CTO cancelled Wurttemberg stamps
Wurttemberg has one specialty that sets it aside of several other German states that issued stamps. Several issues are more common as CTO (Cancelled-To-Order)-cancelled as really used. These can usually be regognized from specific Stuttgart cancellations.
My first CTO set is 1916 commemorative official stamps issued for King Wilhelm II’s 25th regime anniversary. These are Michel #123-129. Catalogue value is 12€ for CTO and 150€ for real used.
My second CTO set is actually a non-addressed cover. The stamps are 1919 officials with overprint: Michel #258-70 (30pfg stamp #266 missing). Michel catalog value for complete CTO set is 7,50€ while the real used set is noted worth 80€ and real used postal covers are worth much more.
In 1902 Wurttemberg stopped issuing its own stamps due to change in German legislation. Some stamps bearing the name Wurttemberg were issued just after World War II in French Zone.
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Hi Keijo,
I have rarely seen SOTN CTOs as shown in your first set. I presume these were soaked off of a cover similar to the second set you show?
Do you get your information on CTO vs. real used cancels from the Michel catalogues? Since I only have Scott catalogues I lack a significant resource to differentiate CTO from used for some of the more difficult/older issues. Can you recommend an English language reference book or website that addresses this topic? My German is a bit rusty, but I might buy the Michels if I can’t find an english reference.
David
Hi David,
these haven’t been soaked: they have glue on the back and pristine (mint-like) surface.
And to your other question… Michel does list commonly found CTO-cancels (like this) for some german issues . Sometimes the listings have detailed pictures of cancels (to different them from real ones), sometimes (like early DDR issues) there is just a long list of places/dates with known CTO-cancels. For German collectors Michel is the one and only true reference.
And finally, Michel’s Germany Special Catalogues (as well as most of their other catalogues) are available in English too. As I personally use the original german editions, I can’t say if these are precisely 1:1, but I’d assume. They are pricey, but definitely superb!
Hi everyone there, nice to watch things like that. Collectors like me do live on these philatelic gems. Let us keep them alive for the collectors around the globe.