Postal Flags 1867-1918 (Germany)

Reichspostflaggen

Last modified: 2009-05-03 by jarig bakker
Keywords: german empire | postal |
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• Postal Ensign 1867-1892 (Reichspostflagge)
• Postal Jack 1867-1892 (Gösch der Postschiffe)
• Post Office Flag 1893-1921 (Reichs-Postamtsflagge)

• German Empire 1871-1918 (Deutsches Reich)
• North German Confederation 1867-1870 (Norddeutscher Bund)
• Germany

Postal Ensign 1867-1892 / Reichspostflagge

The war ensign 1867-1892 with a gold post horn in the lower hoist.
Norman Martin, 1998

Adopted 4 July 1867. In use until 8 November 1892. For use on ships and buildings. Source: a paper by Emil Dreyer in the Reports of the 15th International Congress of Vexillology.
Norman Martin, 10 Dec 1999

This flag was called Bundespostflagge when it was used by the Norddeutsche Bundespost (until 1871); since the foundation of the Empire in 1871 it was called Reichspostflagge. It was used until 31st March 1893 (the regulation of 8th November 1892 came into force on 1st April 1893). It was the war ensign with a golden post horn (in a very simple form) in the lower hoist. Sources: Meyer 17 1960, Dreyer 1999 and Hecker and Hoog 1978.
Marcus Schmöger, 29 Mar 2001

Postal Jack 1867-1892 / Gösch der Postschiffe

The merchant flag with a gold post horn in the center of the white stripe.
Norman Martin, 1998

Adopted 4 July 1867. In use until 8 November 1892. For use on ships and buildings. Source: a paper by Emil Dreyer in the Reports of the 15th International Congress of Vexillology.
Norman Martin, 10 Dec 1999

This was also used until 31st March 1893. The post horn emblem was the same as in the Reichspostflagge described above. Sources: Meyer 17 1960, Dreyer 1999 and Hecker and Hoog 1978.
Marcus Schmöger, 29 Mar 2001

Post Office Flag 1893-1921 / Reichs-Postamtsflagge

The Flag of the State Post Service (Reichs-Postamt) is like the Foreign Office state flag, but instead of the eagle a golden post horn crowned with the Imperial crown in gold. Ships delivering mail flew this flag at the top mast and as jack, and the merchant flag at the stern. Adopted 1893 and abandoned by 1921. Illustrated in Crampton 1990 p. 42 (which is a copy of Meyers Konversationslexikon 1912, vol. 4, facing p. 799) and National Geographic 1917 p. 367, no. 1011).
Norman Martin, 1998

Adopted 8 November 1892 and abandoned, at least partially, with the fall of the monarchy [1918] and definitively by 1921. Source: a paper by Emil Dreyer in the Reports of the 15th International Congress of Vexillology.
Norman Martin, 10 Dec 1999

The new postal flag of 1893 was similar to other state flags and ensigns of this period. It was black-white-red triband with a white disk in the center. In the disk there was a post horn (not the same as in the 1867-1893 flag described above) under the imperial crown. It was introduced with the regulation of 8th November 1892, in force 1st April 1893. Sources: Meyer 17 1960, Dreyer 1999 and Hecker and Hoog 1978.
Marcus Schmöger, 29 Mar 2001

A more detailed version of the Imperial Post Office flag of Germany that flew from 1893-1921.
Source: Admiralty flag book 1916.
Martin Grieve, 26 Sep 2008