Germany - Frankfurt am Main - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Frankfurt am Main can be found in the Postbank Building in the city center on Goetheplatz (Goethe Square). In the middle of the square is a statue of the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe by Ludwig Schwanthaler. The address for postmark requests is: Goetheplatz 6, 60313 Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.30-19.00 h., Sat 9.00-14.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. The first envelope I sent in 11 May 2017 came back. The address in the official publication was incorrect. I sent a second envelope with the same stamp to the right address and it came back in seventeen days with two perfect datestamps.

Date sent: 5 June 2017

Date postmark: 19 June 2017

Date received: 22 June 2017

Number of days: 17

Envelope in collection: 187

Germany - Dortmund - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Dortmund can be found in the Postbank Building just opposite the central station (Hauptbahnhof) The address for postmark requests is: Kurfürstenstraße 2, 44147 Dortmund, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-18.30 h., Sat 9.30-13.30 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. I had to wait 41 days for the envelope to arrive back to me. There was only one bad postmark on the envelope, but inside there was a second print on the card.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 19 June 2017

Date received: 21 June 2017

Number of days: 41

Envelope in collection: 182

Germany - Düsseldorf - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Düsseldorf can be found in the Postbank Finance Centre, amost opposite Düsseldorf Central Station. The address for postmark requests is: Immermannstrasse 65 C, 40211 Düsseldorf, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-19.00 h., Sat 9.00-13.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 24 May 2017

Date received: 30 May 2017

Number of days: 19

Envelope in collection: 128

Germany - Berlin Pankow - Philatelie-Shop

On 16 May 2017 I received an envelope with the datestamp of the Philatelie-shop in Berlin Pankow. Inside that envelope was the usual blank card but with a handwritten message that this shop also uses a pictorial postmark. They put a print of it on the back of the card.

The next day I sent a new envelope for that pictorial postmark. I enclosed a nice Dutch postcard to thank them for their service. On the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp.

The postmark shows the Rathaus (Town hall) in the Breite Strasse. It was built in 1901-1903 and designed by Wilhelm Johow. In the background the famous Fernsehturm (Television Tower) can be seen.

The Philatelie-Shop in Berlin Pankow can be found in the shopping mall Rathaus-Center in the centre of this north Berlin quarter. The address for postmark requests is: Breite Straße 20, 13187 Berlin Pankow, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.30-18.30 h., Sat 9.30-14.00 h.

Date sent: 17 May 2017

Date postmark: 24 May 2017

Date received: 27 May 2017

Number of days: 10

Envelope in collection: 122

Germany - Bremen - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Bremen can be found in the office building next to Paradeplatz in the city centre. The address for postmark requests is: Domsheide 15, 28195 Bremen, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-19.00 h., Sat 9.30-13.30 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. When it returned there was a nice letter in the envelope with the message that the old datestamp of the Philatelie-Shop did not exist anymore and was replaced with the one with 'ps' in it. Alternatively they could also send me the pictorial postmark.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 17 May 2017

Date received: 19 May 2017

Number of days: 8

Envelope in collection: 84

This post was previously published on 19 June 2018, but replaced because of an unusal number of internet traffic.

Germany - Braunschweig - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Braunschweig can be found in the Post Office Building in the city center. It was built in 1878-1881 under the direction of August Kind (1824-1904), the chief of the building department of the Reichspost under Heinrich von Stephan. The address for postmark requests is: Friedrich-Wilhelm-Strasse 3, 38100 Braunschweig, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-18.30 h., Sat 9.30-13.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. The priority label was added to the envelope by the German post.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 23 May 2017

Date received: 26 May 2017

Number of days: 15

Envelope in collection: 111

Germany - München - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop. There was already one Philatelie-Shop with a different postmark, Erfurt with the letters 'dx'. A second one has turned up from München (Munich), with the single letter 'o'. There was no explanation given.

