German Colonial Yacht Proofs

I haven't shared anything from the collection in a while, and since you don't see these very often, here you go -- 2 Pfennig Yacht Proofs of the German Colonies.



The lowest-value Yacht stamps that were used throughout the colonies were the 3 pfennigs, which are brown.

These are proofs of a 2-pfennig design in gray-blue. There are 5 total:

MiNr I P 1 (Samoa)
MiNr II P 1 (Cameroon / Kamerun)
MiNr III P 1 (German Southwest Africa / Deutsch-Südwestafrika)
MiNr IV P I (Carolines / Karolinen)
MiNr V P (German New Guinea / Deutsch-Neuguinea)

MiNr I-IV were printed in blocks of 16, arranged as follows:

DSWA - DSWA - Samoa - Samoa
DSWA - DSWA - Samoa - Samoa
Karolinen - Karolinen - Kamerun - Kamerun
Karolinen - Karolinen - Kamerun - Kamerun

As such, they can be found in roughly equal numbers, and they share the same catalog values.

The German New Guinea issue is a bit of a mystery to me. Michel lists it in the catalog, but I can't find any mention of it in any of the usual references. Michel doesn't give it a CV (--.--), so it's rare enough that they're unable to establish a value. Have to keep my radar up for that one, and the DSWA that I'm missing!

so, if they were printed like that, it could make some for some interesting pairs, right? (Karolinen/Kameron, DSWA/Samoa, etc.). I guess the center block of 4 with all 4 different states would be pretty awesome looking. wonder how many full sheets are still out there that this could be done?

Yep. In his definite work on the German Colonies, Albert Friedemann mentions that combinations and center blocks of 4 with one of each (MiNr I-IV) exist. I've never seen one, and I would image they are very rare, since not many of these were produced.

The CV for 4 singles would be astronomical (€28,000 for MNH, €18,000 for MH), so I can't image what kind of $$$ a block of 4 with one of each would command.

Nice. I have never seen these "in the flesh" and have not even been aware of them offered for sale. Proofs would also have been prepared for the high values as well. Do you know if these were printed in a similar arrangement to the lower values, and in the same colours?

Finally managed to snag a decent copy of the DSWA issue. It's a little dirty, but it'll do!

It's been a couple years since I posted this, but I guess we'll now find out. Coming up in the Württembergisches Auktionshaus 132d Auction on 9 June 2018, this rare block of 4 colonial yacht proofs in MNH condition. Regrettably, I won't be placing a bid, as the opening bid price is €30,000!!!