Netherlands Stamps - Definitives of 1852-1894

Custom Search

Netherlands Stamps

Definitives of 1852-1894

The first Netherlands stamps appeared in January 1852. The country name did not appear on the postage stamps of the Netherlands until 1864. Before then, all the postage stamps were inscribed with only "POST ZEGEL" (English: "POSTAGE STAMP") and the denomination.

The three Netherlands stamps shown above were originally issued on January 1, 1852. These first stamps of the Netherlands were finely engraved on white paper having a post horn watermark.

The 5 C. denomination stamp was printed from six different plates between 1852 and 1863, resulting in many different shades. This group includes thick paper, thin paper, and ribbed paper varieties.

The 10 C. denomination stamp was printed from ten different plates between 1852 and 1862, resulting in many different shades. This group also includes thick paper, thin paper, and ribbed paper varieties.

The 15 C. denomination stamp was printed from a single plate, though there are distinctly different shades and thin paper varieties.

To illustrate a point, I have included the complete catalog listing for these Netherlands stamps, as shown in the NVPH specialized catalog. I am not going to do catalog detail tables, in this manner, for the rest of the 19th Century issues of the Netherlands. For the specialist, the table below clearly illustrates the advantages of using the specialized catalog for a country, as opposed to using the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue or the Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue for specialization in the same country.

05 C. (1852 - Plate 1 - NVPH #1a-c, Sc #N/L) - Deep Dark Blue (on thin paper), Dark Blue, Deep to Light Steel Blue.
05 C. (1853 - Plate 2 - NVPH #1d-g, Sc #1b, 1c, 1f) - Dark Blue, Grayish Blue (on tinted paper), Pale Steel Blue, Steel Blue (on ribbed paper).
05 C. (1854 - Plate 3 - NVPH #1h-k, Sc #N/L) - Dark Blackish Blue, Dark Blue, Blue, Light Blue.
05 C. (1858 - Plate 4 - NVPH #1l-n, Sc #N/L) - Bright Blue, Milky Blue (with brownish gum), Light Blue.
05 C. (1861 - Plate 5 - NVPH #1o-p, Sc #1d) - Blue to Light Blue, Teal Blue (on non-tinted paper).
05 C. (1863 - Plate 6 - NVPH #1q-r, Sc #1, 1e) - Light Blue to Blue (on thick paper), Blue (on thin paper).
10 C. (1852 - Plate 1 - NVPH #2a-c, Sc #2, 2c) - Deep Dark Carmine (on thin paper), Carmine (on regular paper), Deep Dark Carmine (on regular paper).
10 C. (1853 - Plate 2 - NVPH #2d, Sc #N/L) - Light Carmine to Carmine.
10 C. (1854 - Plate 3 - NVPH #2e-f, Sc #2e) - Dark Red, Dark Red (on ribbed paper).
10 C. (1856 - Plate 4 - NVPH #2g, Sc #N/L) - Dark to Light Red.
10 C. (1857 - Plate 5 - NVPH #2h-k, Sc #N/L) - Dark Red, Red (lightly mottled), Dull Red (lightly mottled), Dull Red (mark on the cheek).
10 C. (1860 - Plate 6 - NVPH #2l, Sc #2b) - Brownish Red to Dark Rose Red.
10 C. (1861 - Plate 7 - NVPH #2m, Sc #2f) - Carmine Red to Carmine (with horn).
10 C. (1862 - Plate 8 - NVPH #2n, Sc #N/L) - Carmine Red to Carmine (without horn).
10 C. (1862 - Plate 9 - NVPH #2o, Sc #N/L) - Carmine Red.
10 C. (1862 - Plate 10 - NVPH #2p-q, Sc #2d) - Red (on thick paper), Red (on thin porous paper).
15 C. (1852 - Plate 1 - NVPH #3a-d, Sc #3, 3a, 3b) - Dark Yellow Orange (on thin paper), Dark Orange, Orange, Orange Yellow.

For further information on the plate attributes, plate varieties, re-entries, postmarks, etc. of these first Netherlands stamps, please refer to the NVPH specialized catalog. The catalog is in the Dutch language, but with the use of Google Translate, translating the text is not terribly difficult.

These stamps were printed in sheets of 100 subjects, divided into panes of 25 subjects. The panes had 10 mm. gutters between them. As a result, separation mistakes did happen, resulting in "gutter pairs". These are very rare. An example of the 5 C. denomination is shown at the top of this page.

These three stamps exist with a hand-stamped "SPECIMEN" overprint.

There are, of course, reprints of these stamps. Most of them are printed on unwatermarked paper and they have either "NADRUCK" (official reprints) or "MOESMAN" (private reprints) printed on the back of the stamps.

The first perforated Netherlands stamps are shown above. These new stamps feature a more contemporary portrait of King William III, and they were issued beginning in 1864. They are perforated (approximately) 12 1/2 x 12. The paper varies greatly in thickness, sometimes the paper is slightly bluish, and occasionally the paper is vertically ribbed.

Here are the abbreviated catalog details.

05 C. (1864 - NVPH #4, Sc #4) - Blue.
10 C. (1864 - NVPH #5, Sc #5) - Red.
15 C. (1864 - NVPH #6, Sc #6) - Orange.

There were two printings of these stamps, the Utrecht printing and the Haarlem printing. They are worth about the same. For description details, please refer to the NVPH specialized catalog.

These three stamps exist with a hand-stamped "SPECIMEN" overprint. Proofs, in trial colors, were also made between 1863 and 1866. Most of them are not unreasonably expensive.

