Theo Kurpershoek

Kurpershoek died

In November 1988 the Dutch postage stamp designer Theo Kurpershoek died at the age of 85 in Amsterdam.
Kurpershoek was born on 8 October 1914 in Rotterdam. In Amsterdam he was trained to become graphic craftsman. After this course he attended the art school at Rijksacademie voor Beeldendekunst.
He was not only a painter. He also made water-colour paintings and graphic works. He became also known as typographer, calligrapher and designer.
As painter he was well known as creator of post impressionistic figurative paintings.
As designer of book-covers he became famous for his designs for the publishing firm Querido and the book Queen Wilhelmina wrote about her life "Eenzaam maar niet alleen" (Lonely but not alone).
Kurpershoek was also teacher at the art-school in Trier (Germany) and president of the art societies Arti et Amicitiae and De Kring.

Stamp designs

Kurpershoek designed four series of Dutch stamps:
Children, 1953.
Europe, 1961.
States General, 1964
Summer, 1965

States General 1964

All collectors of Dutch stamps are acquainted with the States General (Staten Generaal = Dutch Parliament) stamp designed by Theo Kurpershoek.
The stamp was issued in 1964 to commemorate the first assembly of the General States on January 9th 1464. This was the first meeting of the yearly held conferences of the states of the Netherlands. In those meetings matters of common interest were discussed.
In those days the members of the States General were not elected. They were chosen and sent by the provincial states. These board of directors also controlled foreign dominions trade associations for the Caribbean and Indies territories in later years.
In 1795 a revolution took place and the States General were dismissed.
The States General, as it operates these days, was established in 1814 and consists of two chambers: First and second. Each year on the third Tuesday of September and when a new queen or king is installed the two chambers have a collective meeting.

The Knights Hall

In the middle ages a Knights Hall was used for celebrations and ceremonies which were held at a castle. The Knights Hall in The Hague was build by Earl William II in the 13th century.
In this building the rebellion against Phillip II took place in 1581.
At present each year this hall is in use on the third Tuesday in September, when the queen reveals the plans of the government for next year.

The stamp issue

The stamp was printed by photogravure. The sheets consist of 100 stamps (10 x 10). Two colors were used: yellow-green and black. The perforation of the stamps is: comb 14:12,75.
In the borders no plate numbers were printed or punch marks were made. The stamp was valid for postage between 9 January 1964 and 31 December 1965 and 32.124.400 of these stamps were sold.

Plate characteristics

Broken roof, on the left side of the left tower (pos. 3).
Broken lines above the entrance door (pos. 15).
Dot above the "n" of "vijfhonderd" and a dot below the frame under the left tower (pos. 32).
Damaged "a" of "Nederland" (pos. 37).
Broken vertical line of the left tower (pos. 77).
Black dot on the entrance door (pos. 95).
Two dots in stead of tree dots in the oval window above the entrance (pos. ?).
No dot on "j" of "januari" (pos. ?).

More information

Stamps of The Netherlands
Postage Stamps 1999

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