King William III, First Issue

Name: 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 was printed in a distinctive blue color.

Issued in 1852, this stamp marks the beginning of the Dutch postal system's use of adhesive postage stamps, following the trend started by Great Britain's Penny Black in 1840.

Printing Method

Engraved

Themes

royalty heads-of-state king-william-iii

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.