A Brief Look At The History Of The Post
From earliest times the peoples of the world have sought means of communicating with each other. These efforts may be traced to the very mists of antiquity, and before any means of written thoughts had come into use we may be sure that runners carried spoken messages between tribes.
Inca runners carried quipus – a strange collection of cords tied to a stick with the cords knotted so that the runner bearing them could slip each through his fingers and, as in counting rosary beads, recite the messages the knots recalled to memory.
Everywhere that tribes had formed and the beginnings of civilization had started, the first need was for communication with other tribes, and systems of communication were set up according to the need and the ability of the rulers to maintain them.
No one may claim the origin of the postal system. In one form or another it existed in all places on the earth wherever there were people, in all of the civilizations that have preceded our own.
All of these primitive systems existed for the benefit of the rulers. They were maintained at public expense but the runners were permitted to carry only the messages of the tribal chiefs or of latter-day kings and emperors.
It remained for Augustus Caesar to establish what most closely resembles our modern postal system. His Cursus Publicus had routes throughout the Roman Empire and the carriers were permitted to carry messages of certain high government officials not necessarily connected with the Emperor’s household.
It is from this system that we get our present name “post” office. Along the roads traveled by the Roman couriers posts were established to mark the distances each should travel. Often a hostelry would be established at the post and hence we derive the word “post” and later “office”.
Later the merchants of the Hanse towns along the Baltic coast set up their Hanseatic League and employed a postal service for their own convenience and occasionally, as a favor perhaps, a message would be carried for someone not a member of the league.
Still later the Counts of Thurn and Taxis established a private postal system that covered much of Europe and made their services available to all who would pay their fees. This was the beginning of our modern postal system.
In addition to the system operated by the houses of Thurn and Taxis, which, incidentally, was dignified by royal grant, there were various other private postal systems that more or less flourished in parts of Europe. One of these was conducted by the universities of France which had found it expedient to have some means available for the students to write home to get money.
In London in 1680 – almost two hundred years before the introduction of a modern postal system – William Docwra set up a “Penny Post” for the collection and delivery of letters within the limits of London City, which is a model of efficiency even to this day.
Docwra established letter boxes at designated points throughout the city as well as various branch offices. Letters would be collected from the boxes every hour and would be stamped at the branch office the exact time of their collection. This post proved so popular and so lucrative that Docwra became involved with the Duke of York who claimed royal prerogative for the delivery of mail.
In due course Docwra’s post was taken over as a government function. It continued in operation until 1800 when it became “The Two-Penny Post”.
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A Summary of Different Type of Steins
Steins have been around since the 13th century. They are beautiful pieces of art and fun to collect. In this newsletter we are focusing on the different types of steins and their characteristics.
Mettlach Steins:
These steins are made of stoneware and range in size from 1/4 liter to 4 liters in size. They are the most well known and range from just a couple hundred dollars to many thousands depending on the type, size and rarity. They usually are etched, hand painted or have a type of “print under the glass”. After 1970, collections of Mettlach steins were started in many major museums in the United States, Hamburg, Amsterdam and many other other well known places. They can have either ceramic or pewter lids and are all beautifully decorated. They are highly sought after today.
There are many look-alike Mettlach Steins out there. These are also beautiful, but if you are only interested in the genuine ones, then here’s a couple of things to look for…
- One way to tell the difference between a real Mettlach stein and a look-alike is the glaze. If you look closely, you will notice that the real Mettlach will have kind of a matt type finish (that rarely crazes) where as the look-alikes seem to have a more thickish shinier glaze.
- Another way to tell if you have an authentic Mettlach stein is to look at the fluid level marking. Usually right next to the incised liter size, a Mettlach stein will have a “painted on” fluid mark in the form of a somewhat straight line. On a look-alike it will usually be an “incised” line.
There are several other ways to tell what you really have too, but can get quite detailed. The above two methods I mention are two of the “quick tell” ways and one of the first things collectors will usually look for.
Regimental Steins:
These steins reflect the time period between 1870 to 1914 and are mostly made of porcelain. These steins were the result of the Franco-Prussian War (1840-1871). After the war, the Imperial German Armed Forces was broken into six different divisions (Infantry, Cavalry, Technician Troops, Artillery, Colonial Guard and Supply Train) and the Navy. This is where the scenes you see on these types of steins come from. Military service during this time was considered an honor and when a reservist’s time of active duty was finished, they were sold one of these steins. The soldier would receive one of these steins of his choice and decorations which usually reflected the division he was in. After that, they became valued family heirlooms.
