Contents:

Part 1:

• Introduction


• Summary of Klein's system


• Revised Classification System
• Scope of the new system
• Makeup of new code
• Prefixes for special types
• Typeface
• Multiple frame lines
• Ortswerbestempel (or Ortswerbeflaggen) cancellations.

Introduction

The cancellations and postmarks used before 1900 are well documented in Müller, Klein, Votocek and similar works (see references in part 3), the introductions to which describe the bureaucratic and political influences of the times. Language laws led to the introduction of some bilingual cancellations. The expansion of trade and the increase in literacy led to an increase in postal traffic, and to the need for improved efficiency in handling it.

Examination of any accumulation of 20th century used stamps shows a range of cancellation types. While 19th century cancels continued in use as the 20th century began, variations of the double circle began to appear with the date in a bar 'in front of' or 'behind' the outer circle. Roller and machine cancels were introduced. The boxed cancels acquired several partitions. During the Anschluss, German postal district codes were introduced: disappearing afterwards. An octagonal cancel appeared in 1948 and was used for some 15 years: it was used on money order cards and has a 4-digit code number (which is not a postcode). Postcodes proper, both hand and machine struck, were introduced in 1966. A wide variety of slogan, advertising, publicity and pictorial cancels also occurs.

The standard references of Klein and Müller classify and illustrate cancellations on Austrian postage stamps up to about 1900. The codes are incompatible: the (fictitious) cancel illustrated would be a gEj in Klein's system and GS-fy in Müller's! Various authors have extended these classification systems, or invented new ones of their own. The best known is perhaps Votocek*, covering the territory of today's Czech and Slovak Republics, but this is a listing rather than a coding system, and is thus not easy to remember when one is rummaging in a dealer's box! In it, the example might have been classified as E.202 In Stohl's book (see below) it resembles his 1k1. *Apologies to Votocek, whose name should have an accent over the 'c'.

It would be of significant use to Austrian Philately to have a universal system to classify these cancellations. Studies of the development of cancels could be extended to cover the first usage of each type. One could list the types used at each office without having to describe them in words or pictures. The lists of Post Offices (particularly in the period 1880 - 1918) are also in need of a coherent published update: there were some 6200 open in 1900, over 14000 in 1918. Unfortunately, Klein states that all the relevant pre-1918 records are known to have been destroyed. BUT, Dr C. Kainz has discovered that many of the Stempelprotokolle (cancellation proof books) for the period to 1918 have in fact survived. See references.

Brückenstempel		Ringstegstempel		Segmentstempel

Several partial extensions of Klein's system are used in Dr Fresacher's magnificent series of books 'Kärnten 80, 84, and 92'. Most however have BSt, RSt, and SSt for the three main types illustrated above, meaning respectively Brückenstempel, Ringstegstempel, and Segmentstempel. The coding is unfortunate, as the 'St' is redundant (we know its a cancellation!) and it also makes the code more of an abbreviation, but omitting it conflicts with Klein's B and S types. This extended classification seems popular in Die Briefmarke also.

A book written by Hans Stohl entitled "Postal Cancellations within the present boundaries of Austria from 1900 till today" sounds promising! Part A (published in 1997 by Verlag Pollischansky, Wien: ISBN 3-85407-046-2) covers date-town cancels; Part B-Z (published in 2004 by Verlag Pollischansky, Wien: ISBN 3-85407-052-7) covers a very wide variety of other types. Unfortunately, the classification system Stohl has adopted appears to us as so complex and non-intuitive that, while the book is a monumental compendium from which much useful information can be extracted, it does not, in our opinion, provide the way forward to that which we need - a universally useable, universally understandable system.

Summary of the "Klein system"

Klein describes the cancel by a code consisting of upper and lower case letters in the following order. The codes are only used if the corresponding feature is present in the cancel. It is assumed that day and month are always present. Klein's book (see Part 3 for reference) gives full details. The system was devised for use on stamps issued from 1867 to 1890, which were all invalidated no later than 1900 when the currency changed.

