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Dates of Issue: 1914-1920 1917-1920 1920-1923 1922 1923 - 1 1923 - 2 1924-1925 1924-1930 1927-1928 1931-1934 1934-1944 01-05-1946 01-03-1964 01-02-1965 01-07-1966 April 1970 01-05-1972

1914-1920: Dutch railway letter stamps: Nederlandsche Staatsspoorwegen. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: a: 11x11½ b: 11x12 c: 11½x11 d: 11½x11½ e: 11½x12 f: 12x11½ The design was taken from a plaque over the entrance to one of the platforms of Haarlem station. The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations and the red ones were for the "Van Gend En Loos" distribution and transport centres. printer: from 1913 till 1920: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem.

The numbers used by Enschedé & Zonen are 8mm in height for the value in cents. They are 12½mm in height for the value in guilders.

1917-1920: Dutch railway letter stamps: Hollandsche IJzeren Spoorweg Mij. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: a: 11x11½ b: 11x12 c: 11½x11 d: 11½x11½ e: 11½x12 f: 12x11½ These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: a: 11x11½ b: 11x12 c: 11½x11 d: 11½x11½ e: 11½x12 f: 12x11½ g: 12x12 The violet stamps were sold at the railway stations and the green ones were for other distribution and transport centres. printer: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem.

values: 36. 5 cent 37. 10 cent 38. 15 cent 39. 20 cent 40. 25 cent 41. 30 cent 42. 35 cent 43. 40 cent 44. 45 cent 45. 50 cent 46. 65 cent 47. 1 GLD. 48. 1½ GLD. 49. 2 GLD. 50. 2½ GLD. 51. 3 GLD. 52. 5 cent 53. 10 cent 54. 15 cent 55. 20 cent 56. 25 cent 57. 30 cent 58. 35 cent 59. 40 cent 60. 45 cent 61. 50 cent 62. 1 GLD. 63. 1½ GLD. 64. 2 GLD. 65. 2½ GLD.

colour: violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet violet green green green green green green green green green green green green green green

perforation: a-f a-ed, f a, d a, b, d a-e a-f a-f a-f a-e a-g d a-g a-g a, d-f a-d, f c, d c, d a c, d a, e a a a a a, c, d, e a a a - -

Circulation: 440,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 830.000 1,740,000 1,150,000 1,350,000 1,050,000 1,150,000 500,000 920,000 480,000 365,000 270,000 500,000 103,000 159,100 205,800 408,400 421,200 423,800 310,500 307,000 305,900 307,200 150,000 103,300 50,900 51,900

1920-1923: Dutch railway letter stamps: Nederlandsche Spoorwegen. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: a: 11x11½ b: 11x12 c: 11½x11 d: 11½x11½ e: 11½x12 f: 12x11½ The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations and the red ones were for other distribution and transport centres. printer: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem. distance between the stamps: 2 mm

Values: 66. 5 cent 67. 10 cent 68. 15 cent 69. 20 cent 70. 25 cent 71. 30 cent 72. 35 cent 73. 40 cent 74. 45 cent 75. 50 cent 76. 65 cent 77. 80 cent 78. 1 GLD. 79. 1½ GLD. 80. 2 GLD. 81. 2½ GLD. 82. 3 GLD. 83. 5 cent 84. 10 cent 85. 15 cent 86. 25 cent 87. 30 cent 88. 35 cent 89. 40 cent 90. 45 cent 91. 50 cent 92. 1 GLD. 93. 1½ GLD. 94. 2 GLD. 95. 2½ GLD. 96. 3 GLD.

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow red red red red red red red red red red red red red red

perforation: a-e c, d, e a, c, d, e a, c, d, e b-f a, c-f c, d, e a, b, d, e b-e a-e d d, e a-e a-f a-f a, c-f c, d, e d - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Circulation: 655,000 550,000 725,000 525,000 825,000 575,000 605,000 2,450,000 1,900,000 1,000,000 100,000 550,000 1,825,000 975,000 975,000 700,000 300,000 50,000 100,000 750,000 500,000 50,000 250,000 600,000 600,000 850,000 1,300,000 600,000 300,000 100,000 100,000

1922: Dutch railway letter stamps: Ooster Stoomtram Mij. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: e: 11½x12 The stamps issued by Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem, were overprinted: Ooster Stoomtram Mij 5 Cent This comapny exploited several lines in the East of the Dutch province of Utrecht. And also the line Driebergen - Arnhem. The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations. printer: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem. distance between stamps: 2 mm

Values: 1. 5 cent 2. 10 cent 3. 15 cent 4. 20 cent 5. 25 cent 6. 30 cent 7. 35 cent 8. 40 cent 9. 45 cent 10. 50 cent 11. 1 GLD. 12. 1½ GLD. 13. 2 GLD. 14. 2½ GLD. 15. 3 GLD.

