Germany "Waagerechte Paare" (Horizontal Pairs)

I have a question about Michel prices for Horizontal pairs. There are many series where such pairs priced very high. What is the rationale for that?
For example:
BRD Mi#192x used priced at 6.00 euro, while used pair is 400 euro.
BRD Mi# 188x mint single: 6.00; mint pair: 55
BRD Mi# 188x used single: 0.40; used pair: 250
Am I missing something here?

I remember reading somewhere this has to do with instructions issued by the Post Office.
The instruction would have been to separate stamps by columns.
German sheets have accounting numbers at the top. Consequently, sales were easy to determine from the amounts at top. A system only a madman could have come up with as it requires a degree in maths to do so. The system would work if you separate the right column first. As far as I have experienced, they have always been separated left column first from top to bottom.
But the consequence was that horizontal pairs could only be presented to the customer if he bought more than 10 stamps. Therefore, they are rare.



Just over a year ago, I had a similar issue at the French post office in Andorra. They were not allowed to sell me blocks of four stamps, as they had to separate the stamps by column.

That's a shame, as French post offices like to be accommodating if they can. When I was in Rouen in the autumn, after I'd opted for commemoratives for my postcards, the charming lady got out her folder and let me choose. I picked the large Tutankhamun ones, which she warned me would be too large (they just fitted). I shouldn't get this service in my local post office - even in the unlikely event of their having a range of commemoratives.

I am not too choosy when it comes to buying stamps on postcards. Given a choice, I prefer a commemorative, but otherwise, I am fine with what they have. Usually, in France, they indeed are very friendly and helpful at the post office.

Maybe the lady at the post office in Andorra was having a bad day. I did consider it a good idea to sent my girlfriend and my protégées two postcards, one each via the French and Spanish post offices. It took some searching for the Spanish office in Andorra la Vella. It is hidden away. But they were much friendlier there than at the French one.

I posted block of the Andorran coat-of-arms stamps here. Correos, now, depicts the flag of Andorra. However La Poste, now, issues the coat-of-arms. I would have liked blocks of them. Apparently, the heavens would fall down on the post office if she would give me the blocks. So, I returned to La Seu d'Urgell without the blocks.

NSK - thanks for your explanation. I was surprised to find too many horizontal pairs in my Germany inventory, inconsistent with normal rate of expensive stamps.
BTW - is that 5pf Orange sheet real? Based on Michel pricing it should be a million dollar item!

The sheet is a picture from Wikipedia and it is known as 'gelber Dom' which should be yellow, not orange. (?) No idea what Michel says. I do not collect Germany.

This is information from Michel:
1948. Definitive Stamps: Structures series. MiNr. 75 in another color.
Watermark 1; perf L 11.
BIX 5 (Pf) yellow................................... 11000,—

Stamp in this color was never released. Normal color for 5pf stamp (MiNr 75) is Ultramarine/Dark Cobalt.

I don't have Michel to know what specific stamps are being referred to, but is it the following series? If so, what specific catalog lists prices for pairs? Could it be possible that postmarks I have are forgeries? I have other horizontal pairs not shown and I have similar blocks and pairs from the 1946 and 1947-48 sets.

No, OP's stamps are the Theodor Heuss stamps.



According to Google, Mi 188 is the 40 Pfennig, and Mi. 192 is the 1 DM.
This set is offered with certificate at € 555.

NicholasC - your picture (and Yellow sheet above) show Allied Occupation stamps. Michel has no any special pricing for pairs in that series.
I was writing about Germany stamps after 1949 - see some examples below. There are many series like those with special pricing for horizontal pairs in Michel Germany Specialized Catalog.

So these? I realize some of these are from booklets and I also have a handful of vertical pairs.

I have various used blocks and pairs of the post horn set as well. And I have a few dozen unused and used blocks and pairs of various items through 1959.

Well, maybe it is time to pick up a copy of Michel's Deutschland-Spezial Katalog and see whether you hit the jackpot.