Netherlands Indies King Willem III

Netherlands Indies · 1864 · 10c

This stamp features a right-facing portrait of King Willem III of the Netherlands. The design is simple, with the portrait in a central oval, surrounded by ornate scrollwork, the country name 'NEDERL. INDIE' at the top, and the denomination '10 CENT' at the bottom. This was the first postage stamp issued for the Netherlands Indies.

Issued in 1864, this stamp marks the beginning of the postal system in the Dutch East Indies, a key colony of the Netherlands. It reflects the colonial administration's efforts to standardize communication across the vast archipelago.