“Black One”
Letter with Germany’s first stamp reaches six-figure amount

The first day cover with the first German stamp “Schwarzer Einser” from November 1, 1849 from Bavaria
© Helmut Fricke / DPA
The “Black One” stamp on the only known first day cover was supposed to fetch 250,000 euros. But the estimated price was far exceeded at the auction.
A letter with the first stamp in Germany from the first day of its validity was auctioned in Wiesbaden for 440,000 euros. According to the Heinrich Köhler auction house, this is the only known completely preserved first day cover of the “Black One”. Bavaria. The starting price of 250,000 euros was significantly exceeded. Who bought the letter at auction is unknown. The bidder wanted to remain anonymous.
The “Black One” was the first postage stamp in Germany. It was introduced in Bavaria on November 1, 1849 on the instructions of King Maximilian II. In addition to the “one”, there were also the denominations three and six Kreuzer in other colors. All three started on November 1st, and according to the auction house, the lowest face value is considered the oldest brand in such cases. The British “One Penny Black” is considered to be the world’s oldest postage stamp, which was launched nine years before the “Black One”.
“Black One” stamp from 1849
The letter was sent almost 175 years ago in Lower Bavaria, from Wegscheid near the Austrian border to Hengersberg near Deggendorf. The sender wanted to announce his visit to a merchant there.
“The response from the collector world was overwhelming at the auction,” said the auction house’s managing partner, Dieter Michelson. “Today’s winning bid impressively confirms the value of this historical piece for philately. This first day cover is more than just a collector’s item – it is a piece of history.”