Germany - American and British Zone MI#87IIWE/96IIIWE (648/657) 1948-1951 Buildings Issue, 25pf Vermilion - 90pf Rose Lilac Line Perf 11.5 x 11, Wmk W, A F-VF Used Group, Types 2, 3 and 3a, 2023 Michel Cat. € 5

A F-VF used group of the line perf 11.5 x 11 and watermark W stamps, for the 25pf, 40pf, 60pf and 90pf values. The 25pf are types 2 and 3. The 40pf lilac purple are types 2 and 3 also. The 60pf is type 3 and 3a, and the 90pf are types 2 and 3. 2023 Michel cat. €5.

The 1948-1951 buildings definitive issue is extremely complex, and very little of this complexity is addressed in Scott. Two printing firms by the name of Westermann and Bagel were responsible for printing the stamps, and a number of differences in the design of the stamps with the Cathedral can be found, in addition to the type differences that Scott lists on the mark values, as well as additional sub-types that can be found on the mark values themselves. In addition, the DP multiple watermark can be found in four positions, which Michel denotes as follows: Upright with D's facing left = watermark W; upright with D's facing right = watermark X; sideways with D's facing up = watermark Y and sideways with D's facing down = watermark Z. Except on the mark values where Y or Z is the norm, both Y and Y are very rare. Finally, the perforations vary greatly. The most common perforations are comb 11.25 x 11, comb 14.25 x 14, line 11 and line 11.5 x 11. However, other combinations can be found, such as line 14 and compounds and mixed perfs of the 11, 14 and 11.5 guages. Again, some of these are very rare for particular watermarks.