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What we collect!
What we collect!


Europe/Germany : DDR Covers

 

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whitebuffalo
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15 Nov 2015
11:11:35pm
I recently updated my computer to Windows 10 and had to go through the process of updating drivers and software for my old scanner to function. There's a nice story about how I came by these covers that I'd like to share, but wanted to do a test run of uploading the scans before I did. Please bear with me if this doesn't work the first time.
There are just over 50 of these covers on 5" x 7", 6" x 8" and 9" x 13" envelopes. I'll post a few at a time and tell the story along the way. Most of the covers themselves aren't anything the die hard cover collector would likely drool over, but they have a little history behind them and I hope I can tell it in a way that at least some can appreciate them as much as I do.

Here's the first pair, they all date from about 1980 to '89.

Image Not Found

Looks like it's gonna work, more to come.

Rob

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Poodle_Mum
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A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).

15 Nov 2015
11:37:08pm
re: DDR Covers

Beautiful covers!

As a DDR collector myself, I drool over any postally used DDR covers. When opportunity presents itself at a stamp show, I grab any DDR or USSR postally used covers and postcards.

I look forward to seeing more.

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"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"

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ikeyPikey
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16 Nov 2015
09:30:06am
re: DDR Covers

"When opportunity presents itself at a stamp show, I grab any DDR or USSR postally used covers and postcards."



I just knew someone was getting there first ...

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey
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"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
whitebuffalo
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16 Nov 2015
10:40:01am
re: DDR Covers

Thank you Poodle Mum! You sound like someone who might be able to answer a couple of questions for me along the way. (yes, I am very much a rookie in many areas)

First, as with these two covers, the stamps are identical and sent from the same person. The only difference is the numbers on the register stamps. What do these numbers represent and is there an official name for them? They appear to have been cancelled at the same post office. There are a handful of these duplicates scattered throughout the lot, but not with all of them.

Thank you in advance for any info,

Rob

Image Not Found

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whitebuffalo
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16 Nov 2015
10:45:32am
re: DDR Covers

Oh and as a side note, from what I can tell none of these covers have ever been opened. They certainly contain something, but I have no idea what. Maybe mint sets of the same stamps on the outside?Surprise Maybe just filler?Sad Or maybe a letter from the sender?Day Dreaming

Rob

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ikeyPikey
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16 Nov 2015
04:22:08pm
re: DDR Covers

Rob:

A registration numbers is just a serial number to identify a registered item; this number is logged as the item is passed thru the postal system, and will also appear on the receipt the sender got from their clerk and the receipt that the addressee signed for their clerk. The number allows the item to be traced & accounted for, and only matters if it is your birthday, 666, etc.

As to the contents, try 3-D Xray Tomography.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey


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"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
whitebuffalo
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16 Nov 2015
06:19:18pm
re: DDR Covers

Thank you!

So any of these with same stamps and consecutive numbers would have been sent at the same time, through the same window at the P.O. Interesting.

I'm guessing to get duplicates for trading/selling or he had more then one avenue he was following within his collection.

I appreciate the help and info,

Rob


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ikeyPikey
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16 Nov 2015
09:12:25pm
re: DDR Covers

"... So any of these with ... consecutive numbers would have been sent at the same time, through the same window at the P.O. ..."



Let's not over-reach. A roll (or sheet) of registry stickers might be shared or split amongst the clerks, with consecutive numbers being used whenever they were at-hand.

In this specific case, the fact that the covers are nearly identical would suggest that they were brought by one customer to one clerk and processed in one 'go', but sequential registry numbers alone would not be a reason, for example, to insist that an illegible date in one postmark was necessarily the same date as that on another cover.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey
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"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
whitebuffalo
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16 Nov 2015
11:19:57pm
re: DDR Covers

Oh sure, I understand your point completely and being where I am as a collector, I would never presume to insist on anything.

However, in this case, I believe there's enough info to back up the theory. I know for a fact that both of these covers were sent from the same sender to the same recipient. Cancellations are both legible and both are dated 5.8.87 from the Berlin-Neiderschoneweide location. (all covers in this lot have this cancellation or a Berlin-Triptow cancel)
Before asking, I had wondered if the number on the registry stamp might be a teller i.d. number. i.e. teller #062 or #063. Now that I understand that it is basically a tracking/confirmation number (see I learned something already)Happy and as such, feel fairly confident that these particular covers were sent one right after the other through the same window and teller, at the same time.

To me, the odds otherwise would be pretty high.

Here's another pair with the Berlin-Triptow cancel.

Thank you for the input and lessons learned,

Image Not Found

Rob

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dollhaus

17 Nov 2015
02:43:00pm
re: DDR Covers

The address for these covers is Protem, MO. That's a wide spot in the road in southern MO near the Arkansas border. Don't know if it's true or not, but the story given is that when the people there were trying to pick a name for the place, they couldn't agree on one. Someone said they'd have to come up with a name to use pro tem until they could decide. They did - Protem. And apparently they never did agree on another one and it's still Protem.






