Netherlands New Guinea 1954-60 set a challenge to assemble

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Netherlands New Guinea, also known as Dutch New Guinea, is a dead country. It comprised the western half of the island of New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean north of Australia. The colony was part of the Dutch East Indies from 1898 until 1949.

In 1949, it became an overseas territory of the Netherlands. In 1957, Indonesia laid claim to the territory. In 1962, Indonesia conducted land, sea and air incursions into the territory, which were defeated by the Dutch and native forces.

In October 1962, the United Nations took control of the territory, which was passed to Indonesian control in 1963. In 1969, Indonesia annexed the territory outright after conducting a rigged plebiscite.

Netherlands New Guinea issued postage stamps from 1950 to 1962. Stamps of Netherlands New Guinea are of interest to Netherlands and area, Indonesia and dead country collectors.

Some collectors like to form small one-country collections of countries that did not issue many stamps. Netherlands New Guinea fits this description, having issued just 47 postage stamps, 34 semipostal stamps and six postage due stamps. None of these issues are terribly expensive.

A good place to start a Netherlands New Guinea collection is with the set of 16 definitive stamps (Scott 22-37) issued from 1954 to 1960. The stamps feature three designs: a bird of paradise, a Queen Victoria crowned pigeon, and a left-facing cameo of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands. The stamps with the bird designs are of interest to bird topical collectors.

The Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue values the set of 16 stamps in mint, never-hinged condition at just $18.70. Although this is not an expensive set, it is also not easy to find a complete set in very fine grade and mint, never-hinged condition.

Much of this issue is not well centered. Sets in fine-very fine grade are easily available for 50 percent to 75 percent of Scott catalog value, and most collectors are happy with that. If a collector really wants the set in very fine grade, he might need to buy multiple sets and pick out the best centered stamps from each set. A set in true very fine grade is worth full Scott catalog value just for the work necessary to assemble it. If you find one already assembled, it is a good buy at full Scott catalog value or perhaps a bit more.

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