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NETHERLANDS MISCELLANEOUS

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1940 Non issued stamps

These stamps were printed (and exist normally perforated), but during the German occupation they were stolen from the printer (imperforate), they showed up several years later in large quantities. The values 5 c green, 10 c violet, 12 1/2 c blue and 15 c blue exist in this imperforate state.


Postage due stamps

Postage Due stamps, inscription "TE BETALEN PORT" (similar types for the colonies, but different colours), click here


Telegraph stamps

1877 Telegraph stamps, inscription "RIJKSTELEGRAAF"

  1 c lilac and black
  3 c lilac and black
  5 c lilac and black
  5 c lilac and black
  12 1/2 c lilac and black
  15 c lilac and black
  20 c lilac and black
  25 c lilac and black
  30 c lilac and black
  50 c lilac and black
  60 c lilac and black
  1 G lilac and red
  2 G lilac and red

The hole in the stamp is supposed to make the stamp invalid. It was the usual cancellation applied together with a pen strokel. The telegraph stamps were used up to end 1920.

A very rare error with inverted center of the 1 c value, once belonging to the famous collector Ferrari, has turned out to be a forgery, see: https://findyourstampsvalue.com/rarest-stamps/most-valuable-dutch-stamps.


Official stamps

1913 Stamps of the Netherlands overprinted "ARMENWET"

Genuine overprint

On stamps with value in ellipse
  1 c red
  1 1/2 c blue (overprint black or red)
  2 c brown
  2 1/2 c green

On stamps with Queen Wilhelmina
  3 c green
  5 c red
  10 c grey   

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 c * *  
1 1/2 c * * Red overprint: RR
2 c ** **  
2 1/2 c *** ***  
3 c * *  
5 c *** **  
10 c R R  

These stamps were issued from 1st February 1913 to 31 October 1919 to be used on letters of 'poverty commities'. Some commities in certain towns used the stamps up to 1921.

Forged overprints exist, it seems that the great majority of these stamps is forged. Examples of forgeries:


"ARMENWET" clumsily done and placed in wrong position.


Another forged overprint

See also http://people.zeelandnet.nl/acoomens/armenwet.htm or http://www.onderdeloupe.nl/brievenbus/artikelen/armenwet.html (both in Dutch) for more information.

Some distinguishing characteristics of the genuine overprints can be found on this site.
*) These stamps were only used in the towns of Alkmaar, Amsterdam, Apeldoorn, Arnhem, Breda, Delft c.a., Den Helder, Deventer, Dordrecht, Enschede, Gouda, ’s-Gravenhage, Groningen, Haarlem, Heerlen c.a., ’s-Hertogenbosch, Hilversum, Hoogezand c.a., Leeuwarden, Leiden, Maastricht, Meppel, Middelburg, Nijmegen, Opsterland, Princenhage c.a., Roermond, Rotterdam, Schiedam, Smallingerland, Utrecht, Vlaardingen c.a., Vlissingen and Zaandam (information found on the above website). The town of Haarlem also sold these stamps to stamp collectors (some of them send envelopes to themselves, so the 'Haarlem' cancel is the most common). Sporadically cancels of other towns exist (but these are rare).
*) The date of the genuine cancels must be between 1913 and 1921.
*) The overprints were always placed in the same location (a shifted or vertical overprint is a forged one). The correct location of the overprints can be found in the images of the above mentioned website (on top for all values and in the center for the red overprint on the 1 1/2 c).


Tuberculosis stamps

1906 These stamps were issued in 1906, the remainders were sold to stamp dealers. They all bear the cancellation "AMSTERDAM 31 JAN 07 10-12".


(Reduced size)

  1 c red
  3 c green
  5 c grey-lilac

These stamps are peforated 12 1/2.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 c c c  
3 c * *  
5 c * *  
With remainder cancel (all values) c c  

These are the first charity stamps issued in the Netherlands and were issued to combat tuberculosis. 1 million stamps were issued of each value, and were put on sale from 21 December to 3 January. Only a fraction of these stamps were actually sold (400,000 of the 1 c, 180,000 of the 3 c and 230,000 of the 5 c). The remainders received the cancel "31 JAN 07 10-12" and were given to the Tuberculosis Society (who presumably sold them to stamp dealers?).


