The introduction of Klussendorf and Frama stamp vending machines for public use, in July 1990, had two goals:

Stamp-vending machines have long been in use in Germany and in other countries. On November 17, 1988, Frama machines were introduced to the Israeli public. Two years later, on July 9, 1990, the Klussendorf machines started to operate.

The Frama and the Klussendorf stamps are totally different: the dull Frama stamps were printed on white paper with pink/purple, pale single sketch, with no variations and no identification of the machine from which they were produced. Their design remained unchanged throughout the years.

In utter contrast to this, the Klussendorf stamps appeared in a large variety of colors and themes. In time, different types of paper, gum and phosphor were used, but above all, each machine printed not only the desired value but also its specific identification number, so the source of each stamp could be traced (see table 1).

Machine for public use with Nr. #031 & Philatelic Service Machine w/o Machine Nr.	Frama Stamp

On July 9, 1990, -19- Klussendorf machines started operating in 19 post offices throughout Israel. The next table specifies the location of each machine on that first day.

The above table supplies information valid for the first day of operation. Later on, new machines were introduced in different locations. Furthermore, Klussendorf machines were moved from one place to another when one got out of order and it was necessary to take it for repair. A new machine replaced the faulty one, yet once repaired the old machine was sent to a different location.

The Philatelic Service issued a large variety of Klussendorf stamps which can be classified in two categories:

Once again, the difference between the Frama and Klussendorf stamps stands out.

Christmas, Site Series & Exhibition Klussendorf Stamps

In the ten years of operation of Frama & Klussendorf machines, it seemed that the expectations for their "embracement" by the public did not materialize. The man on the street hardly ever used them, but the collectors had the time of their lives. Sometimes it felt like the Klussendorf machines were introduced solely for the collectors' delight. The machines installed all over Israel were frequently visited by collectors and ... technicians that came to repair them.

Collectors showed exclusive interest in mint stamps, while totally disregarding their commercial use. However, the study of their commercial use is a rewarding challenge for us, philatelists.

As mentioned above, Klussendorf machines can be divided into two:

In commercial use of machine stamps, one may expect minimal or primary, basic tariffs for local or overseas letters. This is self-explanatory since an irregular postal item necessitates the following:

Or:

These actions necessitate the assistance of the post office personnel. Once he/she enters the post office, they will also purchase the necessary stamps from the clerk.

Most commercial items, which were examined, proved this point. However, some interesting unusual items were discovered. Those include Klussendorf stamps without machine numbers (i.e. originating from the Philatelic Service machine) on commercial letters. In light of the above, we would expect to find only stamps bearing machine numbers, from street vending machines rather than the Philatelic Service issued stamps (illustrations 1+2) on such letters.

Illustration 2 : 1994 inland letter. Sender's address in the back - Kiryat Bialik - corresponds to the local machine Nr. 011

The explanation for this phenomenon (of asterisk/rosette bearing stamps) is as follows:

Illustration 3 : Registered, commercial cover with Christmas stamp. Stamp, without machine Nr., comes from the Philatelic Service. It was meant to be sold to collectors, but was used on a commercial cover on the first day of issue(!), 2.Nov.1992. Very Rare.

Illustration 4 : Registered commercial cover, with 2 Christmas stamps, from Nazareth, June 1999.

The above explanation answers the following questions:

1. How can a Klussendorf stamp appear on a commercial Registered cover?

2. How is it that a Klussendorf stamp without machine number (i.e. from the Philatelic Service) appears on a cover, mailed by a random commercial user?

3. How do Klussendorf stamps appear on commercial Registered letters mailed from small towns all over Israel, where no Frama or Klussendorf machine has ever been installed?

All these questions are answered by what we have explained earlier.

To date, Philatelic Service Klussendorf and Frama stamps of the following denominations have been found on commercial covers:

Table 2: Klussendorf & Frama stamps “printed” by the Philatelic Service as substitutes for Stand-By stamps (illustrations 5,6 & 7).

