V World Scout Jamboree

On 1 May 1937 the Netherlands Indies issued a pair of semi-postal stamps for the 5th World Scout Jamboree, which opened that summer at Vogelenzang in the Netherlands. SOSOW catalogues the set under Scott B30–B31 / Michel 239–240; Domfil lists it as «World Jamboree» with numbers 937.1–937.2 — the same 937.x Domfil block used for the three Dutch metropolitan commemoratives (937.1–937.3), so the numbers are reused across the two territories rather than unique worldwide IDs.

Each stamp carried postage plus a 2½ c surtax for the local Scout association, De Padvindersbond, to help finance an Indies contingent to the European jamboree. The values are 7½ + 2½ c (sepia) and 12½ + 2½ c (bright lilac-carmine). Both designs show Scouts (linked arms / friendship motif in the jamboree spirit) after A. Kreisler, printed by Joh. Enschedé & Zonen in photogravure, perforation 12½, size about 26 × 33 mm. SOSOW records print runs of about 340,000 and 505,000 respectively — far smaller than the multi-million Dutch set — and validity for postage until 28 February 1938.

Together with the Dutch issue of 1 April 1937 (Scott 206–208), these Indies semi-postals form the colonial counterpart of the classic 1937 World Jamboree chapter: the metropolis sold ordinary commemoratives in huge numbers; the colony sold charity stamps whose surcharge sent local Scouts to Baden-Powell’s farewell jamboree.

ATA 1964 briefly records that the Netherlands Indies, as a Dutch colony, issued a pair of Scout-design stamps for the same 5th World Scout Jamboree in the Netherlands.