Description: This deep green and buff postage stamp was issued by the German Realm (Deutsches Reich) during the peak of the 1923 hyperinflation period. The central design utilizes an intricate, repeating circular rosette security pattern—popularly known among collectors as the "Basket" (Korbdeckel) design. A prominent, bold black numeral 1 is centered directly over the word "MILLION", which is further mirrored along the lower frame border as a fully spelled-out numeric value of 1 000 000 M (1 Million Marks). The top label bears the state name "Deutsches Reich" executed in classic Gothic Fraktur script.
Circa: 1923
Condition: Used, mounted mint
Notes:
The domestic situation in late 1923 forced the government to run printing presses 24 hours a day. The rate of inflation outpaced the physical capacity to engrave new stamp designs, causing the postal service to rush out uniform "basket" plates like this one where only the central value text required adjustments.
While a face value of one million marks sounded astronomical when this series went to press in August 1923, it quickly became completely worthless. By November of that same year, sending a simple domestic letter required billions or even trillions of marks in postage.