NETHERLANDS INDIES 1864-1900

Return To Catalogue - 1901-1920 issues and miscellaneous - Netherlands - Postage due stamps (Te betalen port) - Indonesia - Cancels of Netherlands Indies - J.P.Moquette (stamp forger)

Netherlands Indies is often called Dutch Indies

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the cd's;
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Landmail

1845 Example:

(This Land-Mail label has a variety: two l's in 'Maill')

These labels were used on letters coming from Europe that were picked up by the Netherlands Indies authorities in Singapore (they were transported by the English through the Suez canal by so-called land mail and not the longer way around South Africa). The labels indicate a fee for the transportation from Singapore to Netherlands Indies. They were used from 1845 to 1847 and are rare. The shown envelope and label are from the dutch PTT museum in the Hague. The text on the labels reads: 'brought in by land mail. To be paid f.... Batavia', the date and the amount to pay were written in the labels. Another example:

Similar labels seem to exist with inscription: 'Aangebragt per Land-Mail Te betalen duiten Batavia,', they are slighly smaller.

Label with inscription 'Aangebragt per Land-Mail. Te betalen port duiten BATAVIA,'

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1864 King William III, imperforated or perforated

  10 c red

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

These stamps were declared invalid on 31 December 1900. For information on cancels on this issue click here.

Forgeries, (note the strange expression on the face of the king):

Spiro forgery (note the strange cancel, that was never used in this country):

Spiro forgery

This forgery made by Spiro was already described in 'The Stamp Collector's Magazine' in 1864 (1st October, page 157, wrongly described as 5 c?).

I've been told that the next two forgeries are engraved forgeries made by Oneglia. I'm not sure if this information is correct.

Oneglia forgeries?

Forgery with 'VF' cancel. This typical 'VF' cancel can be found on forgeries of many other countries.

1870 King William III, new type, king facing the right

  1 c olive
  2 c brown
  2 1/2 c yellow
  5 c green
  10 c brown
  12 1/2 c grey
  15 c brown
  20 c blue
  25 c violet
  30 c green
  50 c red
  2 G 50 c violet and green

For the specialist: these stamps exist perforated 11 1/2 x 12, 12 1/2, 12 1/2 x 12, 13 x 14, 13 1/2 and 14. For information on cancels on this issue click here. These stamps were declared invalid 31 December 1900.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries:

(forgeries, reduced sizes)

Forgeries of these stamps exist, they are quite convincing at first sight. However they have only 86 pearls instead of 87 pearls in the circle surrounding the head. The pearls themselves are more like dashes. The forgeries are perforated 13 1/2. Maybe the easiest way to recognize these forgeries is their cancels: 'SAMARANG 23 12 18 70', 'SOERABAIJA 10 9 18 70' or 'MAKASSAR 15 11 18 70' in a half-circle with 'FRANCO' below. Also note that the pearls are not nicely round in the above forgeries, but more flattened.

Some other forgeries, note that these forgeries have guide lines outside the design:

I posess the 5 c green of this particular forgery type. It appears as it they are cancelled with the same cancels mentioned above for the first forgery(?).

Some imperforate forgeries (look quite dangerous!):

Postal stationery:

Envelopes in the same design was issued in 1881 (10 c brown, 20 c blue and 25 c violet). The 10 c exist with a threefold overprint ('BRIEFOMSLAG TIEN CENT') and an provisional surcharge of '15' exists on the 25 c violet value.

7 1/2 c brown, cut from a postcard

(Postal Stationery: '10' on 20 c and '15' on 25 c, reduced sizes)

Postcards ('Briefkaart') exist in the values 5 c violet (1874), 5 c green (1885), 7 1/2 c brown (1878) ans 12 1/2 c grey (1879). The 12 1/2 c grey exists with a large '5' overprint (issued 1879 in several overprint colours). This overprint also exists as 'VIJF CENT' or 'Vijf cent' (probably bogus). Without overprint I have seen postcards in the value 5 c lilac, 7 1/2 c brown.

(tranported by English mail 'per Engelsche mail')

Bogus advertisement overprint by J.P.Moquette in the same color as the design of the rest of the envelope. This overprint was later forbidden by the authorities. I've also seen a 10 c envelope with this overprint.

During the military expedition in Atjeh 5 c violet postcards were set at the disposal of the soldiers for free. These cards have a cancel 'SPECIMEN' in a rectangle in the left upper corner (and the numerical field post cancel '66').

1883 Value in a circle, inscription on top "NED. INDIE"

  1 c olive
  2 c brown
  2 1/2 c yellow
  3 c lilac
  5 c green
  5 c blue

Surcharged

  '1/2' on 2 c brown (1902)
  '2 1/2' on 3 c lilac (1902)

Overprinted 'DIENST' (Official stamp, 1911)

(No picture available yet, your help is needed, if you posess a picture of this stamp, contact me!)

  2 1/2 c yellow

These stamps exist with various perforations.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

7 1/2 c red postcard in the same design, issued 1892(?) reduced size. Note the 'N.I.AGENT SINGAPORE' cancel on the left side from the Dutch Indies Agency in Singapore.

I have seen postcards ('Briefkaart') in the same design as the above stamps in the values 5 c blue, 5 c green and 7 1/2 c red.

Unlisted overprint or bogus(?), '5 CENT.' on 2 c:

Reduced size. This could be a bogus overprint made by the forger J.P.Moquette

Stamp with a "PENANG" (Malaysia) cancel.

1892 Queen Wilhelmina 'with hanging hair'

  10 c brown
  12 1/2 c grey
  15 c olive
  20 c blue
  25 c lilac
  30 c green
  50 c red
  2 G 50 c brown and blue

These stamps are perforated 12 1/2.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Overprinted with 'D' in a circle (official stamps)

(Reduced size)

  10 c brown
  12 1/2 c grey
  15 c olive
  20 c blue
  25 c lilac
  30 c green (not officially issued)
  50 c red
  2 G 50 c brown and blue

All values exist with inverted overprint.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

The usual cancel on this issue is the 'square cancel', although the 20 c, 25 c and 50 c exist with the numeral cancel.

1900 Stamps of the Netherlands overprinted 'NED-INDIE' and value

  10 c on 10 c grey
  12 1/2 c on 12 1/2 c bue
  15 c on 15 c brown
  20 c on 20 c green
  25 c on 25 c red and blue
  50 c on 50 c green and brown

  2 G 50 on 2 1/2 G violet (larger size)

The perforation of the low values is 12 1/2. The 2 G 50 c exists with perforation 11 1/2 x 11 or 11.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Four envelopes in the same design were issued in the values: 10 c on 10 c grey, 12 1/2 c on 12 1/2 c bue, 15 c on 15 c brown and 20 c on 20 c green.

Typical cancel of this period: 'BUITENZORG' (nowadays Bogor) in circle surrounded by square:

For issues of 1901-1920 and miscellaneous click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer