East and West Prussia

The research area of East and West Prussia encompasses one of the regions of the former German Empire that is richest in history and undergoing the most significant territorial changes.

Due to Prussia’s outstanding historical significance—from its roots in the Teutonic Order, through the Kingdom and the Partitions of Poland, to its time as major provinces within the Empire—the postal system of these regions is considered to be particularly well-documented and multifaceted.

The Administrative Districts in Detail

Our research is traditionally organized according to the major Prussian administrative districts. Click on a district to view detailed philatelic information and postmark overviews:

Important Reference Works

For the precise identification of postmarks, auxiliary stations, and rural mail routes, an accurate overview of all the localities at that time is essential. Our continuously updated project on this topic is the List of Places Vogelsang.

Specific Subject Areas

• The Evolution of Early Prussian Stamps: Research on single-circle, double-circle, and rectangular stamps from the mid-19th century onward.
• Border Demarcations and Transit Mail: Mail service between East Prussia, the so-called "Polish Corridor," and the Free City of Danzig after the First World War.
• Rail and Ship Mail: The dense railroad network of the Prussian Eastern Railway, as well as the busy steamship traffic on the Baltic Sea and the Vistula Lagoon, gave rise to fascinating combinations of postmarks.

Our Research Group's Main Areas of Focus

Within our working group, specialized collectors and researchers are dedicated to the detailed documentation of all post offices in East and West Prussia. This includes cataloging the types of postmarks used, postage rates, postal routes, and special features such as censored mail, field post, and railway post within this regional context.

The results of our research are regularly published in the newsletters of the working group and provide a solid foundation for the transfer of knowledge between experts and new collectors.