door For forgetting to inform the Hofstede family in Amsterdam about the passing, the next of kin in Arnhem came at a cost.
Telephone was not yet common among privates in 1957, and WhatsApp and the internet did not yet exist. To still inform the family of the death in time, it was decided to send the obituary by train express.
The normal postage for the item was 4 cents Van Krimpen. Express delivery by train cost as little as 15 cents. Almost four times the postage amount. To discharge this, an NS ‘treinbriefzegel‘ was affixed.
Still, the rate was not too bad. 15 cents in 1957 would be €1.15 today.
If we compare that with today’s rates: postage for the letter € 1.01 and an express mail costs lifst € 30.30!
Both the franking stamp and the NS train letter stamp are stamped with an NS block stamp of Arnhem.
