Spoils of war

Unperforated stamps

After the war unperforated stamps of the Konijnenburg type appeared and were sold to collectors. This article describes how these stamps came into circulation.

Stolen stock

Unfinished stamps of the Konijnenburg type (5, 10, 12 1/2 and 15 cent) were during World War II claimed by the German occupational forces and sold to the Berlin stamp dealer Hans Bibeljé. The stamp dealer paid 170.000 marks for the, 4000 kg weighing, stock to the "German Postal Authorities" in The Netherlands.
Probable this stock mainly consisted of "Konijnenburg" stamps, perforated and unperforated, but contained other types, as "International Court of Justice" as well.

After the war

After the war Mr. Bibeljé traded a portion of this stock for American cigarettes on the black market and got into trouble. The stock was regarded as Allied possession by the Allied Forces. Bibeljé "had forgotten" to report his property and was convicted to 18 months imprisonment and a fine of 50.000 marks.
Because these stamps are not officially issued by the Dutch postal authorities, the stamps are reported in catalogues as deviations.

More information

Stamps of The Netherlands
Postage Stamps 1999
Introduction of perforation in Netherlands
Dutch postal transport 1806-1854