Illustration 5: 2.35NIS Frama stamp, supplied by the Philatelic Service to all post-offices as definitive stamps for inland Registered letters. A 1990 cover.

Illustration 6 : 3.25NIS Klussendorf stamps, supplied by the Philatelic Service to all post-offices as definitive stamps. A 1992 Express letter franked with three(!) of these stamps. Rare!

Illustration 7 : 1998 Hamizrahi Bank Registered letter, franked with a 5.35NIS Philatelic Service Klussendorf stamp.

Commercial Registered letters, bearing Philatelic Service machine stamps (w/out Nr.), are known from the following locations:

South Lachish mobile post (illustration 8), Misgav mobile post (illustration 9), Kiryat Tiv'on, Kiryat Ata, Dalyat El-Carmel, Baqa El-Garbiyah, Um El-Fachem, Carmi'el, Judida, Qalansuwa, Menachamiyah, Shfar'am, Dimona, Netivot, Kiryat Yam, Elkana and Tira. All these small localities without Frama and/or Klussendorf facilities.

Illustration 8 : 2.35NIS Frama stamp on a Registered letter from Lachish South Mobile Post. No Frama or Klussendorf machines were, of course, used by the mobile post. The stamps were supplied by the Philatelic Service.

Illustration 9 : 3.25NIS Klussendorf stamp on a Registered cover from Misgav Mobile Post (1992).

From what we have explained earlier, one can come to the conclusion that commercial Registered covers, bearing Klussendorf stamps with machine number (illustrations 10 + 11) are rare.

Illustration 10 : A Registered letter franked with a Klussendorf stamp from machine Nr. #24 in Yavne (1990). Klussendorf stamps with local machine Nrs - not Philatelic Service ones - are very rare on Registered commercial letters.

Illustration 11 : A Registered letter, franked with 3.25NIS machine Nr. #021 Klussendorf letter (1991).

(See Illustration 12)

In a statistic sampling of 88 commercial covers, bearing local rate Klussendorf or Frama stamps we found the following:

Other interesting items are the Christmas cards sent by pilgrims and others before Christmas. The Ministry of Tourism promoted mailing of Christmas cards from Bethlehem or Nazareth, bearing Christmas Klussendorf stamps issued by the Philatelic Service (illustration 13).

The majority of these covers or postcards was mailed overseas and would surely pop up in the future.

Illustration 13 : Christmas Greeting Card with a 1.50NIS flat-rate Klussendorf stamp. The card was issued by the Ministry of Tourism, promoting pilgrimage to the Holyland, It was supplied by the Philatelic Service.

Due to growing technical problems and lack of public interest, all stamp vending machine operation was discontinued in January 1999.

The minimal usage of Frama & Klussendorf stamps by the public and the commercial sector made commercial covers bearing these stamps scarce. Out of potential 45 different Klussendorf machines numbered #001 à #045 and of 20 different Site/Tourism/Christmas stamps, to date we have only succeeded in accumulating a few on commercial covers.

A future challenge facing collectors is to document - as fully as possible - the 30-40 different Klussendorf machines and 20 different Commemorative stamps on authentic commercial covers.

Dear Readers and collectors:

Commemorative Klussendorf stamps (e.g. Sites, Christmas etc.) have never been actually discovered on commercial covers and are very rare. We would greatly appreciate if anyone holding such covers in his/her possession pass on to us a color photocopy of the original item or the item itself. It would help us in our thorough study of this subject. Thank you!

Addendum - The 2.15NIS Klussendorf Stamp<

by Evyatar (Tari) Chelouche

In addition to the Philatelic Service stamps mentioned above, an additional stamp was produced by the Philatelic Service and distributed to post offices during the Postal Rates period beginning on 23 Dec 1997. This was the 2.15NIS stamp, which was the postal rate for inland large format letters up to 100 gr. Illustration 14 includes a few samples cancelled at: Kefar Manda & Um-El-fahem

Illustration 14 : Observations of different cancellations of the 2.15NIS Klussendorf stamp