German-Austrian Postal Association
Encyclopedia
The German-Austrian Postal Association (Deutsch-Österreichischer Postverein) started working on July 1, 1850. The administrative prerequisites were already provided by the German Zollverein
established in 1834. On October 18, 1847 the representatives convened to the German Postal Conference in Dresden
on a suggestion of Prussia
and Austria
. Not until April 6, 1850 Prussia and Austria, slowed down by political circumstances, closed a contract of the establishment of a German-Austrian Postal Association in Berlin
.
had printed its first stamps. Since 1835 there was the first railroad, in 1849 already 6,000 km of rails were laid. The progress took its course. The economic revival of nearly all economic branches called for a well-organised post, which could not achieved with small states. There was a need of a compact economic region.
The German Zollverein established in 1834 had already provided the administrative prerequisites. Until 1840 23 countries with more than 80 % of the population had confederated under Prussia's leadership by cancelling the customs and trade barriers. Austria wanted to sap the Zollverein by the use of protective duties. Last but not least by the entry of Hannover the Zollverein had become a co-supporter of the Industrial Revolution
. A uniform economic region called for a uniform postal system; so the foundation of the German-Austrian Postal Association played an important role.
The diversity of the existing postal systems spanned all parts of the postal laws, the postal monopoly, the postal restraint, the guarantee relations, the special privileges of the postal systems, and the sanctions. Of course it spanned the tariffs for all kinds of consignments, the liberty of postage, the transit relations, the postal delivery, and the treatment of the consignments too. The tabular overview of the existing laws concerning the postal monopoly and the postal restraints in the different German states, which was worked on for the conference, consisted of 7 narrow printed folio pages. Concerning the tariffs there were differences in the tariff formulation, in the single rates, as well as in the tariff grades. In some states the letter tariff consisted of two grades, in other states of thirty grades regarding the distance and the weight. In addition there was the diversity of the mile measures, the coins, and the weights.
The most urgent task was considered to be the simplification of the letter postage. Bavaria suggested a tariff of 6 Kreuzer
for each letter, Austria wanted a three-stage tariff, Prussia wanted even a five-stage one. The Bavarian suggestion appealed most, but it was believed that it could not cover the costs for the postal service, nor by the cheap use of the railroad.
The introduction of a special postal currency as a Postal Association's Coin was considered, but not accomplished. Its unit should have been one Posttaler (postal taler), equivalent to the 12th part of a Cologne mark
fine silver and divided into 100 Kreuzer.
After the political conditions initially had constrained the further accomplishment of this thought, Prussia and Austria resumed negotiations and closed a contract concerning the establishment of a German-Austrian Postal Association on April 6, 1850 in Berlin.
Initially the association should come to live on May 1, 1850, but the date had to be put off to July 1, 1850. Besides the two founding states the Royal Bavarian Government, the Royal Saxon Government, the Grand Ducal Government of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, the Grand Ducal Government of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and the Chief Postal Administration of Schleswig-Holstein had already joined. The contract aimed at "die Feststellung gleichmäßiger Bestimmungen für die Taxierung und postalische Behandlung der Brief- und Fahrpost-Sendungen, sowie für die Regulierung der Transit-Verhältnisse nicht nur für die beiderseitigen Landesgebiete, sondern womöglich für das gesamte Deutsche Bundesgebiet" (the declaration of uniform regulations of the rating and postal treatment of letter and driven consignments, as well as of the regulation of the transit-relations not only for the mutual countries, but if possible for the whole German federal territory).
The postal association only was an unseperated postal region for correspondence. For letters, printed matter
s (Kreuzbandsendungen), test samples and examples, as well as postally delivered newspapers collective postage fees were levied in the association's (mutual) traffic. Concerning letters, test samples and examples its amount complied with the weight of the consignment and the distance from the place of posting to the place of destination, measured in a straight line. Each postal administration had to receive the fees of the letters, that were sent from their post offices, in mutual traffic. In fact the contract provided the freedom for passing, but not, that it should be free of charge. The acquisition of the remuneration of the passing letter-post, which was entitled to the individual postal administrations, was especially regulated by the contract. For the freedom of postage collective regulations were provided. In article 7 of the contract the denomination "Wechselverkehr der Postvereinsstaaten" (mutual traffic of the postal association's states) appeared for the first time.
