German
South West Africa
Deutsch-Südwestafrika
1884 - 1915
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German South West Africa
Stamp Album
This album covers the issue of stamps by German South West Africa for the period 1884 to 1915 when
the territory ceased to exist as a German Colony, following its surrender to South African Forces in
World War I.
The album is ordered in accordance with the Stanley Gibbons Whole World Stamp Catalogue and the
format is a straightforward and uncomplicated collection of the issues covering postage stamps and
only includes variations of stamps if not of a high catalogue value.
Images of virtually all stamps and booklets have been inserted in the mount spaces to assist collection,
or for information.
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German South West Africa
Maps
Map of German South West Africa. Colonial Map of Africa.
Total Area - 835,100 square kilometres
Postal History
Although the colony was established in 1884, its postal history only dates from 7 July 1886, when the first post
office under German Postal Administration opened at Otjimbingwe, the then seat of the colonial administration.
The first stamps issue were German ("Deutsches Reich") postage stamps and the first postmark read
“OTYIMBINGUE”. Due to changes in the Postal Administration, the “OTYIMBINGUE” postmark was also
used for cancellations in other offices. This service continued for several years, expanding to additional post
offices at Windhoek (1891) and Swakopmund (1895).
The number of post offices in the colony eventually expanded to nearly 100 and included numerous short-lived
provisional and feldpost offices serving German troops stationed in the colony during World War I.
The first stamps issued by the colony consisted of two types representing Kaiser Wilhelm's yacht, "SMS
Hohenzollern II" - one with Pfennig values (Type A) and the other with Mark values (Type B). These two types
were in used by all German Colonies, inscribed with the name of the particular colony and in the case of Type B
stamps, the length of the name of the colony dictated which of two designs were used in the printing and issue of
the stamps. For Type B stamps; whilst perforations still measured about 14½, three types of perforations were
used, with the distinguishing feature being the number of holes along the horizontal and vertical sides.
After the outbreak of World War I, printing of the stamp issues are found to be of a lower quality, with blurred
printing, drab colours, rough paper, an unclear watermark and glossier gum.
Cancellations
(I). OTYIMBINGUE: the only postmark used on German ("Deutsches Reich") Stamps issued in the colony for the period
16.7.1888 - March 1892.
(II). From 1892, cancellations by the territory's Post Offices each with their own postmarks.
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German South West Africa
Stamp Issues:
(1) German ("Deutsches Reich") Stamps;
The following German stamps were issued prior to the first issue of stamps by the colony:
16/7/1886 – March 1892 with an “OTYIMBINGUE” postmark - value in “Marks” (2);
1888-1892 value in “Pfennig” (6);
1891-1892 Eagle issue - value in “Pfennig” (6);
1892-1901 Postmarks of local Post Offices on German Stamps - value in “Marks” (2);
1892-1901 Eagle issue - value in “Pfennig” (12).
(2) Overprinted German ("Deutsches Reich") Stamps;
The first stamp issue by the Colony in 1897, consisted of overprints of 1889 German stamps reading
“Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika” diagonally. On 15 October 1898, the overprint was changed to “Deutsch-Südwestafrika” without
the hyphen after "Südwest".
1897 July - 1898. German Stamps of 1889 overprinted diagonally "Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika. (6);
1898 October - 1899. German Stamps of 1889 overprinted diagonally "Deutsch-Südwestafrika. (6);
(3) German South West Africa Stamps (inscribed).
1901 - January. Kaiser Wilhelm II's Yacht “SMS Hohenzollern II” with no watermark. (13);
1906 June - 1919. Kaiser Wilhelm II's Yacht “SMS Hohenzollern II” with "Lozenges" watermark. (9).
Not taking into account stamp varieties and shades, a total of 34 stamps were issued during the 31 years of the existence of
the colony.
Watermark used in the Stamp Issues of
German South West Africa.
Lozenges
Christuskirche 1907 - Windhoek. Bahnhof 1912 - Windhoek.
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German South West Africa
Coat of Arms & Flag
German South West Africa did not have its own coat of arms or flag as Germany, in following Portuguese and
Dutch colonial practice, governed their overseas colonies and protectorates as a integral part of one empire -
thus the Imperial German arms and flag were used in all its colonies and protectorates. In fact it was the flag of
the Imperial Colonial Authority that was used in all but one colony. However, following a tour of inspection in
1912 – 1913 by Wilhelm Solf, the Secretary of State of the Imperial Colonial Authority, to all German
Protectorates and visits to some British colonies, he submitted a memorandum to Kaiser Wilhelm II proposing
that individual coat of arms and flags should be adopted for all the colonies due to the positive effect that these
emblems had on the native people in British colonies. The Kaiser, impressed by the recommendation, gave
instructions for the design of coat of arms and flags for all German colonies. Following a thorough investigation
by Solf and some modification of the initial drafts submitted to Kaiser Wilhelm, the final drafts of the coat of
arms and flags were approved by the Kaiser in the middle of 1914. With the outbreak of the First World War in
August 1914, the plans for introducing the new coat of arms and flags were placed on hold, but Germany’s
defeat in the war and the loss of all her colonies, meant that the plans were never resurrected.
Flag of Imperial Colonial Authority
Imperial Coat of Arms (Reichskolonialamp)
Coat of Arms and Flag proposed for
German South West Africa (1914)
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German South West Africa
Overprinted issue of German stamps of 1889.
July 1897 - 1899.
Watermark: none. Perf: 13½ x 14.
sg 1 sacc 1 sg 2 sacc 2 sg 3 sacc 3
sg 4 sacc 4 sg sacc 5 sg sacc 6
Stamp numbers (5) and (6) were only sold at the Philatelic Sales Counter in Berlin and used on covers are extremely rare.
