Netherlands 1928 Air mail

• Issue Date : 1928, August 20.
• Designed by : Chris Lebeau
• Printed by : Joh.Enschedé, Haarlem
• Print Process : Lithography
• Perforations : 12
• Meant for Air Mail, but in 1931 also allowed for regular mail
• Valid until 31 March 1944

The two Air Mail stamps shown above were issued on August 20, 1928. They commemorate two of the Dutch Aviation Pioneers, in the establishment of Air Mail service between the Netherlands and the Netherlands Indies (Indonesia). After April 29, 1931, these two stamps were placed on sale for general postal use, and as a result, they are plentiful and inexpensive today.

The 40 ct denomination honors G. A. Koppen, a Lieutenant in the Netherlands Air Force. He is famous for his successful round-trip Air Mail flight from the Netherlands to the Netherlands Indies in 1927.

The 75 ct denomination honors Captain Jan van der Hoop, one of the first Dutch aviators to attempt an Air Mail flight from the Netherlands to the Netherlands Indies in 1924.

Cards and Covers

A Netherlands airmail stamp from this set on a cover sent from Venlo (Limburg, the Netherlands) to Friedrichshafen (Bodensee, Germany) with Graf Zeppelin Flight of November 11, 1930. Start in Venlo between 5hrs and 6hrs in the morning, arrival in Friedrichshafen between 14hrs and 15hrs in the afternoon of the same day. (Note: this cover has been copied from an auction catalogue)