Money order stamps

1884 Inscription "POSTBEWIJS"

  1 G olive
  1 G 50 c orange
  2 G green
  3 G blue
  4 G lilac
  5 G red
  10 G grey

These stamps are perforated 12 1/2. They were used from 1884 to 1889.

Value of the stamps

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
1 G R *  
1 1/2 G R *  
2 G R *  
3 G R *  
4 G RR **  
5 G RR *  
10 G RR *  

Railway stamps

1914 onwards


(Reduced sizes)

I have seen with inscription "NEDERL. STAATSSPOORWEGEN" (1914): 25 c, 35 c, 40 c and 50 c; all orange stamps with black value inscription. The values 5 c, 10 c, 15 c, 20 c, 30 c, 45 c, 65 c, 1 GULDEN, 1 GLD, 1 1/2 GLD, 2 GULDEN, 2 GLD, 2 1/2 GLD and 3 GLD should also exist (all in color orange with black inscription). Apparently all values also exist in red color (some very rare, or even unkown to still exist). I've never even seen a single red stamp myself.

In a similar design but with inscription "HOLL. IJZEREN SPOORW. MIJ" were issued 5 c, 10 c, 15 c, 20 c, 25 c, 30 c, 35 c, 40 c, 45 c, 50 c, 65 c (only in lilac), 1 G, 1 1/2 G, 2 G, 2 1/2 G and 3 G (only in lilac). Most of them in lilac and later (1920) also in green color (except 65 c and 3 G).

Furthermore I have seen stamps with values 50 c, 1 G and 2 1/2 G with inscription "NEDERLANDSCHE SPOORWEGEN" (1921) in the color yellow (value in black). Other values exist (5 c, 10 c, 15 c, 20 c, 25 c, 30 c, 35 c, 40 c, 45 c, 50 c, 60 c, 80 c etc.).

Another set seems to exist with inscription "HOLL. IJZEREN SPOORW. MIJ" (1917).


Inscription 'NS' 15 c blue and red, with image of diesel train, issued in 1946.

In another design (so-called 'Hondekop') with 'N.S.' in the design were issued: 50 c green and yellow (1964), 25 c black and orange (1965), 5 c red and grey (1966), 35 c blue and grey (1966), 45 c red and yellow (1967), sorry no image available yet.

In 1966 a "TREINBRIEFZEGEL" was issued, with the image of an approaching train: 55 c blue, red and yellow.

Again another stamp was issued in 1970: 45 c blue and yellow (with logo of Dutch Railways in upper right corner).


International court of justice in The Hague

From 1934 onwards stamps were overprinted with "COUR PERMANENTE DE JUSTICE INTERNATIONALE"

1924 Bird above the sea issue:
  1 1/2 c violet
  2 1/2 c green

On Queen Wilhelmina 1924 issue:
  7 1/2 c red
  12 1/2 c blue
  15 c orange
  30 c violet

 

1947 Queen Wilhelmina stamps of 1940, overprinted "COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE" or "COUR PERMANENTE D'JUSTICE INTERNATIONALE" in gold colour

  7 1/2 c red
  10 c lilac
  12 1/2 c blue
  20 c violet
  25 c brown

 

1951 Image of the court and Queen Juliana, inscription "COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE"

Court view
  2 c brown
  3 c blue
  4 c green
  5 c grey
  6 c green
  7 c red

Queen Juliana
  6 c lilac
  10 c green
  12 c red
  15 c red
  20 c blue
  25 c brown
  30 c lilac
  1 G grey

 

1956 As postage stamps of 1946, but larger and additional inscription "COUR INTERNATIONALE DE JUSTICE"

  2 c blue
  4 c green

 

