Today, I filled a gap in my DAVO stamp album that has been bugging me for decades. Like many Dutch collectors, especially those who collect Dutch stamps, I have DAVO stamp albums for my Dutch stamps. The album includes a page for the two miniature sheets issued during the German occupation of the Netherlands, in 1942.
In 1941, Reich commissioner Seyß-Inquart ordered the formation of a corps of Dutch volunteers that would fight with the Germans. The volunteers, mostly, were members of the NSB, a Dutch NAZI movement, who wanted to fight the Bolsheviks. The corps is known as 'Nederlandsch Legioen.' Eventually, it was incorporated in the German Waffen -SS.
On 1 November 1942, the Dutch postal authorities issued two stamps with a surcharge to raise money for the provisions fund of the Dutch Legion. Two stamps were issued in sheets of 100: red stamp of 7 ½ cent with a surcharge of 2 ½ cent and a blue stamp of 12 ½ cent with a surcharge of 87 ½ cent (NVPH 402 – 403). The stamps depict a member of the legion. The colours, red, white, and blue, are those of the Dutch flag.
In addition to the ordinary counter sheets, two miniature sheets were issued on the same day (NVPH V402 – V403). The first of the sheets was made up of ten of the 7 ½ cent stamps. This cost Fl 1 of which Fl 0.25 was a surcharge. The second sheet was made up of 4 of the 12 ½ cent stamps. This cost Fl 4 of which Fl 3.50 was a surcharge. Both miniature sheets bear the inscription in the colour of the stamp 'Stamp. Issued for the benefit of the provisions fund / of the Dutch Legion 1942.' When buying the miniature sheets, care should be taken they have the correct (minimum) dimensions.
Posted 05/30/2024 10:49 am
