Reichspfennig Stamp Appraisal

Used German Stamp, Deutsches Reich 12 Reichspfennig

This item is a used postage stamp from the Deutsches Reich (German Empire), featuring a denomination of 12 Reichspfennig. The stamp is predominantly orange in color with a lighter, circular central design that appears to be an embossed or watermarked portrait, though the central figure is largely obscured by the postal cancellation mark. The top right corner clearly displays the numerical value '12'. Below the central design, the text 'Deutsches Reich' is visible in a gothic or blackletter style font, though partially obscured. The stamp is perforated around all four edges, indicating it was separated from a sheet of similar stamps. The most prominent feature is the heavy, black-inked postal cancellation mark which covers a significant portion of the stamp. This mark is semicircular and reads 'GEN. d. POSTDIENSTS' along its curved edge, with '33 15-16' visible in the center, likely indicating a date (e.g., 15th-16th of a month in 1933, or 1915-1916). The cancellation is dense and has bled slightly into the paper in some areas. The paper appears to be of standard stamp paper quality, with some minor signs of age and handling, consistent with a used stamp. The perforations are intact, though not perfectly straight, which is common for stamps of this era. The stamp's condition suggests it has been previously affixed to mail and then removed. The style and 'Deutsches Reich' inscription indicate an age from the late 19th century to the mid-20th century, specifically pre-1945.