The Philatelie-Shop in München can be found in the Postbank building in the Alter Hof. This is the former city palace of the Bavarian dukes and kings dating back to the 12th century. There is an entrance from the Sparkassenstrasse. The address for postmark requests is: Alter Hof 6-7, 80331 München, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-18.30 h., Sat 9.30-12.30 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. The priority label was added to the envelope by the German post.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 13 May 2017

Date received: 23 May 2017

Number of days: 12

Envelope in collection: 99

Germany - Nürnberg - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Nürnberg can normally be found in the post office building next to the central station. The old post office has been demolished in November 2017 and will be replaced by a new building complex with a hotel, offices and shops. The post office will return there in 2020. In the meantime it is housed in a spacious container next to the location of the former post office (Ausweiche Container). The address for postmark requests is: Bahnhofplatz 3, 90443 Nürnberg, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 8.30-19.00 h., Sat 9.00-14.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. The priority label was added to the envelope by the German post.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 18 May 2017

Date received: 20 May 2017

Number of days: 9

Envelope in collection: 91

Germany - Erfurt - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop. There seems to be one exception and that is the one in Erfurt. When the envelope had arrived back to me I noticed that on the card there was a second imprint of the postmark and on the back was the text "Wir haben nur diesen Stempel am Phila-Schalter" ("We have only this postmark at the philatelic window").

The Philatelie-Shop in Erfurt can be found in the Postbank building at Anger, the central square in Erfurt, lying between Erfurt Cathedral and the central station. Erfurt Cathedral houses Gloriosa, the world's largest free-swinging bell, made by the Dutch bellfounder Geert van Wou in 1497.

The address for postmark requests is: Anger 66, 99084 Erfurt, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10.00-18.00 h., Sat 10.00-13.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 17 May 2017

Date received: 20 May 2017

Number of days: 9

Envelope in collection: 90

Germany - Mannheim - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Mannheim can be found in the office building next to Paradeplatz in the city centre. The address for postmark requests is: O 2 2-10 (am Paradeplatz), 68161 Mannheim, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.30-18.30 h., Sat 9.30-13.00 h. The street name is O 2. Since the 17th century the inner city of Mannheim has been divided into quadrants, which gave the city the nickname Quadratestadt. The use of letters and numbers as street names started around 1798, although almost all street names were abolished in 1684.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. The priority label was put there by the Philatelie-Shop.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 15 May 2017

Date received: 18 May 2017

Number of days: 7

Envelope in collection: 74

Germany - Berlin 2 - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Berlin 2 can be found on the corner of Alexanderplatz in former East Berlin close to the Rundfunkturm. When I visited East Berlin in 1985 there was a DDR post office on this exact spot. I bought DDR stamps and first day covers there. The address for postmark requests is: Rathausstraβe 5, 10178 Berlin 2, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-19.00 h., Sat 9.00-16.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.  The priority label was put there by the Philatelie-Shop.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 15 May 2017

Date received: 18 May 2017

Number of days: 7

Envelope in collection: 73

Germany - Stuttgart - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Stuttgart can be found in the Königsbau Passagen shopping center in the centre of the town. The address for postmark requests is: Bolzstraβe 3, 70173 Stuttgart, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10.00-20.00 h., Sat 9.00-16.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 15 May 2017

Date received: 18 May 2017

Number of days: 7

Envelope in collection: 72

Germany - Regensburg - Philatelie-Shop

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Regensburg can be found in the central post office next to the central train station. The address for postmark requests is: Bahnhofstraβe 16, 93047 Regensburg, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 8.00-18.30 h., Sat 8.00-12.30 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 15 May 2017

Date received: 17 May 2017

Number of days: 6

Envelope in collection: 69

Germany - Gütersloh - Philatelie-Shop (datestamp)

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-Shop.

In the request for a postmark on my envelope I always ask for a second cancellation, in German a 'Blankostempel', on the left side of the envelope. Somehow the postal worker in Gütersloh misunderstood and put a second cancellation on the card inside the envelope.

