1st April 1937
Consulate covers

Consulate covers

Note on 'Frei durch Ablösung Reich' (Free by replacement of Reich): With the law concerning postage exemptions in the territory of the North German Confederation ( Postage Freedom Act ) of 5th June 1869, exemption from postage fees in Germany remained only for 'the reigning princes, their wives and widows'.

However, according to Section 11 of the Postage Freedom Act, the Federal Postal Administration retained the right to conclude agreements with state authorities to the effect that the authorities would pay aversionary sums (lump sums) to the Federal Postal Administration instead of the postage and/or fees for individual shipments.

By 1920, contracts had been concluded with 34 state authorities. All of these agreements were repealed by the Law on the Abolition of Fee Exemptions in Postal and Telegraph Traffic of 29th March 1920. However, the Reich Postal Administration retained the authority to conclude agreements with state authorities on the flat-rate postal fees provided for in Section 11 of the Postal Freedom Act.

On 1st October 1923, such an agreement was concluded with the office of the Reich President. The mail items were marked 'Frei durch Ablösung Reich' (Free by replacement of Reich ) and had an official seal with a national emblem underneath. The lump sum was determined by counting and paid to the post office in monthly instalments. Official stamps, which were already in use in Bavaria and Württemberg, were also introduced as a replacement for such mail items.

Source: Wikipedia

Czechoslovakia

Contact Brief History to inform us of additional information regarding this page