Germany: Von Hindenburg - Fun With Booklets!

Finally getting around to identifying some lots I recently purchased and pulled out the Michel Catalogue. I would be grateful if someone here can verify my identification.

The top block is:

Mi - MHB45.1 MNH. Cat value €480,

The top two rows fit the MHB configuration, but I noticed three blank spots in the catalogue. If I read it correctly, MHB 45.1 had those three places populated with 6pf stamps and MHB45.2 would have three 5pf stamps.

The top block has a third row, which is not listed in Michel and would exclude this from being a booklet pane. Additionally, there are no staple marks. Does that make this something else?

Second block:

Mi - MHB 43, MNH Cat value €550,

Third block:

Mi - MHB 42, MNH Cat value €550,

If I have correctly identified these, I purchased €1580 worth of blocks for $53.80 (excluding the extra row of stamps on the top block).

Huzzah!

I was sleepy but reading your post I woke up. It's a good addition to your Germany collection.

First block is from MHB 45.2.

The difference between 45.1 and 45.2 is in the gutter.


MHB 45.1


MHB 45.2

Cat value for the three rows is probably around €165 (full sheet is €550 in the 2011 Markenheftchen catalog).

Second block is from MHB 43. Cat value for the full sheet is €550, so for two rows it's probably around €100-110. As individual booklet panes, each pane would be €45.

Third block is from MHB 42. Cat value for the full sheet is €550, so for two rows it's probably around €100-110. As individual booklet panes, each pane would be €45.

Total cat value for the three is almost €500, so you still did very well.

As to your question about what exactly the first block is, it helps to understand the printing process. The booklets (Markenheftchen, or MH) consist of booklet panes (Heftchenblätter, or H-Blatt). The booklet panes were printed in full sheets (Markenheftchenbogen, or MHB) of 10x10, which were then cut into the individual 2x5 panes.

For example, MHB 45 was cut into 10 panes of H-Blatt 92.


MHB 45.1


H-Blatt 92

However, to serve the collecting market, the uncut MHB sheets were also available for purchase at the philatelic window. So what you have here are cut-down portions of the full sheets.

And I see the blank spot in Michel that caused you some confusion. Not sure why they're blank. Also note that the MHB configuration is the full sheet, not just the two rows depicted in Michel. The text under the two-row diagram translates as 10 vertical rows with 10 horizontal fields.

The text in 45.1/45.2 -- Zwischensteg mit 5/6 StrL (Strichelleiste) translates as Gutter with 5/6 dashed bars.

I completely missed the 5 column vs 6 column markings. I'm sure I caused much confusion by my "blank stamp" observation.




Thank you once again for the lesson! It's always a pleasure reading your posts.

Brian