Timor lies about 600km northwest of Australia and the first Europeans to arrive there were the Portuguese in 1512. The island was a rich source of sandalwood, much prized for its scent and medicinal properties. In the mid 17th century, the Dutch occupied Kupang and seized a major share of the sandalwood trade. In the mid 18th century, the Portuguese withdrew to the eastern half of the island, where the isolation of the colony and its neglect by the government in Lisbon led to a long decline.

This decline of the Portuguese Empire and the rise of Dutch and British mercantile interests in the East led to the isolation and neglect of Portuguese outposts, none more so than Timor. It was an economic disaster and of no strategic value, and became reliant on the Dutch for regular communication with the outside world. This is evidenced until well into the 20th century by mail from there carrying Dutch markings.

CORREIO /28 DEZ 96 / TIMOR cds to Bruxelles. MAKASSAR /5 /1 /1897 and N.L AGENT SINGAPORE /18 /1 /1897 transit cds. BRUXELLES / 14 / FEVR /2-S / 1897 arrival cds.

At the close of the 18th century, the western half of the island officially became part of the Dutch East Indies and was developed accordingly.

Although Dutch Timor thrived for a time through the sandalwood trade, the land is not fertile and there are few natural resources. It never became an economically viable part of the Netherlands East Indies, but Koepang was developed as the administrative capital, and trade and communications centre of the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Koepang TIMOR 15/12/1885 cds to Toeal, Kei Islands.

An early sending to a trading company at a remote destination — the Islands are only 120km from New Guinea.

Following the German occupation of the Netherlands in May 1940, Geneva provided a route for correspondence with the motherland.

ATAMBOEA 9.1.41 8-10V cds to International Red Cross Office, Geneva. Roode Kruis circular red handstamp. Door Censuur Geopend sealing strip.

In March 1942, the Japanese occupied Timor. There was almost no civilian mail during the occupation – much of the surviving material is Red Cross, like the item below.

To Lieut. H.C.Gunn, Australian POW, Timor. Australian & Japanese censor markings.

Australian forces landed in Timor in September 1945 and handed over the island to the Dutch East Indies Government in March 1946.

AUST UNIT POSTAL STN/ 23 DE 45 / 416 then at Koepang, to Hobart. Boxed handstamp DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY / CONCESSION POSTAL RATE

POSTKANTOOR / 2 FEB 1946 / KOEPANG boxed handstamp to Voorburg, Nederland.

Only over the 7½c & 10c values is there the complete handstamp, with the date added in the middle of the blank centred box as a second operation. The box has been applied diagonally over the 10c & 20c values and the date then added horizontally across the top of the box. The box over the 2½c & 5c values is without date.

These three cancels are variants of a noodstempel (emergency cancel) with the day written in by hand, in use during 1946, but replaced in 1947 by a different type.

Following Indonesian independence in 1949, West Timor was administered as one of the provinces of the Republic.

 

KUPANG / 17. 4. 56. 8. cds to Makassar. MEMALUI CENSOR / PASSED BY CENSOR red boxed handstamp. Sender’s address still has the Dutch spelling KOEPANG.

After Portugal announced that East Timor would be granted independence in 1974, civil war broke out between two political factions. In 1975 Indonesia invaded under the pretense of restoring order. In 1976 Indonesia annexed East Timor and began a ruthless campaign of “pacification”. Although a large Indonesian force occupied the territory, for many years after the Timorese waged guerrilla warfare, with heavy casualties on both sides.

FDC commemorating the integration on 17 August 1976 of East Timor (Timor Timur) into the Indonesian Republic as its 27th Province.

Continued resistance to Indonesian rule was met by violent repression. Successive UN calls for the withdrawal of Indonesian troops were ignored, until in 1998 hardline President Suharto was forced out and his successor conceded a vote for autonomy. In August 1999 the Timorese voted for independence in spite of appalling intimidation, which continued thereafter. In September the UN sent military contingents to form INTERFET (International Force in East Timor) to restore order.

H.M.C.S.PROTECTOR /NOV 11 1999/COMMANDING OFFICER blue boxed handstamp to Teulon, Canada. Each INTERFET contingent organised its own postal facilities, although the RAAF flew all mail to Darwin for onward sending.

In February 2000 the UN assumed responsibility for taking East Timor to full self-government and the INTERFET contingents became part of UNTAET (United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor), a larger multinational force administered from Darwin.

Cover from the Director of Political Affairs, UNTAET, flown from Dili to Darwin for onward sending and postmarked with the UNTAET pouch cachet. A $1.50 Australian stamp then added to cover airmail postage to Switzerland, with an undated slogan cancel.

During the struggle for independence nearly all of East Timor’s infrastructure was destroyed. In March 2000 UNTAET was mandated by the UPU to provide a postal service, with the assistance of CTT Correios Portugal. On 20 April two stamps were issued with no value indicated, marked Timor Lorosae (= where the sun rises) UNTAET and Dom. or Int. for domestic or international use respectively.

CORREIO / 2000 11 27/ TIMOR LESTE /DILI to St. Albans. Scarce commercial cover franked with the Int. stamp.

On 20 May 2002 East Timor achieved full independence as Timor Leste, after 25 years of repressive Indonesian occupation and three years of preparation under UN protection and guidance. Four commemorative stamps were issued, denominated in $US. All the costs of design, production and distribution were met by Australia Post.

Commemorative First Day Cover with 25c traditional crocodile design, 50c ceremonial palm leaves, $1 coffee harvest and $2 flag of newly independent East Timor.

 

Are you interested in the philately of the Netherlands and its (former) overseas territories? Why not then have a look at the website of the Netherlands Philatelic Circle, which you can find here: www.netherlandsphilatelic.org.uk

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We would like to thank Adrian Keppel for sending us this article.