Sale 1287 — Worldwide Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 23-24 May, 2023
Category — Early Stampless
ca. 1685 Folded Cover from Cape of Good Hope to Batavia. Mostly complete folded cover (side flaps partly missing) with address to "Edele Erntseste / Welwijse / Voorsienige / Hoog-geleerden / en zeer discreten Heer / d'E. Hr. Johan de Ritter / lit des E. Achtb: Raet van Justitie / residerende op Batavia" (with some words abbreviated or difficult to read), sender's directive "pr Amijs..", stains along file fold and slight toning, otherwise Fine, the 1685 yeardate is noted as derived from the ship name and historical context, and there is a pencil note that it originated in Cape of Good Hope in 1685 -- we cannot verify these notes, but this is certainly a very early cover to the Dutch East Indies, well before postal markings were introduced
1788, "VOC 6 St." Handstamp (WdB 1). Bold strike with usual small blotches of ink on folded letter datelined Nov. 29, 1788 from Holland to "Wel Edele Heer, De Heer Leendert Goossen, Koopman en Translateur te Batavia" sender's directive "Pr. t Schip de Juff Johanna, Captn Cuperus, D:G:G:", Nov. 17, 1789 receipt docketingVERY FINE. A FULL AND CLEAR STRIKE OF THE RARE "VOC 6 ST" HANDSTAMP ON A PACKET LETTER FROM HOLLAND TO BATAVIA VIA THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. ONE OF THE MAJOR POSTAL HISTORY RARITIES OF DUTCH EAST INDIES POSTAL HISTORY.
This cover was carried on the Juffrouw Johanna under Capt. Thobias Tak Couperus, departing Cape of Good Hope Aug. 25, 1789, arriving Batavia Nov. 16.
1790, "VOC 6 St." Handstamp (WdB 1e). Bold strike on folded letter datelined Amsterdam, May 3, 1791--a duplicate of Aug. 15, 1790 letter--carried on "Pacquet boot de Lugtbol" to "Denheere C: Legal, Batavia", intact red wax seal, light file fold thru markingVERY FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY CLEAR STRIKE OF THE "VOC 6 ST" HANDSTAMP ON A PACKET LETTER FROM AMSTERDAM TO BATAVIA VIA THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. ONE OF THE MAJOR POSTAL HISTORY RARITIES OF DUTCH EAST INDIES POSTAL HISTORY.
According to the accompanying certificate, the packet De Lugtbol (under Capt. Jacob Soetemans) made five trips from the port of Goeree (Goedereede) to Batavia via the Cape of Good Hope. The certificate seems to identify the May 3 dateline as receipt docketing indicating the arrival date, but we are reasonably certain it is the despatch date written by the sender. In any case, the "VOC 6 St." handstamp on Dutch East Indies mail is rare and seldom struck with such clarity. The marking indicates 6 stuivers postage paid as required on mail to Dutch East Indies.
With 2018 Vleeming certificate stating genuine and "Clear strike on a letter in perfect condition."
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1790, "VOC 6 St." Handstamp (WdB 1h). Mostly clear strike with small blotches of ink on folded cover docketed on back with Batavia Oct. 30, 1790 origin date, from G. E. Fettmenger to "Den Heer Christianus Carolus Hendrikus van der Aa te Haarlem" sender's directive "Pr. de Pacquet de Faam", red crayon "6" stuivers rate crossed out and re-rated "8" to include 2s from Amsterdam to Haarlem, the same crayon used to make the "6" in handstamp clearer, receipt docketing on back with May 22, 1791 arrival date, intact red wax sealVERY FINE. AN UNUSUAL USE OF THE "VOC 6 ST" HANDSTAMP ON A PACKET LETTER FROM BATAVIA TO HAARLEM VIA THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE WITH UPRATING FOR DUTCH INTERNAL POSTAGE. ONE OF THE MAJOR POSTAL HISTORY RARITIES OF DUTCH EAST INDIES POSTAL HISTORY.
According to the certificate, the packet De Faami under Capt. Luur Runken, made three trips to Batavia. This was carried on the second return trip, departing Batavia Nov. 20, 1790, stopping at the Cape of Good Hope (Feb. 2-20, 1791), and arriving at the port of Texel May 11, 1791. The ship was captured by the British on Mar. 25, 1794.
This cover and the cover in lot 1391 were both sent by G. E. Fettmenger in Batavia to Christianus van der Aa in Haarlem on the same day, Oct. 30, 1790, but they were put on different outbound vessels.
With 2018 Vleeming certificate stating genuine and "some parts redrawned" and "the 6 in the VOC strike has improved with red crayon by the postal authorities."
