Netherlands – Scott #s B164-69, hinged

Description

Netherlands Scott B164–B169 is a 1948 semipostal charity set issued to support child welfare and social assistance programs in the Netherlands during the postwar recovery period. Each stamp includes a mandatory surtax, placing the series firmly within the Scott B (semipostal) category.

The six-stamp set features engraved childhood portraits of Princesses Irene, Margriet, and Beatrix, daughters of Princess Juliana, shown at different ages and in varying denominations. The intimate, softly rendered portraits emphasize innocence, continuity, and hope, reinforcing the humanitarian purpose of the issue while also reflecting the royal family’s symbolic role in national rebuilding after World War II.

Each princess appears on two stamps, distinguished by denomination and color, while the consistent portrait style unifies the set visually. The surtax amounts printed on each stamp were allocated to charitable causes benefiting children affected by wartime conditions.

Offered here as a complete unused hinged set, with original gum present and light hinge marks consistent with mid-1940s Dutch semipostals. Colors are fresh, impressions are sharp, and perforations remain intact across all six stamps.

Scott Catalog Numbers: B164–B169
Year of Issue: 1948
Condition: Unused hinged
Country: Netherlands