During the Boxer Rebellion, there was a great shortage of postage at the German post offices in China. To remedy this shortage, German and Kiautschou postage was used in a variety of provisional forms. Among these were the Futschau Provisionals.

Soon after opening the Futschau post office on 19 June 1900, the post office ran out of 5-Pfennig stamps. To remedy the shortage, the postmaster ordered wood type from a Chinese print shop, which was made into a handstamp.

The first printing, on 7 July 1900, consisted of 1,400 overprints of MiNr. 3 II (56° “China” Overprint) and 100 overprints of MiNr. 3 I (45° “China” Overprint).

To satisfy the heavy demand by collectors, a second printing of 2,500 overprints of MiNr. 3 I (45° “China” Overprint) was made on 7 November 1900. The MiNr. 7 I printings can be distinguished only by their cancel dates. All unused copies of MiNr. 7 I are presumed to be from the second printing.