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snowy12
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17 Nov 2015
06:52:03pm

Auctions
re: DDR Covers

I have a few DDR covers from a junk lot I purchased several years ago.
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Image Not Found
Brian

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whitebuffalo
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17 Nov 2015
07:05:41pm
re: DDR Covers

Nice group of covers snowy! They fit right in here. Thanks for posting them.

Dollhaus, story is 100% true. And yes, the town proper is just a wide spot in the road, it consists of a small general store and a post office. Both are in the same building.Happy Great place to live, nonetheless.

Rob

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pedroguy
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18 Nov 2015
03:58:15pm
re: DDR Covers

" Dollhaus, story is 100% true. And yes, the town proper is just a wide spot in the road, it consists of a small general store and a post office. Both are in the same building.Happy Great place to live, nonetheless. "




Population 2010 Census..149

The building I live in has more people than thatSurprise

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Snick1946
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APS Life Member

18 Nov 2015
04:02:41pm
re: DDR Covers

I wonder if the OP's cover could have been used by a collector sending material for exchange to the address in MO? The registration label looks like what I recall the DDR stamp exchange control people used on outgoing mail to foreign collectors.

Exchange with a private person in the DDR was full of hurdles and most people gave up on it- too many hoops to jump through.

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whitebuffalo
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18 Nov 2015
06:24:30pm
re: DDR Covers

Pedroguy, 2010 census would be spot on. 2009 must have been a good year for baby's being born.Happy

Snick1946, I believe that's exactly what these were. I found written documentation between the collector who's estate I got these from and the collector he exchanged with in Germany.
Not sure how much trouble they went through, but it would appear they did the exchange for a number of years. I believe he also exchanged with other collectors in a few other countries.

Rob

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Andrejs
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18 Nov 2015
10:57:27pm
re: DDR Covers

That is way cool, White Buffalo.

Hidden treasure. Oooh!

Andrew

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""If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." Rush"
whitebuffalo
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19 Nov 2015
08:34:40am
re: DDR Covers

Thanks Andrew!

Here's a couple more from the lot. I really like the cancel on the first one. (but no register stamp?)

Image Not Found

Rob

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
whitebuffalo

15 Nov 2015
11:11:35pm

I recently updated my computer to Windows 10 and had to go through the process of updating drivers and software for my old scanner to function. There's a nice story about how I came by these covers that I'd like to share, but wanted to do a test run of uploading the scans before I did. Please bear with me if this doesn't work the first time.
There are just over 50 of these covers on 5" x 7", 6" x 8" and 9" x 13" envelopes. I'll post a few at a time and tell the story along the way. Most of the covers themselves aren't anything the die hard cover collector would likely drool over, but they have a little history behind them and I hope I can tell it in a way that at least some can appreciate them as much as I do.

Here's the first pair, they all date from about 1980 to '89.

Image Not Found

Looks like it's gonna work, more to come.

Rob

Like
Login to Like
this post

A Service Dog gives a person with a disability independence. Never approach, distract or pet a working dog, especially when (s)he is in harness. Never be afraid to ask questions to the handler (parent).
15 Nov 2015
11:37:08pm

re: DDR Covers

Beautiful covers!

As a DDR collector myself, I drool over any postally used DDR covers. When opportunity presents itself at a stamp show, I grab any DDR or USSR postally used covers and postcards.

I look forward to seeing more.

Like
Login to Like
this post

"Let's find a cure for Still's Disease, Breast Cancer and Canine Addison's Disease. We CAN find a cure and save lives!!"

drkellyfleming.ca
Members Picture
ikeyPikey

16 Nov 2015
09:30:06am

re: DDR Covers

"When opportunity presents itself at a stamp show, I grab any DDR or USSR postally used covers and postcards."



I just knew someone was getting there first ...

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey
Like
Login to Like
this post

"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
Members Picture
whitebuffalo

16 Nov 2015
10:40:01am

re: DDR Covers

Thank you Poodle Mum! You sound like someone who might be able to answer a couple of questions for me along the way. (yes, I am very much a rookie in many areas)

First, as with these two covers, the stamps are identical and sent from the same person. The only difference is the numbers on the register stamps. What do these numbers represent and is there an official name for them? They appear to have been cancelled at the same post office. There are a handful of these duplicates scattered throughout the lot, but not with all of them.

Thank you in advance for any info,

Rob

Image Not Found

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whitebuffalo

16 Nov 2015
10:45:32am

re: DDR Covers

Oh and as a side note, from what I can tell none of these covers have ever been opened. They certainly contain something, but I have no idea what. Maybe mint sets of the same stamps on the outside?Surprise Maybe just filler?Sad Or maybe a letter from the sender?Day Dreaming

Rob

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Members Picture
ikeyPikey

16 Nov 2015
04:22:08pm

re: DDR Covers

Rob:

A registration numbers is just a serial number to identify a registered item; this number is logged as the item is passed thru the postal system, and will also appear on the receipt the sender got from their clerk and the receipt that the addressee signed for their clerk. The number allows the item to be traced & accounted for, and only matters if it is your birthday, 666, etc.

