Gallery

 

2. Re-used Port Gdansk Postal Cards

The ARGE Generalgouvernement 1939-45 published a booklet tinder the title Die Ganzsachen und Postsache-Karten des Generalgouvernernent, compiled by Otto Tahi. on their findings per 1 March 1984. This source indicates the Polish postcards listed by Michel as P62A or F, P78, P82A and F, P85 and Port Gdaiisk P4, as having been over-printed and used by the Despatch Office in Krakau as postal forms (Postsaciie). On the reverse side there were 22 printed different wordings with particular or general information for the stamp collectors. Whilst the wordings are given, it is not stated which of the individual postcards bear each of the cited 22 wordings. Some of the overprinted cards were left blank on their reverse side for handwritten or typewritten text. There were two series of overprints on the Port Gdarsk cards recognizable by the word POSTKARTE : Figure b - 34.5 mm long and Figure c - 37.5 mm long. From the three cards which I hold, it appears there is a difference on the horizontal bars: Type a - the 2nd and 4th bars (counted from top) broken; Type b - 1st and 4th bars broken once and 5th bar broken twice, toward the left side, as if all bars are composed of separate parts. Of Type b, I hold two cards cancelled by Krakau 3 e on 6.1.44 arid 13.6.44, both of which have the same wording. The third card is not cancelled. but item no. 8 bears a red pencil strike. I heard from collectors that the larger part of th cards was mailed inside envelopes, together with the ordered stamps. so that the c;ards bear no cancel. My cards bear two further wordings, so that, together with that on John Miskevich’s cards, three versions of the Port Gdatsk cards are known.

 
Danzig Report Vol. 1 - Nr. 91 - April - May - June - 1996,  Page 23.