Heinrich von Stephan
wrote:
The letter tariff applied to the whole association's region. An exception was provided: "For the letter delivery between two places, for which currently a lower postage exists, this postage can further be applied after agreement of the involved postal administrations." Regarding the Kreuzer-tax the Conventionsmünze or Reich currency depending on the state's currency was levied. This regulation endured after the introduction of a new coin currency too, on October 2, 1858 Austria introduced the Neukreuzer.
For parcels the value declaration was only necessary for consignment of valuables. The refund for a lost simple parcel was set at 10 Silbergroschen
or 30 Kreuzer per pound. The postage was 2 Pfennig
per pound, the minimum was the letter postage. For the mutual handover of the driving post the postage was calculated concerning the distances between the postal borders and between the places of posting and destination. For the rating of the driving post consignments border points were arranged, to and from which the calculation and acquisition of the postage mutually was performed. So, a minimum of two distances were added. For the calculation of the postage of transit consignments of several transit routes, the amount of miles had to be reduced to average distances.
For each driving post consignment the postage was calculated concerning the weight, the postage of value was only charged, if the consignment was declared by the means of value. For each rating-route the minimum of weight-postage was considered to be the letter postage. All consignments, for which a higher postage was calculated due to the application of the weight-tariff, it should be charged: for each pound per every 5 miles ½ Kreuzer or 2 Silberpfennig or the respective value in the country's currency. But for heavy letters the respective postage has to be charged according to the letter or driving post tariff. It is optional mailing the consignments unstamped or completely stamping them for the place of destination. The postage acquisition is especially calculated regarding the abovementioned tariff regulations for the delivery route of each individual administration. Returning and forwarding consignments are subject of the taxes for the delivery route for the way forth and back.
For consignments of valuables it should be charged: up to a distance of 50 miles for every 100 Gulden 2 Kr. and for every 100 Taler 1 Sgr., more than 50 miles for every 100 Gulden 4 Kr. and for every 100 Taler 2 Sgr., with the annotation that for lower values the tax for the full hundred should be charged. The addressee can declare the value of the consignment himself. A refund is provided according to the declared value. For other parcels a maximum of 10 Sgr. resp. 30 Kr. per pound were refunded. "The current agreement comes to live on July 1, 1850. It stays effective until the end of 1860 and from then on with a reservation of a year's notice."
Notable regulations of that contract are:
, parcels, consignments with stated value, and many more.
Zollverein
thumb|upright=1.2|The German Zollverein 1834–1919blue = Prussia in 1834 grey= Included region until 1866yellow= Excluded after 1866red = Borders of the German Union of 1828 pink= Relevant others until 1834...
established in 1834. On October 18, 1847 the representatives convened to the German Postal Conference in Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
on a suggestion of Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
and Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. Not until April 6, 1850 Prussia and Austria, slowed down by political circumstances, closed a contract of the establishment of a German-Austrian Postal Association in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
.
Prerequisites
BavariaBavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
had printed its first stamps. Since 1835 there was the first railroad, in 1849 already 6,000 km of rails were laid. The progress took its course. The economic revival of nearly all economic branches called for a well-organised post, which could not achieved with small states. There was a need of a compact economic region.
The German Zollverein established in 1834 had already provided the administrative prerequisites. Until 1840 23 countries with more than 80 % of the population had confederated under Prussia's leadership by cancelling the customs and trade barriers. Austria wanted to sap the Zollverein by the use of protective duties. Last but not least by the entry of Hannover the Zollverein had become a co-supporter of the Industrial Revolution
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution was a period from the 18th to the 19th century where major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, transportation, and technology had a profound effect on the social, economic and cultural conditions of the times...
