Why are uses of the 62½c Marie-Adélaïde definitive so scarce?

 

 Issued 1 Dec 1914

 

 

 The 62½c Marie-Adélaïde Enigma

 

We seldom see uses of the 62½c Marie-Adélaïde definitive.  Why?

 

In late 1911 or early 1912 the 5kg parcel post rates to Germany were reduced; for Zone I, from 56c to 45c, and for Zones II-V, from 87½c to 62½c.  Accordingly, it was planned to add 45c and 62½c stamps to the William IV definitive series.  However, on February 25, 1912, Grand Duke William IV died, necessitating an entirely new series of stamps.  Consequently, on February 29, 1912, stock of the now obsolete 87½c William IV stamp was surcharged to 62½c.  And on April 24, 1915, to exhaust stocks of the 2½F and 5F William IV stamps, they were also surcharged to 62½c.

 

On December 1, 1914, the 62½c Marie-Adélaïde definitive appeared, but its useful life was short, and it had to compete with the 62½c William IV surcharges.  In July 1916 the letter rate to Germany was increased to 17½c and the 5kg parcel post rate was again increased to 87½c.  On August 14, 1916, 17½c and 87½c Marie-Adélaïde definitives were issued to accommodate these new rates, leaving the 62½c definitive with no obvious use.

 

So sole use of the 62½c Marie-Adélaïde definitive on a parcel post card to Germany between the WW1 years of December 1914 to July 1916 is possible, but I have yet to see an example.  

Occasionally non-parcel post use of the 62½c Marie-Adélaïde definitive can be found in combination with other franking, although such examples are scarce.  Here are a few from my collection (send me scans of yours at Arsdorf@gmail.com -- I'll add them to this post):

 

 

 62½c Marie-Adélaïde - Sole Franking

 

2nd-Step Insured Money Letter
to Germany in 1915

Esch-sur-Alzette, 19 Aug 1915

Transit Luxembourg-Ville [b/s], 19 Aug 1915

Censured at Trier, Germany [b/s], 20 Aug 1915

Cöln, Germany [b/s], 20 Aug 1915 

20-250g Letter to Germany = 25c

1 Oct 1902 - 1 Aug 1916

 

Registry fee to Germany = 25c 

1 Apr 1886 - 10 May 1921

 

Insurance fee [10c/300F/x1] = 10c [for 230F]

1 Jul 1892 - 10 May 1921

 

Overpaid 2½c

 

 

 

 62½c Marie-Adélaïde + 2½c/5c Arms

 

2nd-Step Registered UPU Letter
in 1920

 

Luxembourg-Ville IV, 14 Feb 1920

Transit New York, N.Y. Rec'd Regy. [b/s], 3 Mar 1920

Minneapolis, Minn. USA Reg. Div [b/s], 6 Mar 1920

20-250g UPU letter = 30c

1 Oct 1907 - 10 May 1921

Registry fee = 25c

1 Apr 1886 - 10 May 1921

 

Overpaid 10c

 

 

 

 62½c Marie-Adélaïde + 5c Arms

 

Censored, Registered, Special Delivery

Letter to Germany in 1915

 

Exact rate paid

 

 

Luxembourg-Ville IV, 18 Feb 1915

Censored at Trier, Germany

Mainz, Germany [b/s], 20 Feb 1915

 

20g Letter to Germany = 12½c

1 Oct 1902 - 1 Aug 1916

 

Registry fee = 25c

1 Apr 1886 - 10 May 1921

 

Special Delivery fee = 30c

1 Jan 1875 - 10 May 1921

 

 

 

 62½c Marie-Adélaïde - Two singles!

 

Money Letter to Germany with

American Expeditionary Force Censor

in 1919

 

Exact rate paid

 

 

Dudelange II, 25 Jul 1919

Transit Luxembourg-Ville [b/s], 25 Jun 1919

AEF Censor 'U.S. No. 3_2'

Frankfurt (Main) 9, Germany [b/s], 29 Jul 1919

20-250g Letter to Germany = 30c

1 Oct 1918 - 1 Dec 1920

 

Registry fee = 25c
1 Apr 1886 - 10 May 1921

 

Insurance fee to Germany = 10c/300F/x7 = 70c

for 1934.31F [1547.45 Marks]

1 Jul 1892 - 10 May 1921

 

 

 

 62½c Marie-Adélaïde

with 7½c/10c (2) Marie-Adélaïde

& 2½c/5c Arms

UPU 3rd-Step Registered Letter
to Austria in 1918

Luxembourg-Limpertsberg, 1918

To Urfahr-Linz, Austria

40-60g UPU Letter = 25c+15c+15c = 55c
1 Oct 1907 – 10 May 1921 

Registry fee = 25c
1 Apr 1886—10 May 1921

Exact rate paid