The Field Post Offices of Atjeh;
numbers 1, 2 and 3
by Hans Kruse, translation by Ben Jansen
Original article (in Dutch) can be found on www.puntstempels.nl
Editors note: This article is one of a series of articles appearing on www.puntstempels.nl. In order to make these articles available to a wider audience the ASNP has volunteered to translate them into English. This will take some time, so please go to the Website occasionally to check for updates.
The Atjeh expeditions
Atjeh is a sensitive subject in the colonial history of the Netherlands. Its inhabitants refused to be subjugated, and following a declaration of war, it was decided to initiate a military expedition early 1873. This expedition failed miserably. A second expedition was launched on November 12, 1973, in order to get hold of the situation in Atjeh. This expedition comprised of three brigades, totaling about 14,000 men, from Batavia (present Jakarta). This expedition landed on the coast of Atjeh on December 9 and 10, and each brigade was assigned its own field post office.
In the course of the expedition, the 'Karten' or the palace of the sultan, was captured on January 24, 1874. Following this event, Atjeh was declared part of Dutch territory on January 31. A military authority was established to provide direct government. The former Karten was renamed Kotta Radja on March 19, 1874.
The postcards
A government decree of September 27, 1883 determined that 25,000 postcards with the imprint 'SPECIMEN' would be made available at no cost to the personnel of the second expedition. With this decree, Atjeh obtained the use of the po
stcard on January 1, 1874, while the rest of the Dutch Indies had to wait till April 1, 1874.
The field post offices received a numeral cancel (66, 67, and 68) and a circular cancel in which included the office number. Field Post Office 1 received cancel 66, FPO 2 number 67, and FPO 3 number 68. In 1875, upon departure of the main forces to Batavia, cancel 67 was given to Oenarang, while Padang Pandjang received cancel 68.
Field Post Office 1 continues to function, and the number 1 mark disappears from the circular cancel in 1875. During the second half of 1881, the circular cancel is replaced by a small circular cancel Atjeh (rare), intended for temporary use.
Around the end of February, this small circular Atjeh cancel is subsequently replaced by a small circular cancel Kotta-Radja.
Postal cards of the three Field Post Offices
Netherlands Philately Vol. 31, No. 5 #