Netherlands 1852 King William III, First Issue

Name: Netherlands 1852 King William III, First Issue
Brand: Netherlands

Netherlands · 1852 · 5c

This is the first postage stamp issued by the Netherlands, featuring a right-facing portrait of King William III. The design is framed by ornate scrollwork, with the denomination '5 C.' at the bottom and 'POSTZEGEL' (Postage Stamp) at the top. The stamp is imperforate, meaning it had to be cut from the sheet with scissors.

Issued on January 1, 1852, this stamp marks the beginning of the Dutch postal system as we know it, replacing a complex system of postal rates based on distance. Its release standardized postage within the kingdom.

Printing Method

Engraved

Themes

royalty king-william-iii classic-stamps heads-of-state

Catalog Numbers

sg1

scott1

michel1

Image: · License:

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Estimated Values by Condition

Superb(S)

Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults

$150

Extremely Fine(XF)

Well centered, fresh colors

$100

Very Fine(VF)

Nicely centered, minor flaws

$60

Fine(F)

Average centering, acceptable

$30

Good(G)

Off-center or visible wear

$10

Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.