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►15 April: Malekete OP◄

1 Dec: Melekete OP  

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Daryl Reiber's
Ethiopian Stamps, Postal History and Ephemera
የኢትዮጵያ ቴምብሮች፣ የፖስታ ታሪክ እና ኢፌሜራ።
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15 April 1903: Malekete Overprint
Quantity Issued: To be Printed as Needed
Designer: Stamp - Eugene Muchon
Perforations: 14 X 13.5
Printer: Atelier de Fabrication des Timbers, Paris, France; Overprint: Handstamped at the Post Office
Printing Process: Stamp - Typography; Overprint - Hand Stamp
Malekete on 1/4 Guerche
Menelik II
Kohl Stanley Gibbons Michel Minkus Scott Y&T
15A  29  1iv  29  22  29 
Malekete on 1/2 Guerche
Menelik II
Kohl Stanley Gibbons Michel Minkus Scott Y&T
16A  30  2iv  30  23  30 
Malekete on 1 Guerche
Menelik II
Kohl Stanley Gibbons Michel Minkus Scott Y&T
17A  31  3iv  31  24  31 
Malekete on 2 Guerche
Menelik II
Kohl Stanley Gibbons Michel Minkus Scott Y&T
18A  32  4iv  32  25  32 
Malekete on 4 Guerche
Lion of Judah
Kohl Stanley Gibbons Michel Minkus Scott Y&T
19A  33  5iv  33  26  33 
Malekete on 8 Guerche
Lion of Judah
Kohl Stanley Gibbons Michel Minkus Scott Y&T
20A  34  6iv  34  27  34 
Malektee on 16 Guerche
Lion of Judah
Kohl Stanley Gibbons Michel Minkus Scott Y&T
21A  35  7iv  35  28 

External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Bern, Switzerland.
15 May 1903 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 3 June 1903 Djibouti transit cancels. 16 June 1903 Bern receiving cancel.
Ethiopian franking of 1 Guerche pays the expected post card rate + French Somali Coast 10 Centimes pays the expected post card rate.
Total transit time was 32 days.
 
 
External post card sent from Harar to Basel, Switzerland.
9 July 1903 Harar cancel (Payne HR3). 13 July 1903 Djibouti transit cancels. 14 July 1903 La Reunion A Marseille L. V. No. 3 paquebot transit cancel. 26 July 1903 Basel receiving cancel.
Ethiopian franking of 1 Guerche pays the expected post card rate + French Somali Coast 20 Centimes over pays the expected 10C post card rate by 10 C.
Total transit time was 17 days.
The text of the card reads: My dear Mr. Brodbeck, It is with a deeply sorrowful heart that I must inform you of the death of our Mr. Mühle. He passed away last Sunday afternoon, July 5th, at 4:45 p.m., following a difficult seven-month illness (smallpox). The Emperor bestowed upon him the highest honors. The loss is deeply painful for us, as you may well understand. Very busy at the moment, heartfelt wishes, Yours. J. Michel
 
 
External letter from Jean Adolphe Michel, Harar Postmaster, to A. Brodbeck, Director of the Basel Telephone Bureau in Basel, Switzerland.
30 August 1903 Harar (Payne HR3) cancel. 2? September 1903 Djibouti transit cancel. ?? ?? 1903 La Reunion A Marseille paquebot transit cancel. 14 September 1903 Basel receiving cancel.
Ethiopia franking of ¼ Guerche under pays the expected 4G for two weight units at 2G each unit + French Somali Coast franking of 75 Centimes pays the expected rate of 50C for the first two weight units at 25C each unit + 25C registration fee.
Transit time was 15 days.
Note: Click here or on letter image to see PDF of letter.
 
