Postage Due stamps from the Netherlands and ex-colonies

Schmidlin types

Contents:

Introduction

The history of the different types of the Schmidlin postage due stamp is a complex one. The foundations for much of the later confusion were laid right at the beginning.
When the first Dutch postage due stamps were introduced, in 1870 in the Netherlands and in 1874 in Netherlands Indies, for each value a different block was made. 200 of these blocks were then arranged into plates of 20 x 10. Joh. Enschedé, the national stampprinter, had made 7 plates:
  1. 5 cents Netherlands - type IV
  2. 5 cents Netherlands and Netherlands Indies (the same stamp, different colour) - type IV
  3. 10 cents Netherlands and Netherlands Indies - type III
  4. 15 cents Netherlands Indies - type I
  5. 20 cents Netherlands Indies - type II
  6. 25 cents Netherlands (this one never made it, only used for colour proofs) - type III
  7. 50 cents Netherlands (also only used for colour proofs) - type III
The designs for these values were all slightly different, and here lay the roots for the different types in later issues.

In 1881 the existing postage due rates were too crude, there was need for more different values. Rather than making new designs, it was decided that the existing blocks should be reused. To do that the large numbers were drilled out of the blocks, creating 1700 frames. These were randomly arranged in plates of 200 or 100 and used to print sheets with valueless postage due stamps.
The following sheets were produced:
200 blue frames for the Netherlands
200 red frames for the Netherlands Indies
100 green frames for Curaçao
100 lilac frames for the Surinam

In a second printing stage the values were printed with black ink (red for the 1 guilder value). Due to a misunderstanding the printer omitted the "cent" from the colonial stamps.

In one plate all 4 types were present. Type III was the most common, since it was used in three of the 1870 plates, and the type IV were scarce right from the start, because most of these blocks had been worn out printing 5 cents stamps. Every time a block was damaged too much it got replaced, always by a Type III.
There were 6 plate-rearrangements, and only the first two contained type IV blocks.

The differences between the types is subject of the next paragraphs.

Type I

The Type I Schmidlin is derived from the 1875 15 cents Netherlands Indies. There are 4 ways to recognise a Type I:
  1. The "T" from BETALEN is right from the top link of the chain.
  2. The "T" from TE has a short horizontal line
  3. The "B" is narrow
  4. The chain has 34 links

The Dutch 1894 issue (#3) was made from plates of only Type I or only Type III. Later issues are only Type I.
In the Netherlands Indies Type I can be found in all issues upto 1940; it was the single type used in all issues since 1913 (#4).
On Curaçao Type I was used in all issues upto 1945; it was the single type used in the 1915 issue (#4).
In Suriname Type I was also used in all issues upto 1931; it was the single type used in the 1913 issue(#4).

Type II

The Type II Schmidlin is derived from the 1875 20 cents Netherlands Indies. There are 3 ways to recognise a Type II:
  1. The "T" from BETALEN is between the top links of the chain.
  2. "TE BETALEN" is in thin typefont.
  3. The chain has 33 links

In Dutch issues Type II can only be found in the 1881 issue (#2).
In the Netherlands Indies Type II can be found in the 1882 issue (#2) and in the first print of the 10 & 20 cents 1892 (#3)
On Curaçao Type II is found in the 1889 issue (#2) and in some values from the 1892 issue (#3). see special table for details.
In Suriname Type II is found in both the 1886 issue (#2) and the 1892 issue (#3). In both cases it is rare to extremely rare.

Type III

The Type III Schmidlin is derived from the 1870/74 10 cents Netherlands / Netherlands Indies, and from the unused colourproofs for the Netherlands 25 cents and 50 cents. There are 3 ways to recognise a Type III:
  1. The "T" from BETALEN is left from the top link of the chain.
  2. "TE BETALEN" is in bold typefont.
  3. The chain has 32 links

Netherlands: Type III is the common variety for the 1881 issue (#2), and rare in the 1894 issue (#3). About 1 in 10 for every stamp in the 1894 issue is a type III.
In the Netherlands Indies Type III can be found in the 1882 issue (#2) and in the first print of the 10 & 20 cents 1892 (#3)
On Curaçao Type III is found in the 1889 issue (#2) and in some values from the 1892 issue (#3). see special table for details.
In Suriname Type III is found in both the 1886 issue (#2) and the 1892 issue (#3). In both cases it is common.

Type IV

The Type IV Schmidlin is derived from the 1870 5 cents Netherlands. Because this postage due stamps was used the most, not very many blocks could be reused for the bicolour series. There are 3 ways to recognise a Type I:
  1. The "N" from BETALEN is completely to the right.
  2. "PORT" is in bolder typefont than the other 3 types.
  3. The chain has 37 links

Netherlands: Type IV is the rarest variety for the 1881 issue (#2).
In the Netherlands Indies Type IV can be found in the 1882 issue (#2). It is the rarest type as well.
On Curaçao there are no Type IV's.
In Suriname Type IV is found in 3 stamps from the 1886 issue (#2): 10, 25 and 40 cents. Very rare.