Stamps from Hannover

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Playing-Card Tax Stamps in Hannover

The tax stamps in Hannover were on the Ace of Spades for French-suited cards and on the Deuce of Hearts for German-suited cards. When Hannover became part of Prussia and in the German Empire, that changed to the Ace of Hearts for French-suited cards, for German-suited cards it remained the Deuce of Hearts.

In 1706 a tax stamp for playing-cards was introduced in Hannover, which wasn't described further. I haven't seen any examples of it.

In 1739 a new stamp was introduced for playing-cards, which was described as 'Löwenstempel' ('lion stamp'). From this I also haven't found an example.

This stamp is on a pack produced in Hannover, but most probably it is not a stamp from Hannover, as there is no explanation for the year '1729'.
diameter c. 16 mm, colour black

This stamp was presumably used from 1795 to 1809. The inscription "CART. FABR." stands for "Cartenfabrik", that is "Playing-Card Factory". The letters below the horse are I T M, they represent the playing-card maker Johann Traugott Meyer, who had a tax farming license.
diameter c. 18 mm, colour brown-red

This stamp was presumably used from 1809 to 1813. The stamp was valid not only in Hannover, but in the Kingdom of Westphalia under French reign.
20 by 18 mm, colour red

This stamp was used from 1814 to 1817. After the founding of the Kingdom of Hannover, the French currency was kept for the stamp tax for some time.
diameter c. 16 mm, colour red

This stamp was used from 1817 to 1834. The inscription says "K. HANN. STEMPELTAXE", that is "Royal Hanovrian Stamp Tax". The value is given in "Gutegroschen Conventionsmünze".
diameter c. 24 mm, colour red

This stamp was used from 1834 to 1859. The difference to the previous stamp is the omission of the specification "Conventionsmünze" that had become obsolete.
diameter c. 22 mm, colour red

This stamp was in use from 1859 to 1866. The value is now given in "GROS" (for "Groschen") instead of "GGROS" (for "Gutegroschen").
diameter c. 22 mm, colour red

This stamp was used 1866 and 1867. In 1866, the Kingdom of Hannover had been defeated by Prussia and was annected (as the people from Hannover see it). The new stamp was similar to the former Hanovrian stamp, but it had the Prussian eagle and the text "K. PR. ST. TAXE. HANNOVER", which stands for "Royal Prussian Stamp Tax". The value was still in "Groschen".
diameter c. 23 mm, colour red

This stamp was used from 1867 to 1875. The text is "KOENIGR. PREUSSEN" (Kingdom Prussia) above the eagle, and the stamp value and the place, "HANNOVER", below.
diameter c. 18 mm, colour black

This stamp was used from 1875 to 1878. The currency change from Silbergroschen to Pfennig required a new stamp.
diameter c. 18 mm, colour black

This stamp was used after 1879. It is the stamp used in Imperial Germany. In 1879/80, Hannover had the stamp office number 212, afterwards the number 8.
diameter c. 20 mm, colour black

In later times, there were other stamps used in Germany. From those later stamps, until now none has been found that was used in Hannover.

	In 1706 a tax stamp for playing-cards was introduced in Hannover, which wasn't described further. I haven't seen any examples of it.

	In 1739 a new stamp was introduced for playing-cards, which was described as 'Löwenstempel' ('lion stamp'). From this I also haven't found an example.

	This stamp is on a pack produced in Hannover, but most probably it is not a stamp from Hannover, as there is no explanation for the year '1729'. diameter c. 16 mm, colour black

	This stamp was presumably used from 1795 to 1809. The inscription "CART. FABR." stands for "Cartenfabrik", that is "Playing-Card Factory". The letters below the horse are I T M, they represent the playing-card maker Johann Traugott Meyer, who had a tax farming license. diameter c. 18 mm, colour brown-red

	This stamp was presumably used from 1809 to 1813. The stamp was valid not only in Hannover, but in the Kingdom of Westphalia under French reign. 20 by 18 mm, colour red

	This stamp was used from 1814 to 1817. After the founding of the Kingdom of Hannover, the French currency was kept for the stamp tax for some time. diameter c. 16 mm, colour red

	This stamp was used from 1817 to 1834. The inscription says "K. HANN. STEMPELTAXE", that is "Royal Hanovrian Stamp Tax". The value is given in "Gutegroschen Conventionsmünze". diameter c. 24 mm, colour red

	This stamp was used from 1834 to 1859. The difference to the previous stamp is the omission of the specification "Conventionsmünze" that had become obsolete. diameter c. 22 mm, colour red

	This stamp was in use from 1859 to 1866. The value is now given in "GROS" (for "Groschen") instead of "GGROS" (for "Gutegroschen"). diameter c. 22 mm, colour red

	This stamp was used 1866 and 1867. In 1866, the Kingdom of Hannover had been defeated by Prussia and was annected (as the people from Hannover see it). The new stamp was similar to the former Hanovrian stamp, but it had the Prussian eagle and the text "K. PR. ST. TAXE. HANNOVER", which stands for "Royal Prussian Stamp Tax". The value was still in "Groschen". diameter c. 23 mm, colour red

	This stamp was used from 1867 to 1875. The text is "KOENIGR. PREUSSEN" (Kingdom Prussia) above the eagle, and the stamp value and the place, "HANNOVER", below. diameter c. 18 mm, colour black

	This stamp was used from 1875 to 1878. The currency change from Silbergroschen to Pfennig required a new stamp. diameter c. 18 mm, colour black

	This stamp was used after 1879. It is the stamp used in Imperial Germany. In 1879/80, Hannover had the stamp office number 212, afterwards the number 8. diameter c. 20 mm, colour black