Dutch New Guinea(5): Irian Barat

On May 1, 1963, the United Nations transferred authority over West New Guinea to Indonesia. The latter named the territory Irian Barat. To celebrate the fact that West New Guinea was becoming part of the Indonesian country, the Indonesian Postal Service issued a series of four stamps on February 15, 1963. The image consisted of a statue, the Tugu Pembebasan Irian Barat Liberation Monument on Lapangan Banteng, the former Waterlooplein in Jakarta. The stamps were designed by Soeroso and printed in an edition of 4.000.000 series. On the day of the transfer, May 1, 1963, another series of three stamps was issued, also designed by Soeroso. This series was called the 'Liberation of West New Guinea'. The print run was much larger than the first series: 12.525.000 copies. Depicted were the archipelago of Indonesia with flags placed in Sabang and Meurauke. The second stamp shows a paratrooper of the Indonesian army, dropped over Irian Barat. The third image shows the great bird of paradise (Paradisaea apoda). The two series were intended for Indonesia itself. Separate stamps were issued for Irian Barat. They were stamps of Indonesia with a black overprint of Irian. Two stamps from the animal series issued on July 1, 1958, were given a changed value. The series of agricultural products from 1960 was also printed, some with a changed value. Unfortunately, a lot of printing waste from Indonesian stamps has entered the market. An example is a blank stamp with only the black overprint, intended for the blue 50 sen stamp. Four stamps featuring an image of President Soekarno were also overprinted with IRIAN BARAT. The original stamps were issued on May 1, 1951. The liberation stamps, issued on May 1, 1963 in Indonesia itself, were also printed for Irian Barat. But with different values! And the text Irian Barat. Postage due stamps were also provided with the overprint. But there is something strange going on with this. The five original postage due stamps were indeed prepared and printed by the Indonesian postal service, but never issued! Therefore, they do not exist without the overprint. And the situation is particularly strange with the 100 sen, as it appears with an overprint at the bottom of the stamp and in the middle. This stamp was originally issued as a postage due stamp in 1962. That Irian Barat is part of Indonesia is evident, for example, from the series of 16 stamps featuring images of musical instruments, issued on February 1, 1967, and March 1, 1967. The 2.50 Rp stamp depicts drums, and the 10 Rp stamp a trumpet, both originating from Irian Barat. From New Guinea, via Dutch New Guinea and UNTEA to Irian Barat: a philatelic event with many facets. Is there nothing more to tell about Irian Barat after 1967? Yes, the last three years are yet to come.