Notopfer Berlin - compulsory surtax stamp - Germany / Western occupation zones / American zone 1948 - 2 Pfennig

All postal items (printed matter, postcards, letters, parcels and parcels) had to be additionally provided with one of the compulsory surtax stamps (catalog number 1-8) in the bi-zone from January 1, 1948, otherwise the item was sent back to the sender, temporarily with stamped stamp » Back - tax stamp is missing «or similar note or with sticker. The compulsory surtax stamps were also used temporarily in the French zone, in the district of Lindau, in the Austrian customs exclusion areas and in Elten and the Selfkantgebiet. From 1 January 1950, compulsory use was throughout the Federal territory. On 1 April 1956 ended the use in the entire federal territory (source: Michel Germany catalog 1999/2000, pages 635/636). This compulsory surtax stamp shows the lettering "Notopfer Berlin Steuermarke" next to the value. The stamp appeared until 1955 with various perforations and watermark types (catalog number 2-8).