Many of these steins will have a translucent picture, called a “lithophane,” in the bottom of the stein which when you are drinking the last of your beer, you will see some sort of picture on the bottom.
Today, authentic regimental steins (the reproduced ones) are made in Bavaria and can cost from a few hundred to thousands of dollars depending on the rarity and condition. Steins from medical, airships and railroad units are considered more valuable than those from infantry, cavalry or machine gun units.
Character Steins:
These steins are unique, desirable and fall into the same price ranges as the regimental steins. You will usually find these in the shapes of faces, animals, towers, buildings or whatever the artist decided to make. Usually, the head or the roof is the lid. Most of these types of steins are made from porcelain, but you can also find stoneware and even some made of pewter. A lot of the porcelain steins also have lithophanes in their bases just like the regimental ones do. They are more of a novelty type of stein.
Stoneware Westerwald (Western Forest) Steins:
These are the bluish type stoneware steins that are made in the Western Forest part of Germany just southeast of Cologne. The Western Forest is famous for its quality stoneware and the steins that you see from here are the heavy-duty steins that they use in the Munich beer gardens and bars all over Germany. These steins have become Germany’s most popular souvenirs and you can find these at reasonable prices which can be anywhere from a few dollars to a few hundred dollars.
Steins have also been made out of wood, ivory and believe it or not, coconut shells. Then there’s the gold, silver and pewter steins which have been made for centuries.
Many people enjoy collecting steins as there are so many different types all at different price ranges. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, there’s always something that’s sure to catch your eye!
Evelyn Becker writes articles for Deutsches Haus http://www.deutscheshaus.cc which is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Deutsches Haus offers German collectibles, souvenirs, gifts and foods.
Can You Earn Any Cash Investing In Coins
You may have heard that investing in coins and selling them at a higher price is a good way to finance your coin collecting hobby and make a little money while you are at it. While this sometimes will work out, coin collecting as an investment is not without risks.
You cannot expect to buy just any coin and have people begging to take it off your hands at a tidy profit for you. You need to watch out for fake coins, it is all too easy to be taken in and purchase a counterfeit coin. It is always wise to be up on your coin grading skills before purchasing any expensive coins you want to sell and always be aware of the market as it can rise and fall faster than you may realize.
Anything you invest your money into will have some risk involved. Coin collecting can be a fulfilling and rewarding hobby but if you want to make a profit from your coin buying you need to be prepared for this risk. Make sure you do enough research on the coin you are considering. If you do not have enough knowledge please seek the advice of a coin collecting professional before sinking a bunch of money in something. You can buy a fake coin all too easily if you do not have the proper knowledge.
Counterfeit coins that have been altered are not uncommon. Even the pros with many years experience can sometimes be fooled by some of the better counterfeits. Less than honest people may alter a common coin by adding a mintmark and make it look real to boot. If the coin has been certified by one of the major graders this should go a long ways in easing your mind. In the absence of a professional make sure you have enough knowledge to accurately judge the coin.
The value of a coin is often marked with a certain grade. You must know if this grade is correct. Things like whether the coin has been cleaned and how much wear it has will affect the grade of the coin. Remember whatever grade the coin has been assigned is just an opinion. Sometimes the graders do not always agree on everything so go with someone you respect and trust.
The coin market is no more stable than the stock market in many ways. You can buy a coin and have the value fall by the time you get ready to sell. This means you have the chance for big time gains or big time losses.
You may want to buy the coins you have been wanting and hold on to them for a while and when you get ready to sell them they might be worth more than you paid for them. Investing in coins could finance your coin collecting hobby if you do things right.
For more information on how to value coins using a coin value guide visit http://www.find-coins.com where will find useful tips, articles and resources to help you find old coins.
Antiques Businesses Are Becoming Very Popular
If you are deciding to become an antique dealer keep in mind that you will be meeting many different type of people, each of these people you meet have a different role in antique dealings. Many people are now finding antiques as a great way of making their rooms look that little bit more special. When it comes to antiques many people have their own agenda, many people prefer clocks, porcelain, furniture or jewelry.