 
Post card sent by Jean Adolphe Michel in Harar to his brother Fritz in Bern, Switzerland.
1 November 1903 Harar (Payne HR3) cancel. 3 November 1903 Djibouti transit cancel. 11 November 1903 Bern receiving cancel.
Franking of Ethiopia 1 Guerche + French Somali Coast 10 Centimes pays the expected post card rate.
Travel time was 16 days.
Message reads: D[ear] F[ritz]: Your silence is inexplicable to me; I haven't heard from you since August 20th, and I suggest you write more often. Warm regards. Adolf
 
 
External letter (with precanceled post card enclosed - see image below) sent by Lina Tauss (Fanny Ilg’s maid) to Anna Langhand in Herrliberg, Switzerland.
19 December 1903 Adis Abeba (Payne AA1) cancel. ?? January 1904 Djibouti transit cancel. 12 January 1904 Herrliberg receiving cancel.
Franking of Ethiopia 2 Guerche + French Somali Coast 25 Centimes pays the expected letter rate.
Total travel time was 24 days.
 
Precanceled post card was folded and enclosed in a cover (see image above post card) postmarked 19 December 1903 sent by Lina Tauss (Fanny Ilg’s maid) to Anna Langhand.
Post card has 25 November 1903 Adis Abeba (Payne AA1) precancel.
Total travel time was 24 days.
Message Translation: M[y] D[ear]. Sending you best of luck and good wishes or the new year. Yours, Lina Tauss
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Berlin, Germany.
7 March 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 20 March 1904 Harar (Payne HR3) transit cancel. 22 March 1904 Djibouti transit cancels. 21? April 1904 Berlin receiving cancel.
Correct franking: Ethiopian 1 Guerche postcard rate; and French 10 Centimes post card rate.
Total travel time was 45 days.
 
 
External letter sent from Adis Abeba to Aqui, Piedmont, Italy.
28 March 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 10 April 1904 Harar (Payne HR3) transit cancel. 12 April 1904 Djibouti and ?? April 1904 Aden transit cancels. 22 April 1904 Alessandria receiving cancel.
Correct franking: Ethiopian 2 Guerche; and French 25 Centimes.
Total travel time was 25 days.
Faint initials AD in pencil adjacent to the top right of the Ethiopian 2G stamp. AD is the expertization mark of the Italian Alberto Diena, specialist in Italy and Italian States. He was active between 1941 & 1977.
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Paris, France and forwarded to Hackensack, New Jersey via New York.
4 April 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 18 April 1904 Djibouti transit cancel. 3 May 1904 Paris receiving cancel. 10 May 1904 New York Registry receiving cancel.
Correct franking: Ethiopian ¼ Guerche postcard rate + 1G registration fee; and French 10 Centimes post card rate + 25C registration fee.
Total travel time was 27 days.
Marie Louise Van Vorst was an American writer, researcher, painter, and volunteer nurse during World War I. In 1899 she and her sister, Bessie Van Vorst. moved to Paris; and co-authored several novels.
 
 
Registered post card sent from Adis Abeba to St. Germain en Leye, France.
6 April 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 18 April 1904 Djibouti and 3 May 1904 Paris transit cancels. 3 May 1904 St. Germain en Leye receiving cancel. Registration label added in Djibouti.
Correct franking: Ethiopian - ¼ Guerche postcard rate + 1 Guerche registration fee; and French 10 Centimes post card rate + 25 Centimes registration fee.
Total travel time was 27 days.
Hugues Le Roux was a Frenchman who was invited to Ethiopia by Alfred Ilg and arrived in 1901. He left Ethiopia and subsequently returned in 1904.
He wrote two books about Ethiopia: Ménélik et Nous and Mission d'Éthiopie, février-août 1904.
 
 
External post card sent from Harar to Basel, Switzerland.
21 April 1904 Harar cancel (Payne HR3). 13 April 1904 Djibouti transit cancel. 11 May 1904 Basel receiving cancel.
Ethiopian 1 Guerche + French Somali Coast 10 Centimes pays the expected post card rate.
Travel time was 20 days.
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Zürich, Switzerland.
22 April 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 10 May 1904 Djibouti transit cancel. 27 May 1904 Zürich Bahnhof  transit cancels. 27 May 1904 Zürich Brief Trager receiving cancel.
Ethiopian 1 Guerche + French Somali Coast 10 Centimes pays the expected post card rate.
Travel time was 35 days.
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Brünn, Austria. Brünn is now located in the Czech Republic.
8 May 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 1 August 1904 Brno receiving cancel.
Ethiopian 1 Guerche + French Somali Coast 10 Centimes pays the expected post card rate.
Travel time was 84 days.
 

