This article is split into parts for ease of downloading. This is part 1.
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The Post Office in Kitzbühel opened on 1st May 1840, at which time the town was called KITZBICHL. See here for a brief History of Kitzbühel and its Post Office. In reference 1, Müller lists KITZBICHL as entry 655, with a straight-line cancel in roman capitals, having the day in figures and the month in letters. It is his type RL-R, in black. It continued in use on stamps until the 1863 issue. From 1845, it occurs in blue. In the 3rd supplement, Schmirler notes that green is also found from 1845, and lists another type where the date is omitted (Müller 655b, his type RL; the RL-R then becoming 655a) found in black from 1841. Zopelli confirms the above, giving dates of 1841-42 for 655a in black, 1845-49 for green & blue, and 1841 only for 655b in black. It seems that only 655a in black (and, briefly, blue) continued when stamps were introduced.
The letter shown above was posted on 30 December 1849 from the local Court at Kitzbühel (written as 'KITZBUICHEL') and cancelled with a blue KITZBICHL cancel, Müller type RL-R. At the bottom left is 'Exoffo' in florid handwriting, claiming free postage, and a reference number.
This is an enlarged tracing of the cancellation. Note the huge serifs, and the signs of damage (eg on the 'L')
The Types listed are those of the Classification of 20th century cancellations on Austrian stamps. The illustrations are nearly all actual specimens, or traced from 'real life', which is why their quality is not always as good as I would wish!
| Type | Specimen | Cancellation description and notes |
| aL |  |
This is Müller 1265a (see reference 4); it is the continuing pre-stamp Müller 655a - ie the straight line cancel (Müller type RL-R) in black on issues 1-3. The blue is (rarely) found on issue 1. This would be Klein (see reference 5) & thus APS type aL. Here is a larger and better illustration. |
| aE |  |
This is Müller 1265b, a single circle cancel in roman capitals, with day and month in figures (Müller type RS-f). Klein lists it as 2140a; his type aE. Known in black on 1858-1867 issues. Here is a larger and better illustration. |
| gEj |  |
This is Klein 2140b, a single circle cancel in sanserif capitals, with day, month and year in figures. Known in black on 1867-1883 issues; possible on 1890 issue. Klein type gEj. Here is a larger and better illustration. |
| gSj |  |
This is Klein 2140c, a black striped lozenge cancel in sanserif capitals, with day, month and year in figures. Introduced 5 Feb 1895 when the town's name was changed to KITZBÜHEL. Klein type gSj. Here is a larger illustration on a postcard. Recorded 1900 - 1901, but here is a late usage in 1905. Stohl 4a0 |
| aK2j |  |
A standard "Railway Station" 2-section boxed cancel. Recorded 1903 - 1913. This is on a letter card, cancelled 28.6.1912 Stohl 5a2 |
| DB |  |
Standard bridge cancel (in use by July 1908). Many subtypes, all with sanserif KITZBÜHEL above date with month in roman numbers, various large or small letters with flanking 6- or 8-point stars below. Recorded 1907 - 1936. Here is a larger and better illustration. Stohl 6b10, 6b20, 6c20 |
| gK3jb** |  |
3-section boxed cancel, with letter flanked by stars in the bottom box. [Faked picture!] Recorded 1926 - 1938. Stohl 5r1 |
| DBe |  |
Standard bridge cancel with the time after the year. Many subtypes, all with sanserif KITZBÜHEL above date with month in roman numbers, various letters with flanking 6-point stars below. Recorded 1926 - 1937. Stohl 6l20 [that's 6 ell 20] |
| DR |  |
Standard ring cancel. Month in roman numbers, various letters below. Recorded 1942 - 1965. Stohl 7k1 |
| DBe(**) |  |
Standard bridge cancel with month in roman numbers & the time after the year, but with no stars. According to Stohl, this was used intermittently between 1939-40; 1945-51; and 1955-65. This example is dated 1966. Stohl 6l90 [6 ell 90] |
| DB(**) |  |
Standard bridge cancel with month in roman numbers, no time, no stars. Recorded 1944-65. Stohl 6c90 |
| gK3jb |  |
3-section boxed cancel, with counter letter in the bottom box. [Faked picture!] Recorded 1955 - 1962. Stohl 5t1 |
| DSe |  |
Standard segment cancel with the time after the year. Sanserif KITZBÜHEL above date with month in arabic numbers. No stars. Recorded 1957 - 1966. Stohl 8q0 |
| ME |  |
Machine cancel (pre-postcode), often found with wavy lines or a variety of slogans. All with sanserif KITZBÜHEL, and date (4-figure year) in arabic numerals. Known to me used 1958 - 1965. The slogans are described in Part 2. |
| P1 |  |
Type 1 postcoded cancel, often found with wavy lines or a variety of slogans. These are found in hand and machine-made types. They incorporate the four-figure Post Code with sanserif KITZBÜHEL Town Name at the top; counter letter, day, month, 4-figure year and time (all in arabic numerals) in 3 rows in the centre; and postcode 6370 at the foot of a single circle. |
| P2 |  |
Type 2 postcoded cancel, with the Day/Month/Year/Time arranged in a single line across the middle. Again this was used for both hand and machine types regardless of whether the machine type had wavy lines or a slogan to the side. All with sanserif KITZBÜHEL, date (2-figure year) in arabic numerals, and postcode 6370. No lines above/below the date. |
| P3 |  |
Type 3 postcoded cancel, exactly as type 2 but with lines above and below the date. Note that this specimen has the same 'counter letter' r as the type 1 cancel: both are traced from actual examples. |
The top row of numbers refers to the various stamp issues of Austria, as grouped for the APS classification system. The column of type codes is also according to the APS classification. Stohl (Ref 10)'s dates are given; a few of my examples (eg gSj) fall outside his limits.
| Type | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Stohl dates: 19-- |
| aL | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||||||||||
| aE | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||||||||
| gEj | Y | Y | Y | ||||||||||||||||||
| gSj | Y | Y | 00-01 | ||||||||||||||||||
| aK2j | Y | Y | 03-13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| DB | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | 07-36 | |||||||||||||
| gK3jb** | Y | 26-38 | |||||||||||||||||||
| DBe | Y | 26-37 | |||||||||||||||||||
| DR | Y | Y | Y | 42-65 | |||||||||||||||||
| DBe(**) | Y | Y | Y | 39-40/45-51/55-65 | |||||||||||||||||
| DB(**) | Y | 44-65 | |||||||||||||||||||
| gK3bj | Y | 55-62 | |||||||||||||||||||
| DSe | Y | 57-66 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ME | Y | ||||||||||||||||||||
| P1-3 | Y | Y | Y | 66- | |||||||||||||||||
| Type | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | Stohl dates: 19-- |
These are described and illustrated in Part 2
(See APS Library List for additional details)
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©Andy Taylor. Last updated 5 May 2003