. A uniform economic region called for a uniform postal system; so the foundation of the German-Austrian Postal Association played an important role.
The diversity of the existing postal systems spanned all parts of the postal laws, the postal monopoly, the postal restraint, the guarantee relations, the special privileges of the postal systems, and the sanctions. Of course it spanned the tariffs for all kinds of consignments, the liberty of postage, the transit relations, the postal delivery, and the treatment of the consignments too. The tabular overview of the existing laws concerning the postal monopoly and the postal restraints in the different German states, which was worked on for the conference, consisted of 7 narrow printed folio pages. Concerning the tariffs there were differences in the tariff formulation, in the single rates, as well as in the tariff grades. In some states the letter tariff consisted of two grades, in other states of thirty grades regarding the distance and the weight. In addition there was the diversity of the mile measures, the coins, and the weights.
- The simple letter weight for example was ½ Vienna lot in Austria, ¾ Prussian lot in Prussia, ½ BavariaBavariaBavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
n lot in Bavaria, 12½ g in Sachsen, ¾ Cologne lot in Hannover, ½ - 1 Cologne lot in WürttembergWürttembergWürttemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
, ¾ Cologne lot in BadenBadenBaden is a historical state on the east bank of the Rhine in the southwest of Germany, now the western part of the Baden-Württemberg of Germany....
, 10 g in LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, 1 Cologne lot in Mecklenburg-SchwerinMecklenburg-SchwerinMecklenburg-Schwerin was a duchy in northern Germany created in 1348, when Albert II of Mecklenburg and his younger brother John were raised to Dukes of Mecklenburg by King Charles IV...
, ¾ Cologne lot in Mecklenburg-StrelitzMecklenburg-StrelitzMecklenburg-Strelitz was a duchy and later grand duchy in northern Germany, consisting of the eastern fifth of the historic Mecklenburg region, roughly corresponding with the present-day Mecklenburg-Strelitz district , and the western exclave of the former Bishopric of Ratzeburg in modern...
, 1 Cologne lot in OldenburgOldenburgOldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
, ¾ - 1 Cologne lot in HolsteinHolsteinHolstein is the region between the rivers Elbe and Eider. It is part of Schleswig-Holstein, the northernmost state of Germany....
and Lauenburg etc. For a consignment, that had to pass several regions, all of this differences had to be considered for the calculation of the final postage. Austria suggested a weight of 8.75 g, Prussia 12 g, Bavaria 15.6 g, and Sachsen 15 g. One agreed upon 1 lot Vereinsgewicht (association's weight) = 15.6 g excl. In the contract of Postal Association it was virtually kept, but defined as 1/30 of the Zollpfund (customs pound) for each part of the letter weight.
Postal conference
Due to this traffic-obstructing conditions the thought of establishing a uniform German postal system arose early. On October 18, 1847, after several vain efforts the representatives of the German postal administrations convened to the German Postal Conference in Dresden on a suggestion of Prussia and Austria, in order to discuss the postal conditions in the German states and to work on the terms of the foundation of a German Postal Association. The negotiations, whose 37 sessions were attended by all representatives of all German postal administrations, lasted until February 3, 1848.The most urgent task was considered to be the simplification of the letter postage. Bavaria suggested a tariff of 6 Kreuzer
Kreuzer
The Kreuzer, in English usually kreutzer, was a silver coin and unit of currency existing in the southern German states prior to the unification of Germany, and in Austria.-Early history:...
for each letter, Austria wanted a three-stage tariff, Prussia wanted even a five-stage one. The Bavarian suggestion appealed most, but it was believed that it could not cover the costs for the postal service, nor by the cheap use of the railroad.
