THE SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE RECORDED IN PHILATELIC ITEMS

By: Henriko Mei Erikson Simatupang & Rasjid Siagian

This article is arranged primarily in order to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the independence of Republic Indonesia and also to show how philatelicswas able to record that historical moment. The materials used in this article waspart of collections of Mr. Sajoer St. Maharadjas who is one of the greatest philatelists in Medan. His awareness of the irreversible moment of independence arised the idea to portrayit so that the spirit of independence could be forwarded to the next generation.We aware that in that chaotic time this was not an easy task to do. Maybe sometimes you need to run amidst of bullets just to get stamps and marks in the post offices. Maybe the service of post office was also irregular. By knowing this, we can figure out how difficult it was of building this philatelic collection of revolution period. This article is arranged primarily in order to commemorate the 67th anniversary of the independence of Republic Indonesia and also to show how philatelicswas able to record that historical moment. The materials used in this article waspart of collections of Mr. Sajoer St. Maharadjas who is one of the greatest philatelists in Medan. His awareness of the irreversible moment of independence arised the idea to portrayit so that the spirit of independence could be forwarded to the next generation.We aware that in that chaotic time this was not an easy task to do. Maybe sometimes you need to run amidst of bullets just to get stamps and marks in the post offices. Maybe the service of post office was also irregular. By knowing this, we can figure out how difficult it was of building this philatelic collection of revolution period.

INDONESIA MERDEKA, RAKJAT BAHAGIA (The freedom of Indonesia brings joy to Indonesian people), a slogan expressing the joyof Indonesia peopleas being free from more than 350 years of collonialism.This slogan was used as a special mark forcommemoratingthe 8thmonth of the independence. Along with that mark, there are attached two Ned Indie stamps overprinted with Repoeblik Indonesia in order to affirm the existence of Indonesia state; one of this stamps has the overprint inverted. This cover was also stamped with a Medan cds dated 17.4.46.

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SEKALI MERDEKA TETAP MERDEKA (once free, remain free) !! Maybe this was the most famous slogan in the period of independence war.This slogan was quotedthen on the special mark designed to celebrate the 9th month of independence in Medan. Drew on this mark an inscription saying SEKALI MERDEKA, TETAP MERDEKA 17-8-45/17-8-46 MEDANand a picture with a flag and Indonesia map. This special mark was stamped on a Japanese occupation post card with a 3,5 centimprinted stamp. The use of the postcard by Indonesia was to use up the remained stock. But to affirm the existence of the new republic this post card was stamped with the inscription REPOEBLIK INDONESIA 15 SEN by the Indonesia post authority. Also in this cover attached a 2-cents of kerbau stamp with an overprint of Repoeblik Indonesia inverted and a surcharge value 40 SEN.

A cover with Medan cds 17.6.46 to commemorate the 10th month of independence.This has a big circular-special mark in purple with the picture of a soldier above a map whichemphasizethe role of soldier as the guardian of the newborn state. There are also attached two revolution stamps of 15 cent and 40 cent which were printed in Palembang and officialy issued on 17-5-1946. Inscripted on these stamps
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FONDS KEMERDEKAAN (Independence Funds) which means that this serie of stamps was intended to raise funds used for the independence struggle. Alsoa cdsof Medan dated 18.6.46 was stamped on this cover.

A cover with Medan cds 17.6.46 to commemorate the 10th month of independence.Stamped with two big circular-special marksin pale red which pictured a soldier and map of Indonesia to expressthe role as the guardian of the new-born state. Attached on it, two revolution stamps, two Ned Indie stamps overprinted with Japanese occupation symbol, and a register label of Medan. Those revolution stamps has been mentioned before. The Japanese occupation stamps used 25 cents Ned Indie stamps overprinted with ZL-1 type and had the inscription of NED INDIE blackened. Also a cds of Medan dated 18.6.46 was stamped on this cover.

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A cover with two independence commemoration special mark, of PematangSiantar and of Medan, sent from PematangSiantar to Medan on 11-9-1946. A beautiful special mark of PematangSiantar inscribed SATOE TAHOEN INDONESIA MERDEKA in red was stampedon a Japanese occupation post card. By this slogan we can see the proud of Indonesian people in celebrating the first year asa free nation; free from the slavery, free from the collonialism. Added on it, three revolution stamps of 5, 15 , and 40 cents which were stamped with a big commemoration-special mark of Medan in red. This special mark was officialy issued by the PTT (post authority) of Medan and hadon it an inscription PERINGATAN 1 TAHOEN NEGARA REPOEBLIK INDONESIA-MEDAN and a picture of a hand with a torch, a flag, and a map of Indonesia which describes the eternal spirit of freedom impassioned in every people of Indonesia.

