The Rarity and Significance of Dutch East Indies Landmail Covers (1845-1847)

The period of the mid-19th century marked a crucial phase in the development of overland postal services between Europe and the Dutch East Indies, particularly following the establishment of the British Overland Mail Service, which operated from Alexandria through Suez to Singapore. Among the many by-products of this intricate and arduous postal system was the introduction of the world’s first postage-due stamps, known today as Landmail Postage Dues. These were applied to letters sent via this overland route between March 1845 and January 1847. This article examines four representative covers from this period, considering their historical context and philatelic importance.

The Background of Landmail Stamps
The use of overland routes for mail delivery to the East Indies predates the period in question, but the British government’s formalized efforts to establish a reliable postal service across the Egyptian isthmus via Suez began in earnest in 1834. This alternative route to the sea passage around the Cape of Good Hope was perceived to offer much swifter communication, particularly with the growing number of European colonies in Asia. The British East India Company initiated these routes for their operations, and soon, the Dutch East Indies administration began utilizing the same infrastructure.

The covers bearing the Landmail Postage Dues discussed in this article are significant because they are among the few surviving pieces of evidence from this short-lived postal experiment. As the original article notes, “the sale of which was entrusted to us, 12 of these Landmailstamps on entires, which we can offer through the medium of our auction.” These examples illustrate not only the rarity of the stamps themselves but also the logistical challenges of maintaining reliable communication between Europe and its distant colonies during this period.

Example B: May 1845 Cover to Soerabaya
One of the most remarkable covers presented here (image Example A) dates from 30 May 1845 and is addressed to Soerabaya, Java. The Landmail Postage Due applied reads: “Aangebragt per Land-Mail. Te betalen port f2,16 koper. Batavia, 30 Mei 1845.” This same cover appears in the original article, which discusses its postal journey in some detail. The letter was sent from Amsterdam to Soerabaya via Batavia, bearing the typical marks associated with the overland service, including a blue circular “P.P.” stamp indicating prepaid postage, and a red transit mark of Bombay dated May 24, 1845.

What makes this cover particularly notable is its relatively early date in the lifespan of the Landmail service, coupled with the intact condition of the postage-due stamp. As the article rightly emphasizes, many of these letters, often written on thin paper, did not survive the journey intact due to the decomposition caused by inks and the rough conditions of transport. This cover, however, remains in excellent condition, providing scholars and collectors with valuable insights into the postal practices of the era.

Example B: A June 1846 Cover to Sourabaya
The second cover (image Example B) is dated 13 June 1846, also addressed to Sourabaya. The Landmail Postage Due affixed reads: “Aangebragt per Land-Mail. Te betalen port f2,88 koper. Batavia, 13 Juny 1846.” This letter, like the one from May 1845, passed through the Overland Mail system, having been dispatched from Amsterdam, as indicated by the blue circular date stamp of 22 April 1846. The red French “Valenciennes” transit mark further corroborates the letter’s passage through Marseille en route to its final destination in Java.

This particular cover demonstrates the fluctuating postage rates, as the due charge had increased from f2,16 to f2,88 by June 1846, reflecting changes in the logistics and cost of the overland service. The addressee, as in several other known covers from this period, was a Mr. A.H. Salm, a well-known recipient of mail in the Dutch East Indies, whose correspondence offers a window into the Dutch colonial administration’s reliance on the overland mail service for business and personal communications.

Example C: March 1845 Cover to Samarang
Another important item in this collection (image Example C) is a cover sent to Samarang, Java, bearing a Landmail Postage Due of “f2,16 koper,” dated 17 March 1845. The red postmark on the cover is from Amsterdam, dated February 19, 1845, suggesting that the letter had traveled through Marseille before arriving in the Indies. Like the other examples, it features the overland “P.P.” marking, indicating prepaid postage. The rate applied on this letter is identical to that of the May 1845 cover (Example A), reflecting the consistency of rates during this initial phase of the overland service.

What stands out about this cover is the neatly applied postage due stamp, still fully intact, a rarity considering the degradation many such stamps underwent during their long sea and land journeys. As the article notes, “the ink used often caused a decomposition of part of the letters,” yet this item has remained largely unscathed. This cover, like others from the same correspondence, demonstrates the intricate postal network that connected various European and Asian cities during a time of significant geopolitical and economic change.

Example D: January 1847 Cover to Samarang
The final cover in this set (image Example D) is from the later stages of the Landmail service, bearing a postage due of 640 duiten (approximately f2,40), dated 16 January 1847. This is one of the last known instances of a letter bearing a Landmail Postage Due stamp, as the service was discontinued shortly after, in the same month. As Korteweg’s research, quoted in the article, concludes: “Duiten-Landmailstamps dated December 1846 do not exist.” The January 1847 cover thus represents one of the final uses of this rare postal system before its dissolution.

This particular cover also bears the markings “via Marseille,” reaffirming its route through the established French postal system before entering the British Overland Mail. Despite the deterioration of some parts of the letter, the stamp remains clearly legible, providing collectors with an essential link to the final days of the Landmail service.

Conclusion
The four covers examined here provide a fascinating glimpse into the operation of the British Overland Mail Service and the early use of postage-due stamps in the Dutch East Indies. These items are not only valuable to philatelists due to their rarity but also to historians for the light they shed on mid-19th century communication networks between Europe and its colonies.

As the original article emphasizes, the rarity of these items cannot be overstated, with fewer than 150 such covers believed to exist today. Their survival is a testament to the resilience of the early postal systems and the importance of correspondence in maintaining far-flung colonial networks. Although “the common cry is that they are so seldom seen,” these covers continue to captivate serious collectors, serving as tangible remnants of a complex and short-lived postal experiment.