with a slightly different design, with altered inscription and no border. Description Purpose Image 10 + 10 pfennig green (with reply card)     German New Guinea unissued (1914) In 1914, the 3 pfennig value was printed on paper watermarked with multiple lozenges. Three others, the 5 pfennig, 10 pfennig and 5 Mark, were printed on the same paper, but with the inscription altered to 'Deutsch-Neuguinea', the second hyphen disappearing. None of these stamps were issued in the colony because of the outbreak of war. They were sold in Berlin to dealers and collectors. They do not exist in genuine used condition. It is easy to distinguish between these unissued stamps and the earlier issued stamps. For the 5 pf, 10 pf and 5 M stamps - check the hyphens. One hyphen = unissued stamps of 1914, 2 hyphens = issued stamps of 1900. For the 3 pf, check the watermark. Watermark = unissued stamp of 1914, no watermark = issued stamp of 1900. Multiple lozenge watermark. Scott SG Michel Description Perf Have 20 3 pfennig brown, Deutsch-Neu-Guinea (two hyphens) 14 1 21 5 pfennig green, Deutsch-Neuguinea (one hyphen) 14 3 22 10 pfennig carmine, Deutsch-Neuguinea (one hyphen) 14 2 23 1 Mark slate and carmine, Deutsch-Neuguinea (one hyphen) 14.5 x 14 2 German New Guinea unissued Postcards (1913) In 1913, the 5 pfennig postcard was reprinted without the hyphen, showing "Deutsch-NeuGuinea". The postcard was not issued in the colony because of the outbreak of war. They were sold in Berlin to dealers and collectors. They do not exist in genuine used condition. Description Purpose Image 5 pfennig green     German Mourning Stamps (1913) German Notgeld Notes (1913)