1989 Court view or pillar (5 G and 7 G) and "COUR INTER-NATIONALE DE JUSTICE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE" written across it

  5 c black and orange
  10 c black and blue
  25 c black and red-brown
  50 c black and green
  55 c black and red
  60 c black and olive-green
  65 c black and blue
  70 c black and dark blue
  75 c black and yellow
  80 c black and grey
  1 G black and red-brown
  1.50 G black and dark blue
  5 G black and orange
  7 G black and grey
  

Precancels

Some stamps exist with precancels, it can be recognised by a small circle with the name of the city surrounded by straight lines, examples, the city of Zutphen, s'Hertogenbosch (with and without date in the center) and Nijmegen:

Zutphen precancel on the 1899 issue

I've also seen the cancel 'GRONINGEN' (without year) on a 1/2 c stamp.

Other cancels:

Information on large circular cancels, that were used around 1900 can be found on http://www.filatop.nl/grootrond/Catalogus%20grootrond.pdf (in Dutch).

Netherlands numeral cancels with dots
Netherlands small circular cancels


Local issues

From about 1970 local issues exist, at first they were only issued for stamp collectors, but since the early 1980's they began a real competition with the goverment post. Examples:

Other example: 'Stadspostdienst Beverwijk':


(Reduced size)

I have also seen the values: 12 c brown (number black), 15 c green (number black) and 18 c violet (number black).


Postmarks on letters

A so-called '3 Stuiver' mark; '3 S', arms and posthorn on a letter used in 1706(?):

These cancels were used from about 1667 to 1811 and were used in Amsterdam. They represent the arms of Amsterdam with a posthorn. In the posthorn a 'H', 'R', 'T', 'D' or no letter can be found. In the above letter a 'R' is used, this means the letter came from Rotterdam. The 'H' stands for The Hague, 'T' for Texel and the 'D' for Delft. If no letter is present the letter came from Amsterdam itself. The value was also indicated 2, 3 or 6 stuivers.

Similar cancels exist with WIC (West Indian Company, 6 st(uivers) only, used from 1718 to 1774) or 'VOC' (East Indies Company, 6 st(uivers), 1 2 or 3 g =guilders, used from 1789 to 1805).

Literature: The First Postage Dues: Holland’s ‘3S’ Markings 1667 – 1811 by Kees Adema, 255 p (I haven't read this book).


Internment camp stamps

1916 Internment camp labels

During World War I, foreigners (Belgian refugees and soldiers) in the internment camp of Harderwijk and Zeist (?) in the Netherlands could use special large stamps to write letters back home. The use of these stamps was stopped after a short period, since the Germans suspected that messages could be hidden on the backside of these large stamps. Two stamps in a different design were isssued, the inscription reads "INTERNEERINGSKAMPEN". Around 65,000 of each stamp were issued (source: http://www.filavaria.nl/internering.htm).


Refused letter with internment camp stamp, with the text 'unzulassig zuruck' applied by the German censors. Only a few letters were not refused and arrived at their destination. Only the green stamps can exist in used condition. According to the regulations, the camp cancel (violet) is applied, the signature of the camp-commander and a postal cancel (here Harderwijk). The brown stamps were issued but never used.

These stamps are rare and forgeries exist, examples:


Forgeries, in the green stamp, there is a break in the frameline below the "RI" of "KONINKRIJK" and can thus easily be recognized. The arrow of the spear (above the "G" of "AUG") is too short.

Another forgery exists with the lines below the label in 1914 not parallel and with a break in the upper frameline above the "DER NE..". Some of these forgeries also have an extra dot between "DER" and "NEDERLANDEN". The arrow of the spear (above the "G" of "AUG") is too short. Some more modern forgeries have 'Facsimile' printed at the back:


In this brown and yellow forgery, the area below the baracks is white (it should be yellow). The point of the spear (above the first "N" of "KONINKRIJK") is barely visible in this forgery. This forgery exists printed on both brownish and white paper. A sub-type of this forgery exists with a broken first "E" in "INTERNEERINGSKAMPEN" (see image above). Also the above forgery is imperforate.....


