Commemorative card for the German Winter Relief.
Michel P 253 issued 5 November 1934. SA Mann (green).
Mailed to the US from Munich in 1935 with sender’s modification, i.e., claiming a Printed Matter rate rather than the more costly Post Card rate. The sender’s handwritten “ Greetings from Munich" met printed matter postal regulations as per the Postordnung of 1929: “Printed matter may be in the form of cards—the cards should not have the imprint ‘‘Postkartef however they must be the size of such a card and the same thickness.”
According to the 1929 regulations, post cards with a maximum of five words could be mailed as Drucksachenkarten (Printed Matter Cards). Changes or additions could be made by typewriter, rubber stamp, or even handwriting any place on the card, as long as a total of five words were not exceeded. Beyond this, they could not constitute a “unique message.” Greetings and good wishes, etc. were permitted, but not personal messages such as “I’m coming in Sunday.”