Netherlands postage stamps year 1867 – 1928 Used lot
That time period (1867-1928) is a rich and important era in Netherlands philately, featuring the transition from King William III to the long reign of Queen Wilhelmina, and the first perforated issues.
Here are the key series and features of Netherlands postage stamps from 1867 to 1928:
👑 King William III Issues (1867 – 1888)
- 1867 King William III (Perforated): This series is significant as it marks the first perforated stamps issued by the Netherlands (previous issues were often imperforate or rouletted). They feature a portrait of King William III. The denominations ranged from 5 cents to 50 cents and were engraved.
- 1869 Coat of Arms: A set of lower-value definitive stamps featuring the Netherlands’ Coat of Arms, ranging from $1/2$ cent to $2 1/2$ cents.
- 1872-1888 King William III Definitives: A new series depicting a different portrait of King William III, facing left.7 This long-running definitive series saw various changes in color, paper, and perforations over the years.
👸 Queen Wilhelmina Issues (1891 – 1928)
The long reign of Queen Wilhelmina (1890-1948) dominates this part of Dutch philately, with several distinctive portrait styles:
- 1891 “Princess” Wilhelmina: The first stamps for the young Queen (then a princess) were issued while she was still a minor, featuring her portrait. This set is highly collectible.
- 1898-1921 “Crowned Turban” Definitives: After her inauguration, a new, popular definitive series was released, known for its portrait of the Queen wearing a crown over a headdress, often referred to as the “Crowned Turban” type. These were typographed and saw many printings and color/value changes.
- 1924-1926 “Veth” Definitives: A definitive set featuring a new portrait design by Jan Veth, known for its artistic and modern style for the time.
✨ Commemorative and Special Issues
- 1907 Admiral Ruyter: A set of commemorative stamps celebrating the 300th anniversary of the birth of naval hero Michiel de Ruyter.
- 1913 Centenary of Independence: A significant commemorative issue celebrating 100 years of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, featuring historical figures and symbols.
- Semi-Postals (Charity Stamps): The Netherlands was an early user of semi-postal stamps, where an extra charge (surcharge) was added to the face value to raise money for charity (e.g., the Tuberculosis Fund stamps starting around 1906).
