Netherlands Indies – Japanese occupation issues

In early 1942, Japanese forces invaded the Netherlands Indies with the Dutch government surrendering in March. It was then divided into 3 administrative regions:
 * Java and Madura under the 16th Army
 * Sumatra (along with Malaya) under the 25th Army
 * Eastern islands (along with south Borneo) under the Japanese Navy's 2nd South Fleet.

Stamps of Malaya and Japan have been used during the occupation period. There are many different overprint designs on older Netherlands Indies stamps, issued locally as provisionals. There are many excellent forgeries and bogus issues also.

General issue
 File:Java and Sumatra 2s.jpg|2 cent value File:Java occup 3.5s.jpg|3½c value File:Sumatra printed ovpt.jpg|1944 25c overprint (printed) 
 * In 1943, a set of four different designs was released.
 * In 1944, Netherlands Indies stamps with the postal logo and "Sumatra" were issued. They were printed or handstamped.

Java
Java occupation issues are known used in Sumatra, Malaya and Borneo.

There are also a variety of provisional overprints on the stamps of the Netherlands Indies.  File:Java 40 occup.jpg|1943 40c pictorial File:Java soldier.jpg|1943 3½c postal savings commemorative 
 * In 1943-44, pictorial definitives were issued with the three highest values in a larger size.
 * In 1943, a postal savings commemorative set was released, showing a soldier just to get the point across.

Sumatra
 File:Sumatra 3.5c.jpg|1943 3½c value File:Neth Indies occ boxed dainippon.jpg|5c postage due. There are many variant overprints plus forgeries. 
 * In 1943, pictorial definitives were issued, the two highest values in a larger size.

Naval control zone
 File:Neth Indies jpn occ flag.jpg|1943 15c value File:Neth Indies jpn occup falcon.jpg|1943 50c value File:Neth Ind occ Lombok anchor.jpg|Lombok overprint File:Neth Ind occ Samarinda anchor.jpg|Samarinda overprint 
 * In 1943, pictorial designs, one typographed and one engraved, were issued.