NETHERLANDS 1899 QUEEN WILHELMINA

This 1899 stamp, Koninkrijk Der Nederlanden, Kingdom of the Netherlands, is from the era of the first Coronation stamps of Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands.

The Netherlands is located on the European continent, adjacent to the northwest corner of Germany and North of Belgium. It’s also within view across the English Channel east of the United Kingdom. The history of the civilizations that formed in this area of the world are dated back thousands of years into the B.C era, which gives it a long history and interesting past.

During the nineteenth century, in the book HOLLAND by Fred J. Melville, President of the Junior Philatelic Society, published in 1909 listed as (MDCCCIX), it is stated that “The stamps were duly issues on the coronation day, September 6, 1898. A decree of July 17, 1899, cancelled all issues of postage stamps prior to that of 1898:”

Interestingly, Queen Wilhelmina was born in November 1880 and when her father died in 1890, “Wilhelmina became queen of the Netherlands instantly, her mother, Emma, was named regent.” She was only ten years old at the time. In September 1898 Wilhelmina was sworn in as Queen of the Netherlands. It is said that, “She reigned for nearly 58 years, longer than any other Dutch monarch.” (wikipedia.org/ Wilhelmina).

The image on the stamp is said to be from a photograph taken by Professor R. Stagg. and the die was engraved by J. Vertheim. The design in the upper left and right corners of the stamp are similar to the lion and crown seen in the Garter-encircled Royal Arms of Wilhelmina. It is noted that the Garter-encircled image is part of “The Most Noble Order of the Garter [which] is an order of chivalry founded by King Edward III of England in 1348.” Information about this society states that, “The order's emblem is a garter with the motto Honi soit qui mal y pense (Middle French: "Shame on him who thinks evil of it") in gold lettering.” There are various legends surrounding the origin of this motto. One that seems reasonable and is “The most popular involves the "Countess of Salisbury", whose garter is said to have slipped from her leg while she was dancing at a court ball at Calais. When the surrounding courtiers sniggered, the king picked it up and returned it to her, exclaiming, "Honi soit qui mal y pense!" ("Shame on him who thinks ill of it!"), the phrase that has become the motto of the Order.” (wikipwedia.org/Garter).

The portrait on the stamp shows Wilhelmina wearing a fur collar possibly portraying a delicate, quiet young woman. With the image of the Royal crown above her it could indicate to her subjects her capability of carrying the weight of the crown, as she demonstrated through the years of her reign. The tiara that the portrait shows her wearing could be The Stuart Tiara, which is said to be “Worn for the first time by Queen Wilhelmina at her investiture in 1898.” (thecourtjewerler.com). In a photograph of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in May of 2018 on The Court Jeweller website, Queen Maxima is seen wearing The Stuart Tiera, showing that this tiara continues to be among the family’s treasures.

The Netherlands has a long history of Princely and Monarchy rulership. It is said that of the list of Monarchy reign it “includes the stadtholders of the House of Orange Nassau since 1556.” (wikipedia.org/monarchs). A curious note is that the coat of arms of the 1544 Orange-Naussau utilizes the escutcheon (shield) with the combined coat of arms of each. The image of the lion can be seen in each of the coat of arms and the similar lion image is on the stamp and coat of arms of Wilhelmina.

The frame around Wilhelmina’s portrait was designed by an artist from Amsterdam in the Netherlands, W. Steelink. It provides almost a fairytale style of picture frame that you might expect see in a movie, encompassing such a young woman who became queen.

With the choice of the 1 Gulden for the denomination of the stamp and the Dutch and German origin of the term literally meaning golden, I wondered if it was chosen as a representation that her union with the crown would epitomize their golden queen with her future years of reign. An interesting note is that the traditional wedding anniversary symbols are gold for fifty years, emerald for fifty-five years and diamond for the sixtieth year.

On the website myweddingfavors.com it states that, “Wedding anniversary symbols, though probably practiced informally even before, truly began in 1897. In that year, Queen Victoria of England celebrated her sixtieth year on the throne. The event was called the "diamond jubilee," and well-wishers celebrated by giving diamonds as gifts, effectively creating the modern diamond market.” I find it fascinating that about one year after this celebration Wilhelmina was sworn in as Queen of the Netherlands and the stamps were issued.

In the frame design, there is a small jeweled image just below the portrait that resembles a diamond and emerald brooch. Notice that the stamp was printed with a green colored ink. Could the likeness of the emerald and the diamond brooch have signified the hope that Wilhelmina would also reign for fifty-five to sixty years? Stamps have a long history with symbolic gestures to their country and people as well as to other countries. The designs on this stamp could be a gesture of hope for a long life for their new Queen.

Wilhelmina was born in the last decade of the Romantic Era of recent history. It makes me wonder what Shakespeare might have said about the young queen if he had lived through this period. An original Shakespearean thought about someone very young becoming queen I believe could be written like this.

‘Tis a day of wonder and awe when a child is born into this world. The passage of birth is analogous from ruler to their subjects.

Of the few who are privileged by their exclusivity to touch the realm of Royal favor as they stretch out their hand into this world, they bear the weight that balances on their shoulders to govern with fairness or malevolence.

Though the youth might bear’st the beauty of thy maternal patron, one must wait to know if the temperament will be one of kindness or cruelty.

For as time proceeded, those with eyes to visualize truth and a mind to establish thoughts of discernment,

countless should have recognized that this young Monarch would mature and flourish as the protector of her fair domain.

She was as beautiful and delicate as a butterfly of society, Whilst her talent to rule began blossoming and she became the beloved by her people.

As the symbols of years of gold and emerald were reached as a delicate hand stretched out in later years as the seasons flowed across the land,

the reminiscence by her subjects having held such deep admiration within their hearts for such a fine lady of strength and virtue,

will keep her reign eternally ruminated for being as precious as the diamond that many cherish so dearly.


Referenced Articles


https://books.google.com/books (Holland)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelmina_of_the_Netherlands

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_the_Garter

http://www.thecourtjeweller.com/p/netherlands.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_monarchs_of_the_Netherlands

https://www.myweddingfavors.com/pages/anniversary