Registered post card sent from Adis Abeba to Paris, France. 16 May 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1).
31 May 1904 Djibouti transit cancels. 16 June 1904 Paris receiving cancel.
Ethiopian 1 Guerche under pays the expected ¼G postcard rate + 1G registration fee; and French 35 Centimes pays the expected 10C post card rate + 25C registration fee.
Total travel time was 29 days.
Hugues Le Roux was a Frenchman who was invited to Ethiopia by Alfred Ilg and arrived in 1901. He left Ethiopia and subsequently returned in 1904. He wrote two books about Ethiopia: Ménélik et Nous and Mission d'Éthiopie, février-août 1904.
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Milan, Italy.
18 May 1904 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 31 May 1904 Djibouti transit cancel. 2 June 1904 La Réunion À Marseille 1 No. paquebot transit cancel. 14 June 1904 Milano receiving cancel.
The Ethiopian franking of 1 1/4 Guerche over pay the expected 1G rate for an external post card. The French Somali Coast franking of 10 Centimes pays the correct post card rate.
Travel time was 27 days.
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Bern, Switzerland.
19 December 1904 Harar cancel Payne (HR3). 27 December 1904 Djibouti transit cancel. 28 December 1904 Aden transit cancel. 7 January 1905 Bern receiving cancel.
The franking of Ethiopian 1/4 Guerche is the expected rate for an illustrated external post card + French Somali Coast 5 Centimes.
Travel time was 19 days.
Meilleiurs Souhaits is French for Best Wishes.
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Welschenburg, West Prussia. West Prussia is now part of Poland.
16 March 1905 Harar cancel Payne (HR3). 21 March 1905 Djibouti transit cancel. 6 April 1905 Dramburg receiving cancel.
The franking of Ethiopian 1 Guerche is the expected rate for an external post card, but the French Somali Coast stamp appears to have been removed.
Travel time was 43 days.
 
 
External post card sent from Adis Abeba to Berlin, Germany.
15 August 1904 Adis Abeba pre-cancel (Payne AA1). 3 March Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 20 March 1905 Djibouti receiving cancel.
The franking of Ethiopian 1/4 Guerche + French Somali Coast 10 Centimes under pays the expected rate for an external post card. The Ethiopian rate was 1 Guerche.
 
 
External letter sent from Adis Abeba to Djibouti, French Somali Coast.
6 March 1905 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 16 March 1905 Harar (Payne HR3) transit cancel. 20 March 1905 Djibouti receiving cancel.
The franking of Ethiopian 1 Guerche + French Somali Coast 25 Centimes pays the expected rate for a single weight letter.
Travel time was 14 days.
 
 
External registered letter sent from Adis Abeba to Lemberg, Austria. Lemberg is now part of the Ukraine.
24 April 1905 Adis Abeba cancel (Payne AA1). 06 May 1905 Djibouti and 12 May 1905 Port Said transit cancels. 20 May 1905 Vienna receiving cancel. Forwarded to Lemberg. 21 May 1905 Lemberg receiving cancel.
The franking of Ethiopian 5 Guerche (four weigh units at 1G each unit = 4G + 1G registration fee) + French Somali Coast 125 Centimes (first four weight units at 25 Centimes each unit = 100C + 25C registration fee) pays the expected rate for a quadruple weight letter.
Travel time to Lemberg was 28 days (27 days to Vienna).
 
 
External letter sent from Harar to Grandson, Switzerland. 25 March 1906 Harar cancel (Payne HR3).
29 March 1906 Djibouti transit and 3 April 1906 La Réunion À Marseille Ln. 2(?) paquebot transit cancel. 15 April 1906 Grandson, Switzerland receiving cancel.
The franking of Ethiopian 1 Guerche + French Somali Coast 25 Centimes pays the expected rate.
Total transit time was 21 days.
 
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