Deutsche Reich / German Empire Michel 81Ba?

Hi everyone,

I recently acquired some Reich high values and I have a question I hope you could help me with, based on this page: https://www.pvoller.net/new_stamps/.../1902/81.php

As per the image below, the stamp on the left has the 25 perforation holes of the much-prized (and valuable) Michel 81Ba horizontally, but vertically it has 17. Have you seen this before? Do you know which Michel 81 variety this is? They both appear unwatermarked.

As always in these situations, I will assume it has a low value but would be happy to be proven wrong. In any case, it's a shame about the diabolically heavy cancel!

Vielen dank,

Steven

It is most probably Michel 97BII which has 25:17. The late use(1921) also indicate this
(As far as I can see it is a typo on 97BII at http://www.pvoller.net/new_stamps/g.../1915/97.php as it says 25:16 when Michel says 25:17)

I think AOLSON is correct and you missed a watermark.

See this website (Michel numbers): bottom stamp right has 25:17 perforation but a watermark

https://www.germanstamps.net/imp-rpst-1915-germlg/

You will find the #81 stamps here:
https://www.germanstamps.net/imp-rp...902-germlg1/

Click on the fields to see characteristics in the lower left corner.
The apparent bright colour of your stamp also may be a clue.

Thanks so much for the insight @NSK and @aolsson.

I will check the watermark again as it looks likely to be 97BII as you say.

The left stamp is 97BII, as already noted. It is definitely watermarked but because it is a War printing it may be difficult to see.

The right stamp is not a War printing (1902 date) so the watermark should be very obvious. Since you can't see one the stamp has to be 81Ab. 81Aa was first issued in 1904 so it can't be that.