The collection and study of radio stamps

Collecting and studying radio stamps is a fascinating side to the hobby of DXing.

One of the very unusual and unique Radio stamps issued by the Dutch Post Office was to commemorate Radio Oranje
(Radio Orange), which was a programme compiled and presented by the Dutch Government in exile and broadcast over BBC transmitters during the Second World War.

The broadcasting service in Holland went into Nazi control when Holland capitulated in May 1940. The first Radio Oranje broadcast from London was at the end of July 1940.

The Nazi occupying power forbad listening to foreign radio stations and the transmissions of Radio Oranje were jammed. The two stamps are unusual as they are printed
side by side on each sheet. One of the stamps shows a singer ``Jetje of Orange`` who sang resistance songs.

The other stamp shows two men illegally listening to the broadcasts using a home made radio receiver hidden under the floor of a house. The text on the stamps is from the opening announcement giving the wavelengths and greeting sent to Dutch listeners around the world.

There were some first day covers issued which showed the Radio Oranje banners from the original rubber stamp used in London on official correspondence. These covers are now considered collectors items.

After the war many of the broadcasters with Radio Oranje were involved in the foundation of Radio Netherlands.

(sourced to Peter J. Grenfell Oamaru, NEW ZEALAND DX TIMES PAGE 46 FEBRUARY 2005 via DXLD and forwarded to nationalnews by radiostamps@yahoogroups.com)

Source: Wireless Institute of Australia

Other recent stories..

Other News Stories

• Get our news headlines for your website - click here
• Submit your news story - click here