1917 Imperial Germany Justice Examination Commission Document & Registered Envelope-Berlin-WWI

Offered is an original 1917 Imperial German legal examination notice issued by the Justiz-Prüfungskommission in Berlin, complete with its original registered mailing envelope.

The document is headed:

“Der Präsident der Justiz-Prüfungskommission”
The President of the Justice Examination Commission

and is addressed to a German Referendar, or trainee lawyer completing the formal professional examination process.

The letter is dated Berlin W.8, April 5, 1917, placing it squarely during World War I. It advises the recipient that his oral examination was scheduled for May 3, 1917 at 10:00 a.m. The document also contains instructions concerning preparation for and attendance at the examination.

The German legal examination system of this era included written work, an oral examination and presentation of a legal case before the central Berlin examination authority. 

Original Registered Envelope

Especially desirable is the accompanying original envelope.

The front bears:

• Berlin W.8 postal marking
• April 5, 1917 postmark
• Registered-mail designation “Einschreiben!”
• Printed official-government wording
• Handwritten recipient address
• Period postal and routing markings

The reverse retains a decorative blue-and-white official seal marked for the Prüfungs-Kommission, with a portion of the seal broken where the envelope was originally opened.

That intact correspondence relationship between the envelope and examination notice adds considerably to the historical appeal.

Historical Significance

This document dates from the German Empire under Kaiser Wilhelm II, during the fourth year of World War I.

The date is particularly interesting historically: April 5, 1917, was just one day before the United States formally entered World War I against Germany on April 6, 1917. Contemporary U.S. records document the severe deterioration in German-American relations during this exact period. 

Although this document is civilian rather than military, it provides an excellent snapshot of ordinary government and professional administration continuing in Berlin during wartime.

Details

Country: German Empire / Imperial Germany
City: Berlin
Date: April 5, 1917
Era: World War I
Issuing Authority: Justiz-Prüfungskommission
Document Type: Legal examination summons/appointment notice
Recipient Status: Referendar – trainee lawyer
Examination Date: May 3, 1917
Mail Type: Registered official correspondence
Included: Original document and matching envelope
Language: German
Condition: Original used condition

Condition

The document remains quite presentable for being more than 100 years old.

It shows:

• Original mailing folds
• Age toning
• Scattered foxing/staining
• Minor edge wear
• Original handwriting
• Original postal markings
• Period signatures/notations
• Envelope seal partially broken from opening

I would not clean, press, tape or attempt to repair either piece.