A cover sent from TebingTinggi Deli to Medan and stamped with three commemoration marks. This mark was issued in TebingTinggi Deli and inscribed SATOE TAHOEN INDONESIA MERDEKA-TEBING TINGGI DELI.By this cover we can reveal that the euphoria of independence was not only perceived in big cities such as Medan, but also in small cities such as TebingTinggi which is far from Medan. Attached on it, a revolution stamp picturing the 1st president Soekarno with 40 cents value.

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A philatelic cover from Medan and stamped with two special commemoration marks of independence in red. On these marks there are inscriptions saying PERINGATAN 1 TAHOEN NEGARA REPOEBLIK INDONESIA -MEDAN (The commemoration of the 1st anniversary of Indonesia independence). Attached on it, a revolution stamp picturing the 1st president Soekarno with 40 cents value. This cover was also stamped with a clear Medan cds dated 14-9-1946.

A Ned. Indie postcard overprinted by the Japanese occupation post authority was used to commemorate the 1st anniversary in Medan. By this post card, we can reveal the fact although being independent for one year, the remaining collonial philatelic items were still sold by the Indonesia post authority and officialy used without any overprints. As a commemoration, this post card was stamped with 2 special marks in purple that were officially issued by the PTT (post, telegraph, and telephone) and a slogan PERINGATAN 1 TAHOEN NEGARA REPOEBLIK INDONESIA MEDAN written on them.

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A philatelic used cover to commemorate the 1st anniversary of independence was sent from Bindjai to Medan on August 17th, 1946.In upper-left corner there is inscription MEMPERINGATI 12 BOELAN OESIANYA NEGARA REPUBLIK INDONESIA (TO COMMEMORATE THE 12 MONTHS OF REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA). This cover used two three-period stamps and two revolution stamps and was stamped with Bindjaicds dated 17.8.46. By this cover we can see the passion of people in celebrating the independence.

A Japanese occupation postcard that was overprintedby the Indonesia post authority was used as a philatelic variation in the commemoration of the 1st anniversary of the independence in Medan. In this postcard we can see the effort of the Indonesia post authority to close DAI NIPPON inscription on imprinted stamp (although it was not fully success) and an overprinted REPOEBLIK INDONESIA to show the existence of the new state. The value was also changed from 3,5 cents to 15 SEN. A Ned Indie stamp overprinted with a circular PTT-INDONESIA in black was also attached and stamped with a Medan cds dated 11-9-1946.

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As a commemoration, this post card was also stamped with a special mark in red that were officially issued by the PTT (post, telegraph, and telephone) and a slogan PERINGATAN 1 TAHOEN NEGARA REPOEBLIK INDONESIA MEDAN written on them. This special mark may show us the passion of people in celebrating the 1st anniversary in Medan.

A philatelic cover to commemorate the 1st anniversary of independence with three special marks of Medan in blue were stamped on it. By this cover, we know that at least there were three color used to stamp those special marks, i.e. purple, red, and blue. Indirectly, this reflected the enthusiasm and readiness of post authority to celebrate the special moment. On this cover were attached four 15 sen-revolution stamps and aNed. Indie stamp overprinted with Repoeblik Indonesia and surcharged 40 SEN. There is a Medan cdsdated 5.9.46.

A cover with a special mark with a picture of a bull headand an inscription of SEMANGAT BANTENG (the SPIRIT OF BULL). This bull marked the 11th months of the independence and used as a symbol of the spirit of Indonesia people in defending their independence. Two Medan cds dated 17-7-1946 and a revolution stamp with a handsketchof Mr. Soekarno, the 1st president, were attached on this cover.

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A postcard with a special mark pictured a bull headstamped to commemorate the 11thmonth of independence. This postcard was residuals from Japanese occupation which was used by the Indonesia. Note that the Dai Nippon inscription was closed with blue ink and an inscription of REPOEBLIK INDONESIA was stamped. The value was also changed from 3,5 cents to 15 cents.

A mint postcard to commemorate the 1stanniversary of the independence on August 17th,1946 that was issued and used only in Java. This postcard had an imprinted stamp with a value of 10 senand was cancelled with a Garoetcds dated 17.8.46.

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A mint postcard that was specially issued to commemorate the 2nd year of independence, August 17th,1947.

A mint postcard that was specially issued to commemorate the 2nd year of independence, August 17th, 1947. The difference from the previous one is that on the upper left corner there is a square of R 1.10 which shows the value of the stamp should be attached.

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A common cover gummed with eight revolutionstamps. All these stamps were issued especially to commemorate the 1styear ofindependence and used and circulated only in Java. There are three cds of Moentilan dated 17-8-1946 to cancel these stamps.

An imperforated revolution stamp with aa value of 100 cents, beside the 50 cents, that was issued to commemorate the 3rd anniversary of the independence. At the top of it there is a word of 3 TAHUN MERDEKA (3 years of the independence) that marks the objective in issuing this stamp. To cancel this stamps were a Madioen (East Jawa) cds dated 17-8-1948.

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