The introduction of a special postal currency as a Postal Association's Coin was considered, but not accomplished. Its unit should have been one Posttaler (postal taler), equivalent to the 12th part of a Cologne mark
Cologne mark
The Cologne Mark was a unit of weight equivalent to 233.856 grams. It was introduced by the Danish King Hans in the late 15th century and was used as a standard for weighing metals...
fine silver and divided into 100 Kreuzer.
After the political conditions initially had constrained the further accomplishment of this thought, Prussia and Austria resumed negotiations and closed a contract concerning the establishment of a German-Austrian Postal Association on April 6, 1850 in Berlin.
Association
- In 1851 following authorities joined the association:
- on May 1 the Princely Thurn und TaxisThurn und TaxisThe Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of many castles.- History :...
Postal Administration and the Grand Ducal Government of Baden, - on June 1 the Royal Government of Hannover,
- on September 1 the Royal Government of Württemberg,
- on October 1 the ElectoratePrince-electorThe Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
Hessen, the Duchy of NassauNassau (state)Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire and later in the German Confederation. Its ruling dynasty, now extinct in male line, was the House of Nassau.-Origins:...
, and - on December 1 the Free Hanseatic City of BremenBremen (state)The Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is the smallest of Germany's 16 states. A more informal name, but used in some official contexts, is Land Bremen .-Geography:...
.
- on May 1 the Princely Thurn und Taxis
- On January 1, 1852 the Grand Ducal Government of LuxembourgLuxembourgLuxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, the Duchy of BraunschweigBraunschweigBraunschweig , is a city of 247,400 people, located in the federal-state of Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located north of the Harz mountains at the farthest navigable point of the Oker river, which connects to the North Sea via the rivers Aller and Weser....
, the Free Hanseatic City of LübeckLübeckThe Hanseatic City of Lübeck is the second-largest city in Schleswig-Holstein, in northern Germany, and one of the major ports of Germany. It was for several centuries the "capital" of the Hanseatic League and, because of its Brick Gothic architectural heritage, is listed by UNESCO as a World...
, and the Grand Ducal Government of OldenburgOldenburgOldenburg is an independent city in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the western part of the state between the cities of Bremen and Groningen, Netherlands, at the Hunte river. It has a population of 160,279 which makes it the fourth biggest city in Lower Saxony after Hanover, Braunschweig...
further joined the postal association.
Printed matter
Printed matter is a term to describe printed material produced by printers or publishers, such as books, magazines, booklets, brochures and other publicity materials and in some cases, newspapers...
s (Kreuzbandsendungen), test samples and examples, as well as postally delivered newspapers collective postage fees were levied in the association's (mutual) traffic. Concerning letters, test samples and examples its amount complied with the weight of the consignment and the distance from the place of posting to the place of destination, measured in a straight line. Each postal administration had to receive the fees of the letters, that were sent from their post offices, in mutual traffic. In fact the contract provided the freedom for passing, but not, that it should be free of charge. The acquisition of the remuneration of the passing letter-post, which was entitled to the individual postal administrations, was especially regulated by the contract. For the freedom of postage collective regulations were provided. In article 7 of the contract the denomination "Wechselverkehr der Postvereinsstaaten" (mutual traffic of the postal association's states) appeared for the first time.
Heinrich von Stephan
Heinrich von Stephan
Heinrich von Stephan was a general post director for the German Empire who reorganized the German postal service. He was integral in the founding of the Universal Postal Union in 1874, and in 1877 introduced the telephone to Germany.Stephan was born in Stolp , Pomerania, in the Kingdom of Prussia...
wrote:
- The correspondences of all members of the regent's families of the association's states were delivered free of postage in the whole association's region. Further correspondences concerning mere civil services and the official correspondences of the postal administrations and post offices were delivered free of postage too.
- No new postage was charged for the returning or forwarding delivery of a letter.
- Besides the taxes from the table new taxes might not be levied; they are allowed only for the order fee. The remuneration of cash disbursements for extraordinary services (e.g. ordering by an express messenger) is not excluded.
- The correspondence with foreign countries is subject of the same treatment as the association's correspondence. The additional postage for unstamped letters are not applied.