In this forgery the spear is clearly printed, but it has a white dot just to the left of it (always visible); also outer frameline is broken just to the right bottom side of the last "N" of "INTERNEERINGSKAMPEN". The ornament besides '1914' is broken. The pole of the lantern is of solid color just below the top of the roof of the barack. No genuinely used brown stamps exist (the above forgery is cancelled....).

Forged cancels are abundant on this issue.

See also: http://www.ssew.nl/vervalsingen-herkennen-hw-der-vlist or http://www.filavaria.nl/internering.htm.


Marine Insurance Stamps

Inscription "DRIJVENDE BRANDKAST", these stamps were intended to be used on overseas letters placed in safes. When the ship was sunk, the floating safe would still survive. I do not think these stamps were actually used for this purpose.


(Reduced sizes)

The following values exist: 15 c green, 60 c red, 75 c brown, 1.50 G blue, 2.25 G brown, 4 1/2 G black and 7 1/2 G red. They were issued in 1921 (value *** to RR).


Child Welfare Stamps

Many stamps with inscription 'Voor het kind' exist. They were issued for a child welfare fund (kinderzegels).


Examples


Airmail

1921 The first airmail stamps were issued in 1921 They have a flying dove design and inscription "LUCHTPOST"


10 c red 1921 airmail stamp.

  10 c red
  15 c green
  60 c blue 

 

1928 A further two airmail stamps were issued in 1928 featuring pilots in the cockpit (different designs)

  40 c red (Koppen in aeroplane)
  75 c green (Van der Hoop in aeroplane)

These stamps were issued on 20 August 1928 and supposed to be used on airmail to Netherlands Indies.

 

1929 Head of Mercury

  1 1/2 G black
  4 1/2 G red
  7 1/2 G green

These stamps were issued on 16 July 1929 and supposed to be used on airmail to Netherlands Indies.

 

1931 Queen in circle, aeroplanes on top (design similar to postage stamps)

  36 c orange and blue

 

1933 Triangular stamp, front part of aeroplane, inscription "LUCHTPOSTZEGEL VOOR BIJZONDERE VLUCHTEN" (airmail stamp for special flights)

  30 c green

 

1938 Flying bird, inscription "BIJZONDERE VLUCHTEN"

  12 1/2 c blue

Essays

Berger-Levrault essays (1864)


Oscar Berger-Levrault essay of the second issue, I've also seen this proof in 10 c red, the value is indicated in "CENTS" instead of "CENT".


Oscar Berger-Levrault essay of the second issue, different design. The value is again indicated in "CENTS" instead of "CENT".

The above proofs were made by Berger-Levrault. Four different colors (grey-brown, orange, blue and black) were made of each value (5 c and 10 c) on different coloured paper (lilac, white, yellow, green and grey). However, the designs were rejected by the Dutch authorities. Levrault later made more 'artworks' in different colors. The 5c and 10 c also exist printed together (even in sheetlets).

 

Recently (2005), a lot of so-called 'facsimiles' are offered on Internet auctions of many stamps of the Netherlands and Netherlands Indies, examples of such 'fac similes':


Even facsimiles of proofs are offered, reduced sizes


Mercury proof. Image obtained from a Rietdijk catalogue of proofs of the Netherlands.


Sunday Delivery Label


Inscription "BESTELLEN OP ZONDAG ALS 'S ZONDAGS TER PLAATSE EEN BESTELLING IS NEDERLAND", (deliver on Sunday if such a service is available in town).


Tubercolusis Labels


This and similar labels did not have postal validity, but were often pasted on letters anyway to support the fight against tuberculosis.

 


Radio Permit Stamps


Inscription "NEDERLAND RADIOZEGEL", issued 1941. In this design I have also see a 75 c blue. Every month a new stamp was supposed to be pasted on a 'radio-card'.


Copyright by Evert Klaseboer