Discovery imperforated Wilhelmina stamps

Introduction Wilhelmina issue

Here below are some fragments in which the discovery in 1923 of imperforated stamps of the Wilhelmina issue (NVPH 82/83) were reported.

Discovery

Mister v.d. L. in Meppel was the first one who surprised us on January 18th last with the information that in Meppel 2500 imperforated 10 cents stamps were delivered. This means that a pair of scissors have to be used in order to separate the stamps as was common practise in the period 1852-1864. This would not matter, but with shortage of staff nowadays, it is very time-consuming. We tried to buy the whole stock, but only a few were available.
The local clerk informed us about the consideration to use safe-stamps (brandkastzegels) in order to replenish stocks. The shortage was caused by the strike of the typographical craftsmen. Apparently there is a still a large stock of safe-stamps.
We recommend devotees to collect these stamps in pairs of two or blocks of four, because a single stamp offers no guaranty for imperforation.

Destroyed a few stamps

On January 20th last we met a gentleman in Twente who asked for twenty stamps of 5 cent. He received imperforated stamps. Apparently he was in a bad mood. He attempted to loose a stamp for a payment receipt and destroyed a few stamps. He looked at me and I told him that this was caused by the strike of the typographical craftsmen. He said: "I don't want this garbage" and changed the stamps for green perforated ones.
The public servants and customers will be glad when they don't have to deal with "this garbage" anymore. And we philatelists … we chase them by train, bicycle and motorcar!

Unsold stamps

After resumption of perforation at the printing firm Enschedé, the few offices which still had to cut out stamps were ordered to send back unsold stamps. This took place already.

More information

Stamps of The Netherlands
Postage Stamps 1999
Spoils of war