The six new higher-denomination Netherlands stamps shown above, the first stamps to be inscribed with the country name, were issued between 1867 and 1868. They are engraved on white, unwatermarked paper.

Here are the abbreviated catalog details.

05 C. (1867 - NVPH #7, Sc #7) - Blue.
10 C. (1867 - NVPH #8, Sc #8) - Carmine.
15 C. (1867 - NVPH #9, Sc #9) - Orange Brown.
20 C. (1867 - NVPH #10, Sc #10) - Dark Green.
25 C. (1867 - NVPH #11, Sc #11) - Dark Violet.
50 C. (1870 - NVPH #12, Sc. #12) - Gold.

This issue can be a bit complex for specialists. The stamps come in two different types, with the difference being in the value numerals. Each type comes in five different perforation gauges. The most common varieties are perforated 12 3/4 x 11 3/4. For listing and description details, please refer to the NVPH specialized catalog.

Imperforate examples of these stamps, in the issued colors and in various other colors, are proofs.

The six new lower-denomination Netherlands stamps shown above, among the first stamps to be inscribed with the country name, were issued between 1869 and 1871. They are typographed on white, unwatermarked paper. The designs feature the Coat of Arms of the Netherlands, within a wreath.

Here are the abbreviated catalog details.

1/2 C. (1871 - NVPH #13, Sc #17) - Brown.
01 C. (1869 - NVPH #14, Sc #18) - Black.
01 C. (1869 - NVPH #15, Sc #19) - Green.
01 1/2 C. (1869 - NVPH #16, Sc #20) - Rose.
02 C. (1869 - NVPH #16, Sc #21) - Yellow.
02 1/2 C. (1870 - NVPH #18, Sc. #22) - Violet.

This issue can also be a bit complex for specialists. These denominations come in up to four different perforation gauges. The most common varieties are perforated 13 1/4. For listing and description details, please refer to the NVPH specialized catalog.

Imperforate examples of these stamps, in the issued colors and in various other colors, are proofs. They also exist with "SPECIMEN" overprints.

The eleven new higher-denomination definitive Netherlands stamps shown above were issued between 1872 and 1888. They are typographed on unwatermarked paper.

These new definitive postage stamp designs were a great success, and these designs would be continued into the next reign.

Here are the abbreviated catalog details.

05 C. (1872 - NVPH #19, Sc #23) - Blue, Ultramarine.
07 1/2 C. (1888 - NVPH #20, Sc #24) - Chocolate Brown.
10 C. (1872 - NVPH #21, Sc #25) - Red.
12 1/2 C. (1875 - NVPH #22, Sc #26) - Gray.
15 C. (1872 - NVPH #23, Sc #27) - Orange Brown.
20 C. (1872 - NVPH #24, Sc. #28) - Green.
22 1/2 C. (1888 - NVPH #25, Sc. #29) - Blue Green.
25 C. (1872 - NVPH #26, Sc. #30) - Violet.
50 C. (1872 - NVPH #27, Sc. #31) - Yellow Brown.
01 G. (1888 - NVPH #28, Sc. #32) - Gray Violet.
02 1/2 G. (1872 - NVPH #29, Sc. #33) - Red and Blue.

This issue can also be a bit complex for specialists. These denominations come in up to twelve different perforation gauges. For listing and description details, please refer to the NVPH specialized catalog.

Imperforate examples of these Netherlands stamps, in the issued colors and in various other colors, are proofs. They also exist with "SPECIMEN" overprints.

The four new lower-denomination definitive Netherlands stamps shown above were issued between 1872 and 1894. They are typographed on unwatermarked paper. These new designs feature a white, circular background with a colored value numeral.

There were two different printings of these stamps, with the main difference being in the shades. The 1/2 C. denomination comes in two types, with the difference being in the length and width of the fraction bar.

Here are the catalog details.

1/2 C. (1876 - NVPH #30I, Sc #34a) - Rose.
1/2 C. (1877 - NVPH #30II, Sc #34) - Rose.
1/2 C. (1894 - NVPH #30b, Sc #N/L) - Pale Red.
01 C. (1877 - NVPH #31, Sc #35c) - Green.
01 C. (1894 - NVPH #31a, Sc #35) - Emerald Green.
02 C. (1877 - NVPH #32, Sc #36a) - Ocher Yellow.
02 C. (1894 - NVPH #32a, Sc. #36) - Olive Yellow.
02 1/2 C. (1877 - NVPH #33, Sc. #37c) - Lilac.
02 1/2 C. (1894 - NVPH #33a, Sc. #37) - Violet.

The 1876 to 1877 printings come in up to six different perforation gauges. The 1894 printings are all perforated 12 1/2. For listing and description details, please refer to the NVPH specialized catalog.

Imperforate examples of these Netherlands stamps, in the issued colors and in various other colors, are proofs. They also exist with "SPECIMEN" overprints.

N.V.P.H. - Netherlands Specialized Catalog

eBay Auction and Store Links
Netherlands

The following links feature category-focused affiliated seller listings on various eBay sites worldwide. They may enable visitors to shop for and to buy specific items for the particular collecting subject they've just read about.

The affiliated eBay seller auction lots provided by eBay, Inc. are not the responsibility of the management of this website. On high priced material, make sure the lots you are buying are properly authenticated.

Remember that the lots on most of the European eBay sites are priced in EUROS. Shipping charges may be more, and the lots may take longer to arrive. Also, make sure the foreign seller ships to your country, before bidding on or buying his lot.

eBay-NE-Postzegels-Nederland