International Letter Rates : Post-War 1945 - 1946

German forces in the Netherlands surrendered on May 5, 1945. In this third installment in a series of posts dealing with international letter rates and services, covers mailed in the 1945-46 post-war period are shown. 1946 was chosen as the cut-off date because rates increased significantly on November 1, 1946. The rates in effect in the immediate post-war period were the same as those in effect from August 12, 1940, with the exception of the suspension of concession letter rates to Germany and members of the European Postal Union.

Stamps in Use

The 1940 Wilhelmina definitives issued just before the German invasion reappeared after the war. The dove issue continued to be sold in the post-war period. The Dutch Sea Heroes stamps were in use  until their validity ended on May 31, 1946.

In 1944, the Dutch government-in-exile printed a set of definitive stamps in London for use by Dutch naval personnel. The government-in-exile stamps were introduced in the Netherlands in May, 1945, and were valid until December 31, 1946.

Netherlands government-in-exile 12 1/2c stamp

 Selvage Inscription : Bradbury, Wilkinson and Co. Ld., New Malden, Surrey, England

This post is organized as follows:

1. Letter Rates
2. Services
a) Registration
b) Express

1. Letter Rates

To Canada

 Rotterdam to Toronto, June 18, 1945

12 1/2 c international letter rate

To Great Britain

 Deventer to London, June, 1945

12 1/2 c international letter rate

To Argentina

Laren to Buenos Aires, July 10, 1946

 12 1/2 c international letter rate

s'Gravenhage to Buenos Aires, May 5, 1946

Se-tenant stamps paying the 12 1/2 c international letter rate

To the United States

Amsterdam to Chicago, October 30, 1946

 12 1/2 c international letter rate

 To Germany

 Amsterdam to Frankfurt (American Zone), July 8, 1946

 12 1/2 c international letter rate

 Zwolle to Traben-Trabach a.d. Mosel (French Zone), August 6, 1946

 12 1/2 c international letter rate

To Switzerland

 Amsterdam to Zug, January 15, 1946

 12 1/2 c international letter rate

 To India

Wassenaar to Rampur, September 3, 1945

 12 1/2 c international letter rate

To Poland

Last Day of 12 1/2c Rate

Amsterdam to Warsaw, October 31, 1946

Last day  12 1/2 c international letter rate

On November 1, 1946, the international letter rate was increased to 20c for the first 20g.


2. Services

a) Registration

The international registration fee was 10c until October 31, 1946. The fee increased to 15c on November 1, 1946.

To the United States

 s'Gravenhage to Western Springs, Ill., June 30, 1945

22 1/2c paying the 12 1/2c letter rate + 10c registration fee

To New Zealand

 Almelo to Auckland, October 24, 1946

22 1/2c paying the 12 1/2c letter rate + 10c registration fee

To Canada

  

Roosendaal to Parry Sound, April, 1946

30c paying 20c double weight letter rate + 10c registration fee

b) Express

 The international express fee was 20c.

To Switzerland

 Leiden to Bern, July 7, 1946

32 1/2 c paying the 12 1/2c letter rate + 20c express fee

To Great Britain

 Amsterdam to Liverpool, August 20, 1945

32 1/2 c paying the 12 1/2c letter rate + 20c express fee