Feldkirch (AT)

Feldkirch is a medieval city (31,428 inhabitants end 2013) and a district seat in the western Austrian state of Vorarlberg. After Dornbirn, it is the second largest town in Vorarlberg in terms of population. The westernmost point in Austria lies in Feldkirch on the River Rhine, at the junction of Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.

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The Town

Graf Hugo I von Montfort transferred his residence around the year 1200 to the castle of Schattenburg. This castle became later an integral part of the town of Feldkirch.

The river ILL was instrumental in the developement of the town.

Since 1966 the ZIP-Code is (AT) 6800.

Prephilately

The Post office opened on 1 April 1771.

Forwarded wrapper with first Feldkirch postmark Rayon R3 - 1809

Feldkirch to Andelsbuch Taxe 3 Kreuzer+3 Kreuzer courier fee - 1811

Postmark Nr.2 was adapted. R3 was removed because the Bavarian aera had ended 1814 Single line postmark 35x6mm no date - 1832 Boxed postmark 42x10mm no date - 1837

Official letter to Dornbirn Taxe 2 1/2 Kreuzer+2 Kreuzer courier fee - 1834

Foreign letter to Avignon France - 1835

Single line postmark 31x7mm franko=postage paid by sender - 1841

Single line postmark 28x9mm - 1845

Single line postmark 32x7mm - 1849

Postmarks in Austrian Empire Vorarlberg province

The FELDKIRCH post office opened before 1850.

Linear Mueller type RL-R on a 1858 issue

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Single ring postmark ø23mm - 1860

Frame (Mueller type RzhB-fh), used on issues II-V, here in 1859ca, 10 h (Früh = morning.

Octagonal postmark 32x25mm with time mark "A"=pm - 1864

Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867-1918)

Frame on 26/8, Klein image 503 (25 points) on a 1867 issue

Oval type aOj on a 1874 issue

Oval 25x19mm with complete date - 1875 on a Newspaper tax stamp

Single ring postmark ø23mm with complete date - 1879

Grotesk circle with expedition 11 V, Klein type gEje, in 1899.

Double ring postmark dated 1.3.1907 9 pm

Bridge on 16 April 1917.

AH Covers and cards

Thimble postmark ø17mm on insured letter without stamp dating 1872. Stamps were obligatory from 1.9.1890

Oval postmark 31x28mm with time mark "N"=pm -1876

Hatching postmark 32x24mm with time mark "N"=pm - 1902

Railway station mailbox postmark - 1902 (issued 1900)

Bridge postmark - 1905 to Zürich and forwarded to Königsbach Palatinate

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World War I

Censorship place Feldkirch from 1914 to 1918

On the 25th of Juli 1914, which is already 3 days after the declaration of war by Austria to Serbia, article 10 of the constitution referring to the general rights of citizens was removed and censorship was introduced. The job of the censorship places was to collect all information which could be useful to the own country and at the same time to stop information reaching the enemy. Already in September 1914 the government established a censorship place in Feldkirch. What was censored and how the censorship was operating will be shown in this exhibit using reference copies.

Exhibit plan

Locations of the censoship places

Level of staff

Station command

Border command

Registered consignments

Parcel post

Inhibition

Field post

From home to the front

Cover adress

Post on demand

First Republic (1918-1938)

From November 12 1918 to March 1938.

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Railway station mailbox postmark - 1920 this postmark was only used until 1920

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Bridge postmark on stamps with overprint "Deutschösterreich" - 1920

Bridge postmark on "Deutschösterreich" stamps 1921. After World War I the Austro Hungarian Empire broke into pieces. One of them was the Republic Deutschösterreich. 1919 the victoreans powers decided that the correct name should be Republic Österreich. Stamps were used until 1922

1925 Austria had a currency reform from Krone to Schilling (10000 Kronen=1 Schilling) mixed franking was allowed until 1925

One bridge postmark with Ø28mm and one slogan postmark with Ø25mm

Bridge in 1936, 27 mm at FELDKIRCH 3e, postcard cut.

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World War II

From March 13 1938 to May 1945 Austria was annectet to Germany.

After the annexation all postal rates were German. From 4.4. to 31.10.1938 mixed franking was allowed.

