The Palatinate
Postal Markings 1741-1890
Parts of land on the left bank of the Rhine river were already known at the time of the Romans on their move down the Rhine valley to Cologne and beyond. Many centuries later, through hereditary succession and wars, the Palatinate became a German land extending over the right bank of the Rhine with towns like Mannheim, Heidelberg, Bruchsal and Bretten.
At the end of the French Revolution, the land on the right side of the Rhine was assigned to the Grand-Duchy of Baden. After Napoleon's downfall in 1816, the Kingdom of Bavaria obtained the territory on the left bank with some adjacent land in the north. At that time also, the German States took over the mail service from the house of Thurn and Taxis.
The name given to the new part of Bavaria was "Die Pfalz" or "Die Rheinpfalz", to us known as the Palatinate, Speyer being the seat of the government.
Pre-philatelic period
cover 1749-1849, a fine and interesting collection of entire letters and entires (43 items) including 1741 entire letter to Worms with manuscript "de Spire", 1761 entire letter to Diez showing "R. HAUSEN" h.s., 1781 entire letter to Frankurt with "DE SPIRE" h.s.,and thereafter a representation of town h.s. with "P. 100 P./FRANKENTHAL" (1805) and various straight-line , half circle and single circle d.s.
Details
cover 1749-1849, a fine and interesting collection of entire letters and entires (43 items) including 1741 entire letter to Worms with manuscript "de Spire", 1761 entire letter to Diez showing "R. HAUSEN" h.s., 1781 entire letter to Frankurt with "DE SPIRE" h.s.,and thereafter a representation of town h.s. with "P. 100 P./FRANKENTHAL" (1805) and various straight-line , half circle and single circle d.s.