In February 1897, the Reichsdruckerei printed 800 copies of the initial "Deutsch-Südwest-Afrika" overprints for the Universal
Postal Union in Bern, Switzerland.
15 November 1884 - Conference of Berlin. The 'Scramble for Africa'
Adolf Lüderitz Lüderitz - formerly Lüderitzbucht; originally Angra Pequena.
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German South West Africa
Overprinted issue of German stamps of 1889.
15 October 1898 - 1899.
Watermark: none. Perf: 13½ x 14.
sg 5 sacc 7 sg 5a - shade sacc 7a
sg 6 sacc 8 sg 7 sacc 9 sg 7b sacc 9b
sg 8 sacc 10 sg 9 sacc 11 sg 9a sacc 11a sg 10 sacc 12
A shortage of 5 Pfennig stamps, normally used to cover the postcard rate, occured at Keetmanshoop post office from June - September 1900.
As an interim measure, the post office used bisected 10 Pfennig stamps and covers exist with the bisected stamp, or signature of Postmaster
Dom, instead of a stamp .
bisected 10pfg stamp
issued at Keetmanshoop Post Office.
Disembarking at Swakopmund Pier. View from anchorage at Swakopmund. Swakopmund Lighthouse.
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German South West Africa
Kaiser Wilhelm II's Yacht "SMS Hohenzollern II" definitive issue.
January 1901.
Watermark: none. Perf: 14 x 14½.
Pfennig value stamps typographic printed - Mark values recess printed.
sg 11 sacc 13 sg 12 sacc 14 sg 13 sacc 15
SMS Hohenzollern II.
sg 14 sacc 16 sg 15 sacc 17
sg 16 sacc 18 sg 17 sacc 19 sg 18 sacc 20 sg 19 sacc 21
Set of 13 stamps of the Yacht Issue (No 13 - 25) were printed with "Specimen" overprinted and rare proofs of the 40pfg, 50pfg and 80pfg stamps
exist with watermarks.
Hohenzollernhaus 1906 - Swakopmund. Woermannhaus and Damara Tower Alte Gefangis 1909 - Swakopmund.
1905 - Swakopmund.
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German South West Africa
Kaiser Wilhelm II's Yacht "SMS Hohenzollern II" definitive issue... continued.
sg 20 sacc 22 sg 21 sacc 23
sg 22 sacc 24 sg 23 sacc 25
Kaiser Wilhelm II's Yacht "SMS Hohenzollern" definitive issue.
June 1906 - 1919.
Watermark: lozenges. Perf: 14 x 14½. Pfennig value stamps, typographic printed - Mark values, recess printed.
9.2.1907 - 1913 5.1906 9.1906 - 1913 1911 1913
sg 24 sacc 26 sg 25 sacc 27 sg 26 sacc 28 sg 27 sacc 29 sg 28 - buff paper sacc 30
5.1912 11.1911
sg 29 25 x 17 Perf holes. sacc 31 sg 30 25 x 17 Perf holes. sacc 32
3.1919 13.1.1906
sg 31 sacc 33 sg 32 25 x 17 Perf holes. sacc 34
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German South West Africa
Kaiser Wilhelm II's Yacht "SMS Hohenzollern" definitive issue,
Varieties and shades.
1907 1913 1911
sg24 dark brown sacc 26a sg24 yellow brown sacc 26b sg26 bright carmine sacc 28a
Alte Feste 1891 - Windhoek. Turnhalle 1913 - Windhoek.
Schutztruppen of German Camel Corp. Postal Runner - Richard 'Tooke' Karambovandu. General Botha, accepts surrender
Postal ferry route Omaruru to Walvis Bay. of German South-West Africa from
Lt. Col. Francke, 9 July 1915.
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German South West Africa
Informational.
Deutsch-Südwestafrika Stamp Booklets
1 October 1911 issue. Booklet 1(A). 2 April 1912 issue. Booklet 2(B).
issue priced at 2 Mk. issue priced at 2 Mk.
5 brown interleaves, 6 booklet panes 4 brown interleaves, 6 booklet panes
with one advertising label in top left corner. with one advertising label in top left corner.
1913 issue. Booklet 3(C). 1 June 1914 issue. Booklet 4.
issue priced at 2 Mk. issue priced at 2 Mk.
5 brown interleaves, 5 booklet panes. 5 brown interleaves, 6 booklet panes with no advertising interleave.
This issue was only sold at the Philatelic Sales Counter in Berlin. This issue was sold in the Colony and the remaining stock auctioned in 1921.
First train Bahnhof Okahandja 1903. Kaiserliches Postamt Skeleton Coast shipwreck 5/9/1909
Seeheim to Keetmanshoop. Keetmanshoop. Eduard Bohlen II - now 800m inland.
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German South West Africa
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Stamp Mounts
If you are planning to use stamp mounts with this album, it should be noted that the sizes of the mount
boxes listed in the following schedules allow for the actual size of each stamp, plus a 2mm border
around the stamp.
Prior to printing the album, it is recommended that you first print a test page and check that the sizes
of the boxes printed on the test page, agree with the actual stamp sizes plus the 2mm border. If the
boxes do not comply with the parameter, a printer will have to be found that prints with the requisite
degree of accuracy.
Schedule 1 - stamp mounts sizes & quantities by page.
Page Size mm No Size mm No
. wxh wxh
6 25 x 28 6
7 25 x 28 9
8 25 x 29 9
9 42 x 30 8 25 x 29 5
10 25 x 29 3
Schedule 2 - summary of stamp mounts needed by sizes & quantities.
Height Width No
mm mm
25 x 28 = 15
25 x 29 = 17
42 x 30 = 8
Total 40 Mounts
