This item is:

Thurn & Taxis

Old German States

Re-issued by the

German Empire in 1909

33 Stamps (as shown)

Note:  As written on the bottom of the second page in the folder:

History of the 1909 Thurn & Taxis Re-Issues

   "The Postal History of Thrun & Taxis was chosen as the featured exhibit by the Regensburg Philatelic Society for the 1909 International Exhibition they were hosting in Bavaria, Germany.  The Princely House of Thurn & Taxis had operated a mail delivery service within Europe since the 13th Century, long before most kingdoms, empires and governments had even established their own domestic mail delivery:

    After an exhaustive search by the Regensburg Philatelic Society, a complete 1852-1867 Thurn & Taxis Collection of Sheets could not be found, even from the family archive of the Prince of Thurn & Taxis!  It was learned that the original engraved printing plates of these historic issues were included in the sale of the Thurn & Taxis Postal Service to the King of Prussia in 1867.  King Wilhelm I of Prussia had since become Emperor of the newly formed German Empire and had entrusted those original plates to the German Post Office.  Permission was granted by the German Government for the Post Office to Re-issue 33 missing Sheets for the 1909 Philatelic Exhibition provided that each stamp printed would have the initials "ND" imprinted on the reverse and all sheets would be issued without gum.  "ND" is the German abbreviation for "neudruck" meaning new impression or new printing.

    The World of Philately owes a huge debt to the Regensburg Philatelic Society for their efforts.  This valuable, historic collection containing 32 stamps of the Thurn & Taxis Re-Issues is truly scarce with an estimate printing of 5000 sheets in 1909.  After 90 years and two devasting World Wars it is impossible to know how many of these valuable stamps were destroyed - but not many have been recovered."

Please read the 'condition description' and view pictures.