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow

perforation: e e

Circulation: probably 25,000 of each value.

1923 - 1: Dutch railway letter stamps: Ooster Stoomtram Mij. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: h: 11x12½ i: 12½x12½ The stamps issued by M. Lindenbaum & Co., Amsterdam., were overprinted: 40 Cent Ooster Stoomtram Mij This comapny exploited several lines in the East of the Dutch province of Utrecht. And also the line Driebergen - Arnhem. The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations. printer: M. Lindenbaum & Co., Amsterdam.

Values: 16. 40 cent 17. 45 cent 18. 50 cent

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow

perforation: i h i

Circulation: ?

1923 - 2: Dutch railway letter stamps: Nederlandsche Spoorwegen. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: h: 11x12½ i: 12½x12½ The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations and the red ones were for other distribution and transport centres. printer in 1923: M. Lindenbaum & Co., Amsterdam. The numbers used by M.Lindenbaum & Co. are 10mm in height for the value in cents. They are 13mm in height for the value in guilders.

Values: 97. 5 cent 98. 10 cent 99. 15 cent 100. 20 cent 101. 25 cent 102. 30 cent 103. 35 cent 104. 40 cent 105. 45 cent 106. 50 cent 107. 1 GLD. 108. 1½ GLD. 109. 2 GLD. 110. 2½ GLD. 111. 3 GLD. 112. 5 cent 113. 10 cent 114. 15 cent 115. 20 cent 116. 25 cent 117. 30 cent 118. 35 cent 119. 40 cent 120. 45 cent 121. 50 cent 122. 1 GLD. 123. 1½ GLD. 124. 2 GLD. 125. 2½ GLD. 126. 3 GLD.

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow red red red red red red red red red red red red red red

perforation: i i i i i i i i h,i h,i h,i h,i h,i h,i i h i

Circulation: unknown, as data have been lost.

1924-1925: Dutch railway letter stamps: Ooster Stoomtram Mij. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: d: 11½x11½ j: 12½x11½ The stamps issued by Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem, were overprinted: 50 Cent Ooster Stoomtram Mij This comapny exploited several lines in the East of the Dutch province of Utrecht. And also the line Driebergen - Arnhem. The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations. printer: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem. distance between stamps: 3½ mm

Values: 25. 10 cent 26. 15 cent 27. 20 cent 28. 25 cent 29. 30 cent 30. 35 cent 31. 40 cent 32. 45 cent 33. 50 cent 34. 1 GLD. 35. 1½ GLD.

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow

perforation: d j j

Circulation: 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 5000 2500 7500 2500 2500 2500

1924-1930: Dutch railway letter stamps: Nederlandsche Spoorwegen. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: d: 11½x11½ f: 12x11½ j: 12½x11½ k: 11:10¾ ak: 11:11½ The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations and the red ones were for other distribution and transport centres. printer: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem. distance between stamps: 3½ mm

Values: 127. 5 cent 128. 10 cent 129. 15 cent 130. 20 cent 131. 25 cent 132. 30 cent 133. 35 cent 134. 40 cent 135. 45 cent 136. 50 cent 137. 65 cent (1930) 138. 80 cent (1933) 138. 1 GLD. 139. 1½ GLD. 140. 2 GLD. 141. 2½ GLD. 142. 3 GLD. 143. 5 cent 144. 10 cent 145. 15 cent 146. 20 cent 147. 25 cent 148. 30 cent 149. 35 cent 150. 40 cent 151. 45 cent 152. 50 cent 152a. 80 cent 153. 1 GLD. 154. 1½ GLD. 155. 2 GLD. 156. 2½ GLD. 157. 3 GLD.

