Two Ordinary Covers, German 1911 And Franch 1925

I bought some stamps on ebay and these two envelopes were included.
I add a link to the deals to show the seller's scans because my scanner passed away and I know how you hate cellular pictures.
My question: Is there anything interesting or educational in these covers, cancelation, sender, receiver, or political situation? Though I'm going to keep the covers, how much might they be worth?
Thanks to anyone who will find interest in this post.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204248435902

https://www.ebay.com/itm/204269408655

Here is your cover pulled from the top link:



and the cover from the second link:



Hopefully this increases your chances of getting a comment or two.

There is little to find about this theatre café. Its name suggests it was located in the old Schrannenhalle that stood next to the town theatre. The theatre was detroyed by allied bombs on 16 March 1945. Parallel to the theatre stood the Schrannenhalle. It might be the café was located in that building. But it is likely it, at least, was near these two buildings. The Halls were almost completely destroyed during the same bombing raid.

There was a William Herbert Prentiss in Keene, New Hampshire.
Born 22 March 1853, died 10 February 1923.
The letter may have been sent to his widow, Mary Ann Adams Hurd Prentiss, born 28 January 1862
in Charlestown, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, USA, died 7 October 1935, Keene, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA. The name of the sender suggests this was a family member.

The owner of the café may have put this book together?

https://www.abebooks.com/Illustrier...095993796/bd



It looks like Darmstadt records can be searched here:
https://www.familysearch.org/en/wik...ical_Records

That is the Rathaus of Würzburg. It houses the 'Ratskeller' Inn since 1918. And it may well be that it was run by the same Peter Vaitl.
https://www.wuerzburger-ratskeller.de/

Edit:
Yes, it was:
https://wuerzburgwiki.de/wiki/Gesch..._Ratskellers

That last link includes a picture of a postcard showing Peter Vaitl. ctrl-f for 'Vaitl' will get you to a reference of him as "Theaterwirtschaftspächter."

Thank you, very interesting. It seems that the wife of the late William Herbert Prentiss was a Hurd, and the Hurd family was important enough to find a PDF book of their genealogy online. John Hurd was probably the widow's brother.
What about the square cancelation? I couldn't read it.

What about the German cover? I guess it was used in 1911. The stamp would be Michal Bayern 92A and not 92B.
I couldn't read the writing: To Carl something & frau?
Was it sent by the theatre, or could the audience use the theatre's cover for private mail, like covers in hotels?
In any case, this cover is a remnant of a world that is gone (the bombed theatre).

I read the addressee on the German cover to be "Mechler" but if you're searching, you might as well search "Meckler" too, if you get no joy from Mechler, on Lichtenbergstrasse in Darmstadt.

Herrn
Carl Mechler x fam(ilie).
Darmstadt
Lichtenbergstraße 18/II

I agree with cjd it might be Meckler, but there is little that points at it. Also 'x' could be u(nd) or '&.'

Maybe they made a reservation for some event at the café.

I find this exciting: From two insignificant covers to two personal stories, one of an unsuspecting couple, about to go to the theatre, a few years before "the great war" that changed Europe, and another of a brother from a distinguished family, comforting his widow sister in post/pre-wars town of lights.

Thank you for all your help.
Two more questions:
What does the Franch cancelation say?
It seems I don't have the Bavarian stamps in my collection. How much can this cover be worth?
Thanks.

UTILISEZ LA POSTE / AERIENNE / SE RESEIGNER DANS / LES BUREAUX DE POSTE

use airmail inquire at post offices

Scott Classic says that this stamp on cover is $4.00, as of the 2017 edition. Is that right? I have no idea. (I can check a new version in several hours, but I'd be surprised if they've significantly updated their on cover listings.)

I'd note that the first day of issue for this stamp is listed as June 10, 1911.

A 10pf stamp was also issued, which would have paid the same rate that this cover is paying. Perhaps they were already sold out? Perhaps that one was sent, too? Who knows?

NSK, thank you for the translation.


Cjd, thanks. The last day of issue was June 30, 1911, a strangely short period. I think I see "10" in the cancellation, so it was probably mailed on the first day of issue. As for value, I've learned in this forum that CV is often higher than the sell value. Hope I will find this stamp off paper one day.

I have no idea how reliable Scott's venture into "on cover" pricing is turning out to be. Yours does appear to be a first day cover, without screaming it from the mezzanine. I rarely buy covers, so I can't really say whether that adds a few bucks, or not, in the mind of someone who does seek them out.

What does the back look like?

ETA: The stamp was issued to commemorate the anniversary of the regency, so it doesn't surprise me to hear that it was on sale for a short time.

Michel CV for multiples on cover is 12€. If it's a FDC, add a couple € to that.