Description: This stamp is a 40-cent (40 C) definitive issue from the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Nederland). Printed using a fine typography process, the monochromatic design highlights an eye-level portrait (en face) of Queen Juliana, who reigned over the country from 1948 until her abdication in 1980. She is framed against a ornate background pattern formed by the mirrored repetition of her royal "JX" crown monogram. The face value "40 C" is set cleanly across her necklace, while the country name "NEDERLAND" grounds the design in bold, capitalized lettering along the solid bottom frame. A soft, dark postmark smudge runs diagonally across the lower center of her face, certifying its historic postal cancellation.
Circa: 1949-1950s
Condition: Used - Hinged
Notes:
The mastermind behind this iconic portrait was the legendary Dutch designer Samuel "Sem" Louis Hartz. To capture a realistic multidimensional profile, Hartz engraved the Queen's likeness onto a sheet of hard transparent plastic, photographed it from different angles under strict studio lighting, and used the resulting high-contrast image to form the metal typography dies.