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow red red red red red red red red red red red red red red red

perforation: d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak ak a, k d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak f, j, ak d, ak d, f, ak d, f, ak d, f, j, ak ak f, ak f, ak d, f, ak f, ak a, k ak f, ak d, f, ak d, f, j, ak d, f, j, ak

Circulation: 1,725,000 1,850,000 2,275,000 2,075,000 2,375,000 4,700,000 4,675,000 5,175,000 11,620,000 5,230,000 2,000,000 ? 5,000,000 2,600,000 2,250,000 1,850,000 1,325,000 250,000 1,450,000 1,100,000 950,000 750,000 2,790,000 1,450,000 4,700,000 2,350,000 4,650,000 ? 3,350,000 1,450,000 700,000 550,000 500,000

1927-1928: Dutch railway letter stamps: Ned. Buurtspoorweg Mij. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. The stamps issued by Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem, were overprinted: 3GLD. Ned. Buurtspoorweg Mij. This company took over the Ooster Stoomtram Mij. in January 1927. printer: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem. distance between stamps: 3½ mm There are two types: type I: length of overprinted text: 32½ mm type II: length of overprinted text: 34½ mm Only one perforation known: f: 12x11½ No picture available.

Type I 1. 5 cent 2. 10 cent 3. 15 cent 4. 20 cent 5. 25 cent 6. 30 cent 7. 35 cent 8. 40 cent 9. 45 cent 10. 50 cent 11. 1 GLD. 12. 1½ GLD. 13. 2 GLD. 14. 2½ GLD. 15. 3 GLD. type II 16. 30 cent 17. 35 cent 18. 40 cent 19. 45 cent 20. 50 cent 21. 1 GLD.

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow

perforation: f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f f

Circulation: 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 2500 5000 5000 5000 5000

1931-1934: Dutch railway letter stamps: Nederlandsche Spoorwegen. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: d: 11½x11½ f: 12x11½ j: 12½x11½ k: 11:10¾ ak: 11:11½ The orange-yellow stamps were sold at the railway stations and the red ones were for other distribution and transport centres. printer: Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, Haarlem. distance between stamps: 3½ mm oblique print No picture available. The numbers used by Enschedé & Zonen are 8mm in height for the value in cents. They are 12½mm in height for the value in guilders. In 2004, Mr. Bill Weinberger discovered that the edition of railway stamps of the Netherlands, 1934-1934, was printed on plain and fluorescent paper. Nothing has been published about this for a few reasons: When the "Spoor en Post" (“Rail and Mail”) book was finished, the use of the UV lamp was not commonplace, except when detecting forgeries and studying cancellations "Track and Post" was considered finished because it named all the perforations (which it later turned out is not true) and also the color variations were considered insignificant at the latest issue, so it was not considered to include the stamps under the UV lamp. Mr Weinberger knew from experience that colour variations on the stamps would react differently (and suspected that different papers had been used) when placed under a UV lamp. But there was no reason to believe that a yellowish glowing paper would emerge. Great surprise, because what caused this was a chemical whitener that was unclear to be used so many years ago. Mr Weinberger's results: * A) Yellow Perf 11×10-3/4      1) Normal paper, stamps in a variety of shades. Have all except the 50c.      This is strange because the 50c is the most common denomination. It may not exist.      2) Very bright Fluorescent paper. Have 13 values. * B) Yellow Perf 11×11-1/2. Normal paper, stamps in variety of shades. Have complete. * C) Red Perf 11×10-3/4. Flour Yellow paper. Stamp is Orange. Have 13 values. * D) Red Perf 11×11-1/2.      1) Normal paper. Stamp is Orange. Have 14 values.      2) Flour Yellow paper. Stamp is Brown. Have complete. More details about the guilder values: there are different distances between the number and the indication “GLD” and in most different series also thick and thin notation of GLD. It is also possible to separate the series with the yellow seals, A1 and B, into light and dark brown, because this effect is obtained after UV exposure.

Values: 158. 5 cent 159. 10 cent 160. 15 cent 161. 20 cent 162. 25 cent 163. 30 cent 164. 35 cent 165. 40 cent 166. 45 cent 167. 50 cent 168. 65 cent 169. 80 cent 170. 1 GLD. 171. 1½ GLD. 172. 2 GLD. 173. 2½ GLD. 174. 3 GLD. 175. 10 cent 176. 15 cent 177. 20 cent 178. 25 cent 179. 30 cent 180. 35 cent 181. 40 cent 182. 45 cent 183. 50 cent 184. 80 cent 185. 1 GLD. 186. 1½ GLD.

colour: orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow orange-yellow red red red red red red red red red red red red

perforation: ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak ak

Circulation: 950,000 1,400,000 450,000 725,000 1,000,000 2,225,000 2,275,000 2,175,000 2,775,000 4,375,000 875,000 1,500,000 2,225,000 1,025,000 1,025,000 725,000 525,000 275,000 150,000 225,000 100,000 2,250,000 900,000 2,000,000 25,000 1,875,000 1,150,000 650,000 250,000

