1944: Nederland-Indie to London: Postage paid

This letter from Merauke, Netherlands New Guinea, is very interesting in several aspects. This island Merauke, part of the Netherlands Indies, was liberated by the American Army from the Japanese occupation in 1944. Parts around Merauke never became occupied, but no stamps were available. Therefore the postmark Postage Paid. The inland postcard rate was 3 1/2 cents, the postcard rate (overland/ship) to foreign countries was 10 c. The sender paid 7 1/2 cents extra, as is written in the right hand corner below of the Postage Paid postbark. 11 c in total, and therefore the sender overpaid 1 c. I guess this was an error in the calculation by the post office.

The addressee was Jaap Sikkema, printer of the newspaper "Vrij Nederland" (Free Netherlands) in London. This national newspaper was established during the war in London and still exists. The sender wrote on the postcard that he send the postcard from the liberated part of the Netherlands Indies, in fact the first liberated part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. To the newspaper "Vrij Nederland" in London.

More letters are known from Merauke with Postage Paid postmarks, but the sender and addressee both add considerable historical value to this postcard!

Artikelnummer: Bes-H7149