Typeface	a, g, ka, kg, s, d
Multiple frame lines	2, 3, ...
Main type symbol	B, D, DO, E, f, ff, K, L, O, S, X
Year	j
Despatch indication	e
Major ornament	v
Minor ornament(s)	*, **
Counter letter(s)	b, bb

For example:

• Single circle, 24mm dia, sanserif typeface, day month and year - gEj
  
  
• Double circle, roman typeface, year should be present but isn't - aD(j)
  
  
• Striped lozenge, sanserif typeface, year, despatch indication - gSje
  

Revised classification system

Scope of the new system

What is lacking is a universally agreed, systematic classification of post-1900 cancellations, adequately comprehensive but not excessively detailed. A study of the literature shows that there are so many incompatible codification systems in use that it is impossible to synthesise a new one that won't clash with something. So a new system is proposed, based on that of Klein. It is to be used for cancellation types first used on or after 1st January 1900. For pre-1900 types, including any which continued in use (or were introduced at a new office) after 1900, Klein's system should continue to be used, with two changes (F and i) and two additions (K2 and K3) - see below for details.

The system is deliberately not made complex enough to codify every sub-type, such as one single-circle cancel from somewhere having larger sized type than the others in use in the same office at the same time. Nor do we note the reissue of a canceller with rearranged type but the same counter letter, as in this example from Die Briefmarke. Such detail can be given as textual comments in the rare cases where it is necessary.

The following are covered: (i) Austrian Empire till 1918; (ii) First and Second Republic of Austria.

And the following are excluded: (i) Special Cancels (for which see Wurth); (ii) Hungary (and areas administered by it) after 1871; (iii) TPOs, ship markings etc; iv) Lombardy and Venetia; (v) Non-provisional cancels first used by the successor states; (vi) Bosnia and Herzegovina; (vii) Levant; (viii) Meter Marks.

In a listing of the cancellations used in each province, a 'closing date' must be stated. The various names an office had are then grouped under its latest name. For example, a closing date of 1.1.1996 for Tirol would give a main entry INNSBRUCK 6010 with INNSBRUCK 1 as a variation. Posthilfstellen etc are listed under their parent office.

Makeup of new code

The cancel is described by a code consisting of upper and lower case letters (and a few symbols) in the following order. The letters are only used if the corresponding feature is present in the cancel. Details can be added as comments.

Prefix denoting a special type	Q, H, M, n, R
Typeface	g, a, i, s
Multiple outer frame lines	2, 3, ..
Main type symbol	A, B, D, ..
Year	(j), o
Despatch indication	e
Major ornament (including picture)	v
Minor ornament	b, d, p, s, t, *
Adjacent slogans, pictures and lines	+T, +V, +L, +W

Each of the above coding aspects will now be expanded upon.

Prefixes for special types

Typeface

All type is assumed to be upper case non-italic sanserif unless otherwise stated. No code is given unless necessary: eg a cancel with Roman letters above sanserif would be coded "ag". No distinction is made between sanserif italics and roman italics: both are coded as "i" alone (not "ai" or "gi"), as in practice they are indistinguishable! The case is ignored in the code, but of course quoted correctly in the listing of the text of the postmark. The typefaces sufficiently common to require a code are:

g	non-italic SANSERIF
a	non-italic ROMAN
i	ITALIC
s	Cursive Script

Multiple frame lines

This is a figure (2, 3..) giving the number of repetitions of the outer frame line. Eg, "2K" is a box with a double-lined border, not to be confused with "K2" which is a box with a single line border split into two parts by an internal line.

Main Code

This is described in the next part.

A note on Ortswerbestempel (or Ortswerbeflaggen) cancellations.

These are cancellations with 'town propaganda': text and/or pictures which publicise a place, or commemorate some historical event associated with it. They are usually adjacent to the date/time part, but sometimes are within or around it. They can be made by machine or by hand, and can for example be large circles with words and picture(s) inside; continuous rollers with alternating CDS and word/picture box, often with top and bottom marginal lines; single CDS with slogan or picture. Indeed in principle any cancel could have such accompanying material. See here for a full discussion, examples, a translation of the 1971 introduction to the ongoing series of articles on Ortswerbestempel cancels in Die Briefmarke, and an explanation of why the description Ortswerbestempel cannot be used as part of our system to classify cancels.

©Andy Taylor. Last updated 7 Feb 2005.