Stamps, Indonesia's History Recorder

Despite the proclamation of Indonesia's independence, Jakarta was still not a safe place. The Dutch NICA army continued to launch actions to take control of Jakarta. In a cabinet meeting on January 3, 1946, the Republican leaders decided to move the capital to Yogyakarta.

A number of efforts were made to show the existence of this newly independent and sovereign country, one of them was by issuing stamps. "Indonesia printed stamps for the first time in 1946 to commemorate half a year of its independence. The image is of a bull pulling a chain, a symbol of being free from colonialism," said Lutfie, chairman of the Exhibition Division at the Indonesian Philatelists Association.

With stamps, Indonesia could establish relationships with other countries as well as promote the young nation. "Early independence stamps were used as a propaganda tool to introduce Indonesia abroad," said Lutfie.

Sejarah Pos dan Telekomunikasi di Indonesia Jilid II (The History of Posts and Telecommunications in Indonesia Volume II) mentions that when the Indonesian government was based in Yogyakarta in early 1946, several series of stamps were printed in Bandung, Solo, Yogyakarta, and Jakarta. However, due to the war and the Dutch blockade, only a few series of stamps were seen outside the Republic.  

In addition to printing domestically, Jawatan Pos, Telekomunikasi, Telegraf (PTT) of the Republic of Indonesia printed several series of stamps in the United States and Austria, which included Air Stamps and stamps commemorating the failure of the Dutch blockade. These stamps became a means to promote the name of the Republic of Indonesia abroad.

Stamp Negotiations

During the revolutionary period, issuing and circulating stamps were not easy, with Dutch military aggression being one of the obstacles. This was reflected during the signing of the Renville Agreement on January 17, 1948, which, among other things, agreed on the demarcation line separating the territory of the Republic and the Dutch occupation area.  

After the negotiations, the matter of using stamps became a tough discussion between the two parties. For the Dutch, using Republican stamps for letters from Republican to occupied areas meant that the defense would be breached, postal transportation would be freed up, and free correspondence would further unite the Indonesian people.  

On March 31, 1948, PTT experts negotiated with the Dutch in Jakarta. At that time the Indonesian delegation stated that it was willing to sell Dutch East Indies stamps in Republican territory for letters abroad, provided that Republican stamps could be used for letters from Republican territory to occupied areas. This proposal was rejected by the Netherlands.  

The next negotiation took place in Kaliurang on May 31, 1948. The Dutch proposed that Dutch stamps could be used in the Republic, but Republican stamps could not be used in the occupied areas, which of course, was refused by the Indonesian side. This difficult negotiation shows how stamps as postal objects have undeniable political value.

"Now there are joint issue stamps, for example Indonesia-Japan. This is expected to have an impact on the closer diplomatic relations between the two countries," said Lutfie.  

American-style Stamps

On December 27, 1949, as a result of the Round Table Conference (RTC) agreement, Indonesia became a federated state under the name Republic of Indonesia Union (RIS). The moment of the formation of the RIS was recorded in the RIS Stamp depicting the Red and White flag, with a price of 15 cents.

RIS Stamps were issued in two sizes. The large size of 21 x 26 1/2 mm was issued on January 17, 1950, while the small size of 18 x 23 mm was issued in June 1950. This was the first stamp with the text "Republik Indonesia Serikat" or United Republic of Indonesia. When the RIS was dissolved and the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia was formed, a series of Garuda stamps were issued to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the Proclamation of Indonesian Independence. These stamps depicted the national emblem, Garuda Pancasila, and were priced at 15 cents, 25 cents, and Rp1.

In addition, several other stamp series were also issued, including the Numbers series and Buildings (with images of houses and temples) series with an overprint of "RIS", and the UPU (Universal Postal Union) Commemoration series.

Interestingly, shortly after the handover of sovereignty, the Indonesian government also issued a stamp series to show the influence of the United States in the RTC. "To acknowledge this fact, the stamps depict the main architects of the Republic of Indonesia juxtaposed with their political ancestors in 18th-century colonial America and the 19th century president of the United States at the time of the Civil War, who managed to prevent the breakup of the United States," wrote Frances Gouda and Thijs Brocades Zaalberg in Indonesia Merdeka karena Amerika? (Indonesia's Independence because of America?)

The stamps depict Sukarno with George Washington, Mohammad Hatta with Abraham Lincoln, Sutan Sjahrir with Thomas Jefferson, Agus Salim with Benjamin Franklin, and A.A. Maramis with Alexander Hamilton. While the stamps with Sukarno's picture were the highest value, the stamps with Sjahrir's picture were the cheapest. It was ironic, because Thomas Jefferson, the brains of the Declaration of Independence, was actually highly respected. However, it is understandable because Sjahrir's political role had diminished since he resigned from politics in the final stages of the revolution.

Historical Records

Stamps almost never miss recording historical journeys or important events in Indonesia. Stamps also record Indonesia's work in international relations. The UNO (United Nations Organization) commemorative stamps are one of them. They were issued on October 24, 1951 to commemorate the 6th anniversary of the United Nations (UN) and one year after Indonesia was accepted as a member. The stamps were printed at 7½ cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 30 cents, and Rp1. The printing was done by the American Banknote Company in New York, USA.

Commemorative stamps of the Asia-Africa Conference (KAA) in Bandung on April 18-24, 1955, were issued on April 18, 1955. This stamp depicts a group of people with open arms as if they are welcoming people, accompanied by a group of pigeons on it that fly towards a globe in front of them on which Indonesia's map is visible. The KAA event became a momentum of awakening as well as an effort to establish cooperation and friendship between Asian-African countries. As part of that spirit, the Asian-African Student Conference was held in Bandung on May 16, 1956 and the Asian-African Journalists Conference in 1963. Both historic moments were also recorded on stamps.  

Feeling that the UN was incompetent in handling the Indonesia-Malaysia conflict, on January 20, 1965, Sukarno withdrew Indonesia’s membership from the UN. Not only that, Sukarno initiated the formation of a new force consisting of developing countries to rival the two previous forces (the Soviet Union and the United States) through the Conference of the New Emerging Forces (Conefo), which was originally to be held at the end of 1966. Although the conference didn't take place, this historic event was recorded on the Conefo commemorative stamp series, which was issued in 1963.

Previously, as a rival to the Olympics, Sukarno held The Games of the New Emerging Forces (Ganefo) in Senayan, Jakarta, on November 10-22, 1963. In the same year, the Ganefo commemorative stamp series was issued, consisting of six pieces, with images showing the spirit of Ganefo.

As a result of the "crawling coup" that occurred in September 1965, Sukarno's power slowly collapsed. The Sukarno-era stamps came to an end after Soeharto came to power. Some of the stamp collections are owned by collectors, while some others are exhibited in the Stamp Museum at Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.

"A stamp contains the history and important events of a country," said Tugino, the lighting department at the Stamp Museum in Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.

Photos courtesy of from old-stamps.com