Double ring postmark ø28 mm - 1942

Postmark "Feldkirch/Vorarlberg" was changed to "Feldkirch/Rheintal"

Bridge postmark on a army postal service letter from 22.1.1945

The US Army brought the post horn stamp especially printed in USA to Austria. They were valid from June 1945 to Mai 1946. April 1946 the stamps were overprinted with "PORTO" and were valid until January 1948

District postmark number "55 Feldkirch" from 19.3.1945. This postmark was valid from 1938 to 1947/49

Military air mail with 2 airmail stamps. The recipient could not be met, therefore the letter was returned to sender.

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Second Republic

a 2.2.1950 Giesingen bei Feldkirch

b 2.VIII.1954 Altenstadt, Vorarlberg.

az 15.1.1975

Permissian to take over the incoming mail.

Fee two 3ATS Stamps with postmark Austrian Post Office Feldkirch.

This octagonal district postmark were introduced on 1st January 1947...

...and were intended only for use in monetary transactions.

Cash on delivery card.

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Used in 2006.

Slogan Postmarks

Industrie- u. Gewerbe Ausstellung 1927. Trade fair in the new Volkshalle in Feldkirch from Aug.1 - Sept. 4 1927.

Besuchet die Neuheiten Ausstellung August 1930. Visit the novelty fair 1930

Österreichs Tor im Westen. Austrias west portal. 1971 postmark with zip-code

Gesunde Gewässer-Lebende Fische Stadthalle Feldkirch 1972. Clean waters-living fishes 1972

Österreichs Tor im Westen. Austrias west portal. 1960 postmark without zip-code

The Civil Defense Society of Vorarlberg provided this slogan postmark "the clever one has emergency suppley". The slogan was used for 2months in 1973.

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Meter Marks

Horizontal Meters used during the German occupation from 1938 to 1945. Francotyp C3

Provision stamps made by altering or re-castig dies used after the German occupation. Francotyp DC3 "ÖSTERREICH" replacing eagle at top and "GROSCHEN" replacing German inscription at bottom.

Meter mark Frama E9.1 value figures thick and heavy.

1834 the cotton spinning mill was founded by Johann Josef Ganahl

1843 his son Carl Ganahl continued the production of cotten and various textiles

1986 the compagnie was closed

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Commemorative Postmarks

On March 12.1955 the first ordination of bishop Dr.Bruno Wechner was celebrated in Feldkirch.

Die jungen Tenöre, 31.05.2001

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Picture Postcards

August 1927 the first Picture-Postcards were issued in Austria. The last one was printet 1994.

1927-1934 Serie 2, picture 47. Value impression 10 Groschen "stylized eagle"

Value impression 18 Groschen "stylized eagle". Photo: Phot.-Postk.Ind.A.G., Wien.

1934-1938 Serie 2, picture 47. Value impression 12 Groschen "double-eagle".

Value impression 25 Groschen "double eagle". Photo: Phot.-Postk. Ind.A.G., Wien

Issued 1964, international rate postcard, 41th edition, 10th picture. Value impression 1,80 Schilling "Hall/T." in 3 languages. Photo: Karl Schimper, reversed image!

Issued 1966, international rate postcard, 46th edition, 8th picture. Value impression 1,80 Schilling "Münzturm Hall/T" in 3 languages. Photo: Karl Schimper

Issued 1973, international rate postcard 64th edition, 5th picture. Value impression 2,50 Schilling "Linz" in 2 languages. Photo: Karl Schimper.

Issued 1975, international rate postcard, 67th edition, 3th picture. Value impression 2,50 Schilling "Murau" in 2 languages. Photo: Karl Schimper.

Issued 1977, international rate postcard, 72th edition, 7th picture. Value impression 4,- Schilling "Almsee" in 2 languages. Photo: Karl Schimper.

Issued 1976, domestic rate postcard, 145th edition, 5th picture. Value impression 2,50 Schilling "Murau". Photo Karl Schimper.

1952-1960, international rate postcard, 1th edition, 5th picture. Valeu impression 1,45 Schilling "Volkstracht Wilten" 4 languages. Photo: Karl Schimper, Feldkirch

From January 1964 on international rate postcard, 37th edition, 9th picture. Value impression 1,80 Schilling "Eiskunstlauf" 3 languages. Photo: Karl Schimper

1981 international rate postcard, 78th edition, 3th picture. Valeu impression 4 Schilling "Almsee" in 3 languages. Picture left: "WIPA 1981".

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Marginal

Nebenstempel

Als Nebenstempel werden in der Philatelie Post-Stempel bezeichnet, welche nicht zur Markenentwertung dienen. An additional postmark is a postmark which is not used for cancelling the stamp on a letter.

Letter front

Letter back

Letter front

Letter back

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Extraordinaries

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