1934-1944: Dutch railway letter stamps: Nederlandsche Spoorwegen. These stamps were released in sheets of 50 stamps: 5 x 10. There were several perforations possible: k: 11:10¾ ak: 11:11½ The yellow to brown-orange stamps were sold at the railway stations and the pink to dark red ones were for other distribution and transport centres. printer: Nederlandsche Speciaaldrukkerijen, Rotterdam The inner frame border of the stamp picture shows square angles, whereas all former releases had rounded angles. The numbers used by Nederlandsche Speciaaldrukkerijen have no dots. They are 8mm in height for the value in cents. The numbers for the value in guilders is the same as used by Joh. Enschedé & Zonen, but the letters GLD are slightly narrower.

Values: 187. 5 cent 188. 10 cent 189. 15 cent 190. 20 cent 191. 25 cent 192. 30 cent 193. 35 cent 194. 40 cent 195. 45 cent 196. 50 cent 197. 65 cent 198. 70 cent 199. 80 cent 200. 90 cent 201. 1 GLD. 202. 1½ GLD. 203. 2 GLD. 204. 2½ GLD. 205. 3 GLD. 206. 5 cent 207. 10 cent 208. 15 cent 209. 20 cent 210. 25 cent 211. 30 cent 212. 35 cent 213. 40 cent 214. 45 cent 215. 50 cent 216. 65 cent 217. 70 cent 218. 80 cent 220. 1 GLD. 221. 1½ GLD. 222. 2 GLD. 223. 2½ GLD. 224. 3 GLD.

colour: yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange yellow to brown-orange pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red pink to dark red

perforation: ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak ak, k ak, k ak ak, k ak ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak, k ak k k

A special case is the overprint for exemption from the railway law. This type of stamps are counted among the fee stamps. The fee is the cost reimbursement for the provision of official information or for the services provided by the government. Leges are therefore fees and not taxes, for which no service had to be provided. The blue-green railway stamp was overprinted with the texts: ONTHEFFING / f 5.- / SPOORWEGWET and CONTROLEZEGEL / f 5.- / ONTH. SPOORWEGWET The terms ONTHEFFING (exemption) and SPOORWEGWET (railway law) refer to the (legal) articles relating to the Dutch Railway Act of 1875.

01-05-1946: Dutch railway letter stamps: NS The train letter stamp was re-introduced in 1946. Designer: ? Photogravure: Ned. Speciaaldrukkerijen, Rotterdam Books of 5 sheets containing 10 stamps. Perforation: L10¾:10½ Watermark: no Value: 15 cents

01-03-1964: Dutch railway letter stamps: NS TThe train letter stamp in new design. Designer: ? Photogravure: Ned. Speciaaldrukkerijen, Rotterdam Books of 10 sheets containing 10 stamps. Perforation: L13 Watermark: no Value: 50 cents

01-02-1965: Dutch railway letter stamps: NS cover of a stamp booklet: Designer: ? Photogravure: Ned. Speciaaldrukkerijen, Rotterdam Books of 10 sheets containing 10 stamps. Perforation: L13 Watermark: no Value: 25 cents

01-07-1966: Dutch railway letter stamps: NS Designer: ? Photogravure: Ned. Speciaaldrukkerijen, Rotterdam Books of 10 sheets containing 10 stamps. Perforation: L13 Watermark: no Values: 5 cents and 35 cents cover of a stamp booklet:

01-10-1967: Dutch railway letter stamps: NS Designer: ? Photogravure: Ned. Speciaaldrukkerijen, Rotterdam Books of 10 sheets containing 10 stamps. Perforation: L13 Watermark: no Value: 45 cents

April 1970: Dutch railway letter stamps: NS Designer: ? Photogravure: Ned. Speciaaldrukkerijen, Rotterdam sheets containing 10 stamps. Perforation: K13 Watermark: no Value: 45 cents

01-05-1972: Dutch railway letter stamps: NS Designer: ? Offset: G.J.Thieme books of 5 sheets containing 10 stamps. Perforation: K13:13½ Watermark: no Value: 55 cents cover of a stamp booklet and a sheet of 1972 railway letter stamps:

Leo Bakx also made a survey of these stamps. You might want to visit his site as well: Leo Bakx's site of railway letter stamps.

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