The International Website for People Interested in Netherlands+Philately!
Special situations in history, such as war-time conditions and pre-philately
The letter-card pictured here offers a glimpse into a lesser-known chapter of World War II in Southeast Asia. Sent on June 26, 1940, it is addressed to an individual in Batavia (now Jakarta), and it carries the distinctive markings of censorship and military oversight that …
In the 1920s, the German company Phönix-Verlag from Charlottenburg (Berlin) introduced the Auto-Phoenix, an auxiliary motor for bicycles. In the Netherlands, it was offered at 150 guilders (purchase price and without bicycle and mounting), equivalent to approximately €1,450 today. Phönix-Verlag targeted the Dutch market, sending …
This postcard, dated October 8, 1940, was sent from the internment camp Alasvallei to Taroetoeng. The card is a “briefkaart” with a 3½ cent grey stamp, featuring markings that include a cancellation stamp from the Commandant of the Internment Camp Alasvallei and a red censorship …
In these turbulent times, the exchange of prisoners of war is a recurring phenomenon—between Ukraine and Russia, and between Gaza and Israel. Prisoner exchanges also took place during the First World War. One vessel used for this purpose was the paddle steamer Koningin Regentes. The …
Geldersch-Overijselsche Maatschappij van Landbouw (Gelderland-Overijssel Agricultural Society), Winterswijk branch, organised an agricultural exhibition in 1903. For this event, specially printed envelopes were even commissioned. The exhibition was originally scheduled to take place from the 16th to the 18th of September. However, as shown on the …
The German invasion of the Netherlands on 10 May 1940 came as a surprise to many Dutch people, although there were signs announcing the threat. The Netherlands had maintained strict neutrality during World War II, hoping this would avoid involvement in the war. This gave …
The cover shown here World War II, posted on December 2, 1942, from ‘s Gravenhage (The Hague) in the Netherlands to Stuttgart, Germany. This item features a striking block of four stamps, each depicting a soldier and the text “Legioen Nederland,” representing the Dutch Legion …
The cover presented here, dated February 1940, is an extraordinary piece of postal history, representing both the individual story of a young Jewish girl during a critical moment in history and the broader political environment of World War II. The envelope, originating from Amsterdam, provides …
The postcard sent from Amsterdam to Theresienstadt in 1944 is more than just a piece of paper; it is a poignant reminder of the resilience of the human spirit during one of the darkest periods in modern history. As the Second World War raged across …
A notable item in the auction catalog of René Hillesum Filatelie on November 30, 2024, is lot number 6181: a 1947 cover from the United States. This envelope, postmarked on March 12, 1947, in Northfield, Minnesota, was addressed to Ies Lipschits in Rotterdam. Lipschits (1930-2008) …
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