24 carat gold stamps from Netherlands

 

Dutch East Indies 1945-2020

Date of Issue : 15 August 2020

Here are three beautiful extraordinary golden stamps from Dutch Post, The first new stamp shown above commemorates the 75th anniversary of the laying down of arms by the Japanese army. This brought an end to over 41 months of occupation of the former Dutch colony. The second one issued on 21st June features Miffy's 65th Birthday. The third one issued on 20 January 2020 features Operation Market Garden.

On 15 August 1945, World War II officially ended for the Kingdom of the Netherlands. On that day, Emperor Hirohito of Japan officially announced that his country had surrendered to the Allies. This also marked the end of the war in the Dutch East Indies. The occupation by Japan of the former Dutch colony began when the Dutch and Allied forces surrendered on 8 March 1942. It took until 1988 before an official national commemoration of the end of the war could take place in the Dutch East Indies. Since then, we commemorate all of the victims of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies each year on 15 August at the Indies Monument in The Hague. The official name of this ceremony is the Nationale Indiëherdenking (‘National Indies Commemoration’). It is one of the three national commemorations that take place in the Netherlands, in addition to National Remembrance Day on 4 May and Holocaust Memorial Day on the last Sunday in January.

Miffy’s 65th Birthday

Date of Issue : 21 June 2020

Miffy’s 65th Birthday

This year  Miffy’s 65th birthday is being celebrated. Out of all the characters in Dick Bruna’s picture books, Miffy is the most beloved all over the world. To celebrate this special anniversary, PostNL has issued  a unique limited edition golden stamp. These postage stamps are marked 'Nederland 1', the denomination for items up to 20g in weight destined for the Netherlands.

Miffy was ‘born’ in 1955, when Dick Bruna told his eldest son a bedtime story about a white rabbit. Over the past 65 years, out of all the characters in Dick Bruna’s books, Miffy has become the most famous and popular across the world. In the Netherlands she is called Nijntje, but elsewhere she has been known as Miffy since 1996. Many children recognise themselves in Miffy and her adventures. She is uncomplicated, innocent, positive and open to new experiences.

Market Garden 1944-2019

Date of Issue : 20 January 2020

The first stamp in the series features Operation Market Garden. It was one of the largest military operations of World War II, with airborne landings by American and British paratroopers at Arnhem and Nijmegen.

Operation Market Garden was a plan masterminded by British Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery. He wanted to capture the Germans in the Netherlands in order to clear the way to Germany. 17 September 1944 marked the beginning of one of the largest military operations of World War II. The aim of the airborne landings by British and American paratroopers was to seize important bridges over the Meuse, Waal and Rhine. Ground forces moved from the south towards Arnhem to seize areas from the Germans. However, resistance from the Germans was greater and fiercer than expected. Only a small number of British paratroopers managed to reach the Rijnbrug (‘Rhine bridge’) at Arnhem. The ground forces took Nijmegen on 20 September and moved to Arnhem on 21 September. These soldiers reached the city too late to reinforce the airborne forces, who were forced to retreat. Partly due to the failure of Operation Market Garden, it took until May 1945 before the whole of the Netherlands was liberated.

PostNL only issues these limited-edition golden stamps to celebrate special anniversaries and other remarkable memorable occasions. Previous golden stamps were published for 350 years of Rembrandt, 40 years of Erwin Olaf (portraits of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima) and the End of the Second World War series. Each stamp is made from 24-carat gold.

New Stamps from India

Gandhian Heritage in Modern India

Date of Issue : 15 August 2019

Indians in First World War

Date of Issue :  20 August 2019

 (Set of 15 stamps and 4 Miniature sheets)

Air Warriors

Indian War Memorials

Major Battle Theatres

Maharaja Ganga Singh , Indian Signatory to the Treaty of Versailles, 28 June 2019

Source : Stamps of India 

Centenary of End of World War I

National Memorial Arboretum (NMA)  Lichfield,Staffordshire

Date of Issue : 21 September 2018

Gibraltar Post issued two miniature sheets to commemorate the Centenary of End of World War I.

The National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) at Lichfield, Staffordshire commemorates and pays tribute to all British, Commonwealth and Allied troops who fought and died in the cause of peace and freedom in both World Wars.

The Rock of Gibraltar War Memorial located at NMA recalls the sacrifice made by Gibraltarian members of the British Armed Forces in both World Wars, and the role played by both the Rock and its civilian  population, particularly in World War II. It is carved out of a 3.5 ton piece of Limestone Rock and is dedicated to the Gibraltarians who paid the ultimate price and whose names are carved in stone on this memorial.

After an inspired visit to the National Memorial Arboretum by Gibraltarian Joe Brugada in August 2014, later assisted by designer Anselmo Torres, the Memorial was commissioned and officially unveiled by HM Government of Gibraltar on the 13th October 2015.

The military hostilities of World War One ended at 11 am on 11th November 1918 but a final diplomatic end of the war was not reached until the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. In 1919, Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson from the US met to discuss how Germany was to be made to pay for the damage world war one had caused.

Wilson had devised a 14 point plan that he believed would bring stability to Europe.

Open Diplomacy – There should be no secret treaties between powers

Freedom of Navigation – Seas should be free in both peace and war

Free Trade – The barriers to trade between countries such as custom duties should be removed

Multilateral Disarmament – All countries should reduce their armed forces to the lowest possible levels

Colonies – People in European colonies should have a say in their future

Russia – Russia should be allowed to operate whatever government it wanted and that government should be accepted, supported and welcomed.

Belgium – Belgium should be evacuated and restored to the situation before the war.

France – should have Alsace-Lorraine and any lands taken away during the war restored.

Italy – The Italian border should be readjusted according to nationality

National Self-Determination – The national groups in Europe should, wherever possible, be given their independence.

Romania, Montenegro and Serbia – Should be evacuated and Serbia should have an outlet to the sea

Turkey – The people of Turkey should have a say in their future

Poland – Poland should become an independent state with an outlet to the sea.

League of Nations – An assembly of all nations should be formed to protect world peace in the future.

Germany expected a treaty based on these fourteen points. However, negotiations between the ‘big four’ Lloyd George of England, Orlando of Italy, Clemenceau of France and Woodrow Wilson of America did not go smoothly. Wilson believed that his fourteen points was the only way to secure everlasting peace. The French however, wanted the defeated nations to be punished severely and believed Wilson’s plan too lenient. Privately Lloyd George sided with Wilson although he was concerned about the threat from Communism, however, the British public, like Clemenceau, wanted Germany punished severely. Lloyd George knew that if he sided with Wilson he would lose the next election.

Source : Gibraltar Post