Next look to make sure that you can afford to purchase items in your chosen item, you may be fascinated say by rare art, but unfortunately it may be unaffordable. Purchasing antiques usually involves money; lots of money, gathering the proper information can help with the purchase process and avoid being fooled or making mistakes. Knowing the how to speak “antique” or knowing the proper terminology and doing the proper research will help in determining what to look for and what to buy, it will also help in knowing how much the items are worth so you don’t overpay for the item.
In today’s world antiques have become big business for many people, finding that piece that was created many years ago and selling it for 3 to 4 times its value is a great way to make money. If you compare the same items today with those that were created years ago it is amazing how the older items are made incredibly well plus they fetch more money on the market.
To find old pieces of furniture you need to look in the following places, outhouses, attics or cellars, many people stored their valuable items in these places. Furniture began to bear designs such as pagodas and birds, originally only seen on items of porcelain. Antique furniture that has been covered with a finish that is long lasting will look better plus fetch a higher price. But, over time and with polishing, oak darkens into a rich brown color. Until the middle of the 17th Century, furniture was fairly simple, made of oak with peg joints.
Place your collection on display or will then be kept in a safe place. For some who have inherited a lovely collection of heirlooms, yet do not have any idea of how to look after them or even keeping up with the collection they already have as well as they should.
It’s the fluctuations in relative humidity caused by central heating that results in real damage. Consider installing a humidifier on your furnace to raise the humidity levels in winter and run a dehumidifier during the summer months. With wood antiques, you want the humidity to be as stable as possible. To take care of the antique furniture you will need to wax the pieces with bees wax, do not store the furniture in damp, bright rooms, and make sure the furniture is not in a place that the temperatures fluctuate because this may damage the wood.
There are many benefits when selling on an online Antique mall. You want to sell your antiques or collectibles online be careful and research the proper way to do this. One of the most popular places where people from all over the country display and have their antiques appraised is at the Antiques Roadshow.
David Marc Fishman helps people with how to videos. Ask an expert to learn how they do it at http://www.tipsquad.com using instructional videos.
Regimental Stein Types and Toasts
German Regimental Steins began at the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870-1871. Constitutional law required compulsory military service to all German men between the ages of 17 to 45 excluding only members of ruling houses, criminals and those deprived of their civil rights.
The German Military was divided into six land based groups which were of the following:
Artillery
Calvary
Technical Troops
Infantry
Military Supply
Engineer or Pioneer
Air Force (started at the end of the century)
During this time, military service was compulsory and it was considered a great honor to defend your country. The completion of a military man’s service to the fatherland was a milestone to be commemorated.
At the completion of his active duty and to start his reserve service to his country, the soldier either purchased or was presented with a commemorative stein. These steins were considered a badge of honor by the men who had served in the German military.
Each stein was custom made and decorated with information relating to the unit that the military man had served with. The pewter lids were either cone or dome shaped with ornamental designs and the tops were crowned with figurines or symbols of the unit group.
Names of fellow men in the unit were displayed in columns on either side of the handles. The unit name, along with a picture depicting the unit he served in was on the front of the stein. Various other phrases and lettering would be applied representing his unit. Many of these steins were also decorated with a drinking toast or phrase that was popular with the men of the unit. Translated today, these phrases still make wonderful toasts.
At the local beer hall all others could see that he had served his homeland with honor and helped to ensure the security of his people. This alone, was an excellent reason to display the stein and to toast the honor of all those who had served Germany.
Regimental steins are still made today, but in replica versions. Authentic Regimental steins are still today a highly sought after item by many avid beer stein collectors.
The following are some popular military toasts found on some Regimental steins:
Artillery:
German – Kanonendonner is unser Gruss!
English – Cannon thunder is our greeting!
Engineer/Pioneer:
German – Brueder stosst die Glaeser an, hoch lebe der Reservemann!
English – Brothers bring those glasses on, highly live the Reserve man!
Infantry:
German – Dauerfeuer ist unser Gruss!
English – Constant fire is our greeting!
Navy:
German – Wert trev gedient hat seine Zeit, dem sei ein voller Krug gewith!
English – He who has served his time, has a mug that is fuller!
Calvary:
German – Stolz zu Ross die Kavallerie, auf dem posten spat und frueh!
English – Proudly rides the cavalry, guarding from morning to night!
Evelyn Whitaker writes articles for Deutsches Haus http://www.deutscheshaus.cc which is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. Deutsches Haus offers German collectibles, souvenirs, gifts and foods.