1790, "VOC 6 St." Handstamp (WdB 1h). Exceptionally well-defined on folded cover docketed on back with Batavia Oct. 30, 1790 origin date, from G. E. Fettmenger to "Den Heer Christianus Carolus Hendrikus van der Aa..." in Haarlem, sender's directive "Pr. Schip [Terlengen?]", red crayon "6" stuivers rate crossed out and re-rated "8" to include 2s from Amsterdam to Haarlem, receipt docketing on back with Jul. 9, 1791 arrival date, intact red wax sealVERY FINE. A CLEARLY STRUCK "VOC 6 ST" HANDSTAMP ON A SHIP LETTER FROM BATAVIA TO HAARLEM VIA THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE WITH UPRATING FOR DUTCH INTERNAL POSTAGE. ONE OF THE MAJOR POSTAL HISTORY RARITIES OF DUTCH EAST INDIES POSTAL HISTORY.
This cover and the cover in lot 1390 were both sent by G. E. Fettmenger in Batavia to Christianus van der Aa in Haarlem on the same day, Oct. 30, 1790, but they were put on different outbound vessels.
1792, "VOC 6 St." Handstamp (WdB 1a). Partly clear strike on folded letter datelined Amsterdam, Sep. 25, 1792 to "WelEde: Heeren, Wm. de Jong & G: C: Vetmenger, te, Batavia", manuscript Latin "Expedio" (expedite) above handstamp, slightly dampstained, certificate notes minor enhancements to handstamped marking, but with all due respect we think the small blotches of ink in a few spots are original--they were probably caused by a dirty ink pad and/or device, and would make little sense as enhancements (the left side of the impression is underinked, not the right)FINE. A PRESENTABLE EXAMPLE OF THE "VOC 6 ST" HANDSTAMP ON A PACKET LETTER FROM AMSTERDAM TO BATAVIA VIA THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE. ONE OF THE MAJOR POSTAL HISTORY RARITIES OF DUTCH EAST INDIES POSTAL HISTORY.
According to the accompanying exhibit write-up, the packet Kraai (the "Crow") carried this from the port of Texel to Batavia via the Cape of Good Hope, arriving Mar. 27, 1793.
With 2001 Van der List certificate stating genuine but with enhancement of marking (we respectfully disagree, as noted above).
1793, "VOC 5 St" Handstamp (WdB 5a). Bold strike with some blotchy ink on folded letter datelined Cheribon, Jun. 16, 1793, to "De heer Paul Berman oud lid in 't College van Heemraden te Batavia", intact red wax seal, a few ink erosion spots in address and interior letter, otherwise Very Fine, with 2018 Vleeming certificate
1799, "VOC 5 St" Handstamp (WdB 5a). Full and clear strike on folded cover with intact black wax seals addressed to "Den Heere Gs. van der Geugten, Translateur in de Javaanse taal" in Batavia, docketed on back with reply date "beantwoord de 10 Aug. 1799", slightly toned, Very Fine, with 2019 Van Dieten certificate
1799, "VOC 5 St" Handstamp (WdB 5d). Lightly inked but sharp strike in red on folded letter datelined Rembang Dec. 30, 1799, to Dirk te Boekhorst in Batavia, with intact red wax seal, slight erosion in address, Fine, very scarce with 2019 Van Dieten certificate
1799, "VOC 5 St" Handstamp (WdB 5c). Perfect strike on folded letter datelined Samarang Dec. 3, 1794, to "Den Wel Ed. Agtb. Heer W. D. Jongh" in Batavia, with intact red wax seals, erosion in address due to dampness reinforced with silk, Fine appearance, very scarce with 2018 Vleeming certificate
1811, "VOC 10 St" Handstamp (WdB 6a). Part strike on heavily dampstained 1811 folded letter from Pekalongan to Batavia, Vleeming certificate states "This type is different from the 3 types known in [Mijer book]... also different from the forgeries of Mr. Maier. Probably genuine, wait for a second letter from Pekalongan", accompanied by a Maier forgery of the "VOC 6 St" handstamp (very deceptive), interesting specialist's lot
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18th Century Dutch East Indies and Cape of Good Hope Pre-Stamp Covers. Eleven folded letters or covers, no postal markings (except one with rate marking noted below), very early dates and VOC connections, includes 1719 Batavia-Enkhuizen via CGH; 1739 Batavia-Enkhuizen by ship Noordwolfbergen; 1752 letter in French from Amsterdam to lieutenant of artillery for VOC at Batavia; 1763 Middelburg-Batavia by ship Thorenvliet; 1763 on board "Schip Leekerlust" to Batavia; 1765 Batavia-Haarlem by ship Leucogten with "Per post 12 stuivers" manuscript due marking on back; 1770 Batavia-Enkhuizen on ship Vrouwe Margareta Maria on second return trip from Batavia; 1771 CGH to Enkhuizen on ship Vrouwe Cornelia Hillegonde on third return trip from Batavia; 1778 to CGH (possibly DEI origin); 1784 to CGH with notation on back indicating Batavia origin (Van der Vlist certificate states impossible to know origin); and 1794 to CGH (possibly DEI origin), minor faults typical of 18th century letters to be expected, but overall a high-quality and impressive group, 18th century covers (and letters) to or from the Dutch East Indies are scarce outside of archives, most with certificates
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