For parcels the value declaration was only necessary for consignment of valuables. The refund for a lost simple parcel was set at 10 Silbergroschen
Silbergroschen
The Silbergroschen was a coin used in Prussia and several other German Confederation states in northern Germany during the 19th century, worth one thirtieth of a Thaler....
or 30 Kreuzer per pound. The postage was 2 Pfennig
Pfennig
The Pfennig , plural Pfennige, is an old German coin or note, which existed from the 9th century until the introduction of the euro in 2002....
per pound, the minimum was the letter postage. For the mutual handover of the driving post the postage was calculated concerning the distances between the postal borders and between the places of posting and destination. For the rating of the driving post consignments border points were arranged, to and from which the calculation and acquisition of the postage mutually was performed. So, a minimum of two distances were added. For the calculation of the postage of transit consignments of several transit routes, the amount of miles had to be reduced to average distances.
For each driving post consignment the postage was calculated concerning the weight, the postage of value was only charged, if the consignment was declared by the means of value. For each rating-route the minimum of weight-postage was considered to be the letter postage. All consignments, for which a higher postage was calculated due to the application of the weight-tariff, it should be charged: for each pound per every 5 miles ½ Kreuzer or 2 Silberpfennig or the respective value in the country's currency. But for heavy letters the respective postage has to be charged according to the letter or driving post tariff. It is optional mailing the consignments unstamped or completely stamping them for the place of destination. The postage acquisition is especially calculated regarding the abovementioned tariff regulations for the delivery route of each individual administration. Returning and forwarding consignments are subject of the taxes for the delivery route for the way forth and back.
For consignments of valuables it should be charged: up to a distance of 50 miles for every 100 Gulden 2 Kr. and for every 100 Taler 1 Sgr., more than 50 miles for every 100 Gulden 4 Kr. and for every 100 Taler 2 Sgr., with the annotation that for lower values the tax for the full hundred should be charged. The addressee can declare the value of the consignment himself. A refund is provided according to the declared value. For other parcels a maximum of 10 Sgr. resp. 30 Kr. per pound were refunded. "The current agreement comes to live on July 1, 1850. It stays effective until the end of 1860 and from then on with a reservation of a year's notice."
Revised contract
The first conference took place in 1851 in Berlin; there on December 5, 1851 the revised Postal Association's contract was signed by Austria, Prussia, Bavaria, Sachsen, Hannover, Württemberg, Baden, Holstein, Luxemburg, Braunschweig, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Oldenburg, Lübeck, Hamburg, and the Thurn und Taxis postal administration. The "Deutsche Posterein" (German Postal Union), as it was called since then, did not include the driving post.Notable regulations of that contract are:
- Guarantee of the freedom of passing for letter consignments with moderate passing reimbursements;
- introduction of a uniform letter postage graded according to three distances;
- postage reduction for printed matterPrinted matterPrinted matter is a term to describe printed material produced by printers or publishers, such as books, magazines, booklets, brochures and other publicity materials and in some cases, newspapers...
s and commercial samples; - postage charging by definitive stampDefinitive stampA definitive stamp is a postage stamp, that is part of a regular issue of a country's stamps available for sale by the postal service for an extended period of time...
s; - mediation of newspaper orders;
- perpetuation of the political borders concerning the driving post, actually parcels, in that way, that a special postage was still charged for each postal region.
First addendum to the revised contract
In 1855 one further conference took place in Vienna. On this conference the association's rules were agreed upon. Things, whose transport is dangerous, were excluded. The addendum regulates the transit fees, the delivery of the letter post, and tells, what has to be done with unstamped or insufficiently stamped letters. It also regulates the guarantees for registered mailRegistered mail
Registered mail describes letters, packets or other postal documents considered valuable and need a chain of custody that provides more control than regular mail. The posted item has its details recorded in a register to enable its location to be tracked, sometimes with added insurance to cover loss...
, parcels, consignments with stated value, and many more.