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Special situations in history, such as war-time conditions and pre-philately
This article is only tangentially related to philately. However, it may be of interest to collectors specialising in the First World War or censorship. Konstantin Petrovich Van-der-Vliet (Константин Петрович Фан-дер-Флит, 1844–1933) was a Russian general of Dutch descent.In the first half of the 18th century, …
Following the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940, the Belgian Congo remained loyal to the Allied cause and came under the administration of the Belgian government in exile. Henri Franken, a Dutch national originally from Tilburg, was employed in the Belgian Congo during this …
This article takes a closer look at a philatelic cover sent from Leiderdorp, Netherlands, dated 16 February 1944. The cover is notable for its rich variety of stamps, high declared value, and registration status. It serves as an interesting example of a wartime philatelic creation, …
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 …
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