The Philatelie-Shop in Gütersloh can be found in the Deutsche Post building on the square where also the central train station is. The address for postmark requests is: Kaiserstraβe 24, 33330 Gütersloh, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-18.00 h., Sat 9.00-12.30 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. The priority label was put there by the Philatelie-Shop.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 15 May 2017

Date received: 17 May 2017

Number of days: 6

Envelope in collection: 64

Germany - Berlin Zoologischer Garten - Philatelie-Shop (datestamp)

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Berlin Zoologischer Garten can be found in the shopping center next to the Zoologischer Garten train station, only a few hundred meters behind the Kaiser Wilhelm Gedächtniskirche. The address for postmark requests is: Joachimstaler Straβe 41, 10623 Berlin Zoologischer Garten, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 10.00-19.00 h., Sat 10.00-17.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 12 May 2017

Date received: 16 May 2017

Number of days: 5

Envelope in collection: 62

Germany - Karlsruhe - Philatelie-Shop (datestamp)

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Karlsruhe can be found in the Postgalerie shopping mall that is housed in the former central post office. The address for postmark requests is: Kaiserstraβe 217, 76133 Karlsruhe, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.30-20.00 h., Sat 9.30-16.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 13 May 2017

Date received: 16 May 2017

Number of days: 5

Envelope in collection: 61

Germany - Bonn - Philatelie-Shop (datestamp)

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Bonn can be found in the central post office on the central Cathedral Square just behind the monument for Ludwig van Beethoven. The address for postmark requests is: Münsterplatz 17, 53111 Bonn, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-20.00 h., Sat 9.00-16.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 12 May 2017

Date received: 16 May 2017

Number of days: 5

Envelope in collection: 59

Germany - Dresden - Philatelie-Shop (datestamp)

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Dresden can be found in the Postbank centre on the edge of the old inner city. The address for postmark requests is: Antonsplatz 1, 01067 Dresden, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-18.00 h., Sat 9.00-15.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. Next to the datestamp the Philatelie-Shop put the pictorial postmark of the Philatelie-Shop, which I thought was withdrawn by Deutsche Post. Apparently it is still in use.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 13 May 2017

Date received: 16 May 2017

Number of days: 5

Envelope in collection: 56

Germany - Kiel - Philatelie-Shop (datestamp)

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Kiel can be found in the Postbank centre close to central station. The address for postmark requests is: Andreas-Gayk-Straße 15, 24103 Kiel, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.00-18.00 h., Sat 9.00-14.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 13 May 2017

Date received: 16 May 2017

Number of days: 5

Envelope in collection: 55

Germany - Berlin Pankow - Philatelie-Shop (datestamp)

Deutsche Post has established special philately windows in 26 major post offices throughout the country. Each uses a datestamp with the letters 'ps' in it to distinguish it from normal datestamps. The letters ps stand for Philatelie-shop.

The Philatelie-Shop in Berlin Pankow can be found in the shopping mall Rathaus-Center in the centre of this north Berlin quarter. The address for postmark requests is: Breite Straße 20, 13187 Berlin Pankow, Germany. Opening hours: Mo-Fr 9.30-18.30 h., Sat 9.30-14.00 h.

For the envelope I used the new definitive 90 cent stamp from the flower series, issued on 11 May 2017 that I bought at the Philatelie-Shop in Essen on the first day of issue. The priority label was put there by the Philatelie-Shop.

Inside the envelope there was a nice surprise. The Philatelie-Shop official had put in two cards. One with the message that this shop also uses a pictorial postmark and one with an impression of that postmark and the datestamp. Of course I sent another envelope to Berlin to get the second postmark as well. Now this is what I call service.

Date sent: 11 May 2017

Date postmark: 12 May 2017

Date received: 16 May 2017

Number of days: 5

Envelope in collection: 54