As to the contents, try 3-D Xray Tomography.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey


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this post

"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
Members Picture
whitebuffalo

16 Nov 2015
06:19:18pm

re: DDR Covers

Thank you!

So any of these with same stamps and consecutive numbers would have been sent at the same time, through the same window at the P.O. Interesting.

I'm guessing to get duplicates for trading/selling or he had more then one avenue he was following within his collection.

I appreciate the help and info,

Rob


Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
ikeyPikey

16 Nov 2015
09:12:25pm

re: DDR Covers

"... So any of these with ... consecutive numbers would have been sent at the same time, through the same window at the P.O. ..."



Let's not over-reach. A roll (or sheet) of registry stickers might be shared or split amongst the clerks, with consecutive numbers being used whenever they were at-hand.

In this specific case, the fact that the covers are nearly identical would suggest that they were brought by one customer to one clerk and processed in one 'go', but sequential registry numbers alone would not be a reason, for example, to insist that an illegible date in one postmark was necessarily the same date as that on another cover.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey
Like
Login to Like
this post

"I collect stamps today precisely the way I collected stamps when I was ten years old."
Members Picture
whitebuffalo

16 Nov 2015
11:19:57pm

re: DDR Covers

Oh sure, I understand your point completely and being where I am as a collector, I would never presume to insist on anything.

However, in this case, I believe there's enough info to back up the theory. I know for a fact that both of these covers were sent from the same sender to the same recipient. Cancellations are both legible and both are dated 5.8.87 from the Berlin-Neiderschoneweide location. (all covers in this lot have this cancellation or a Berlin-Triptow cancel)
Before asking, I had wondered if the number on the registry stamp might be a teller i.d. number. i.e. teller #062 or #063. Now that I understand that it is basically a tracking/confirmation number (see I learned something already)Happy and as such, feel fairly confident that these particular covers were sent one right after the other through the same window and teller, at the same time.

To me, the odds otherwise would be pretty high.

Here's another pair with the Berlin-Triptow cancel.

Thank you for the input and lessons learned,

Image Not Found

Rob

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dollhaus

17 Nov 2015
02:43:00pm

re: DDR Covers

The address for these covers is Protem, MO. That's a wide spot in the road in southern MO near the Arkansas border. Don't know if it's true or not, but the story given is that when the people there were trying to pick a name for the place, they couldn't agree on one. Someone said they'd have to come up with a name to use pro tem until they could decide. They did - Protem. And apparently they never did agree on another one and it's still Protem.






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snowy12

17 Nov 2015
06:52:03pm

Auctions

re: DDR Covers

I have a few DDR covers from a junk lot I purchased several years ago.
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Image Not Found
Brian

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Members Picture
whitebuffalo

17 Nov 2015
07:05:41pm

re: DDR Covers

Nice group of covers snowy! They fit right in here. Thanks for posting them.

Dollhaus, story is 100% true. And yes, the town proper is just a wide spot in the road, it consists of a small general store and a post office. Both are in the same building.Happy Great place to live, nonetheless.

Rob

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pedroguy

18 Nov 2015
03:58:15pm

re: DDR Covers

" Dollhaus, story is 100% true. And yes, the town proper is just a wide spot in the road, it consists of a small general store and a post office. Both are in the same building.Happy Great place to live, nonetheless. "




Population 2010 Census..149

The building I live in has more people than thatSurprise

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Snick1946

APS Life Member
18 Nov 2015
04:02:41pm

re: DDR Covers

I wonder if the OP's cover could have been used by a collector sending material for exchange to the address in MO? The registration label looks like what I recall the DDR stamp exchange control people used on outgoing mail to foreign collectors.

Exchange with a private person in the DDR was full of hurdles and most people gave up on it- too many hoops to jump through.

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
whitebuffalo

18 Nov 2015
06:24:30pm

re: DDR Covers

Pedroguy, 2010 census would be spot on. 2009 must have been a good year for baby's being born.Happy

Snick1946, I believe that's exactly what these were. I found written documentation between the collector who's estate I got these from and the collector he exchanged with in Germany.
Not sure how much trouble they went through, but it would appear they did the exchange for a number of years. I believe he also exchanged with other collectors in a few other countries.

Rob

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this post
Members Picture
Andrejs

18 Nov 2015
10:57:27pm

re: DDR Covers

That is way cool, White Buffalo.

Hidden treasure. Oooh!

Andrew

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this post

""If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice." Rush"
Members Picture
whitebuffalo

19 Nov 2015
08:34:40am

re: DDR Covers

Thanks Andrew!

Here's a couple more from the lot. I really like the cancel on the first one. (but no register stamp?)

Image Not Found

Rob

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