Nederlandsch Indie Stamp Appraisal

Nederlandsch-Indie 1 Cent Postage Stamp

This item is a postage stamp from Nederlandsch-Indie (Dutch East Indies), with a denomination of 1 Cent. The stamp features a central pictorial scene, rendered in a monochromatic palette of dark grey or black on a lighter background, depicting what appears to be an animal, possibly an elephant or rhinoceros, in a natural, forested setting. The image is somewhat blurred, but discernible shapes of trees and foliage are present. Below this scene, there is a prominent dark rectangular block containing the number '1' in a lighter color, indicating the stamp's value. Directly beneath the '1', the word 'CENT' is visible in a smaller, lighter font. Further below, the words 'NED. INDIE' are clearly printed in large, bold, sans-serif capital letters in a lighter color against a dark background, signifying the issuing entity. The stamp has perforated edges, characteristic of most postage stamps, suggesting it was intended to be torn from a sheet. The overall condition appears to be relatively good, with no obvious major tears or creases, although the image quality (of the photograph) makes a precise assessment challenging. The colors are muted, primarily blacks, grays, and possibly a very light, almost off-white background, which is typical for early philatelic items. The design suggests a late 19th to early 20th-century period, given the colonial reference 'NED. INDIE' before the region gained independence as Indonesia. The craftsmanship appears to be standard for early postage stamps, with clear printing for the text elements and a detailed, albeit somewhat dark, engraved image.