Theme : Esperanto 13ba - Neutral Moresnet 2

continued from : Neutral Moresnet 1

The issued stamps of Moresnet exist perforated and non perforated.
They were issued gummed and without gum. 
The stamps were never postally used, but they exist with several cancels  'Ausser Cours (gesetzt)' = taken out of circulation or 'Kelmis Moresnet', in various colours.
 

Neutral Moresnet 1 Pf - 1886

 

Neutral Moresnet 50 Pf - 1886

Stamps are bilingual German - French and issued in German 'Pfennig' values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Pfennig).

A 10 pfennig black stamp, with a lion and a german eagle, is a fantasy issue by the Belgian dealer and collector J.B. Moens. 

A second attempt for full independence occurred in 1906, when Molly met the Esperanto movement through Gustave Roy. The growing Esperanto movement was the inspiration for both men, to use Esperanto as 'national' language, an idea that was welcomed by the population of Moresnet.
Esperanto was introduced in the local schools, a national anthem was created and the to-be-founded country would  be "Amikejo" (Esperanto for friend(ship) place).
Esperanto founder L. Zamenhof gave his permission, and the next Esperanto World Congress would be held in Kelmis in Moresnet.
As the international congress in the end was not held in the area, the enthousiasm dropped, and also the more 'german-minded' mayor blocked further development of the first Esperanto-state.
Also the nearby German rulers saw the idea of an independent state as a threat, and preferred an annexation with Prussia.

map of Neutral Moresnet and suggested flag

In 1914, with the outbreak of the first World War, Belgium and Moresnet came under German authority.
And as German lost the war, Moresnet was again detached from the Prussian (now German) influence.
The new world order after the war, decided that there was no place for an ambiguous country within Europe, and by the time the area celebrated it's centenary, Neutral Moresnet became part of Belgium. 

Sign in honour of Gustave Roy and the Esperanto movement

There is a documentary on Neutral Moresnet on youtube.
It is in Dutch, French, German and Esperanto, the documentary was published in 1991, and speaks about the mine, the country, through current city officials and someone (Mr. Peter Zimmer) who was 18 when the country was dissolved. A gem !

Youtube link 

Theme : Esperanto 13a - Neutral Moresnet 1

When Napoleon's army lost against the 6th coalition in Russia in 1812 and in Leipzig in 1813, Europe had become a battlefield from Portugal to the Russian border. The whole continent was a patchwork of smaller and larger kingdoms, free states, and areas by force annexed to the french empire.
Under the leadership of the Austrian diplomat Klemens Werner Lothar von Metternich, a series of meetings with the 'old rulers' of Europe were organized, in the hope to recreate a more stable and peaceful Europe.

von Metternich in 1815

But despite of Napoleon's exile, Europe was devided.
Nationalists in Germany wanted the unification of a strong Germany, and the Italians, divided into many independent states, wanted the same. Smaller nations like the Czechs, for example, wanted more rights within the monarchy. And everybody wanted a constitution, human rights, and other novelties, things that threatened peace and order in Metternich’s opinion.

The congress of Vienna, resulted in the restoration of the French royal house of the Bourbons, where Louis XVIII was placed on the throne again.  The House of Orange got the 'Netherlands', the area that covers the current countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. Also most of the German kingdoms were restored.

In the area between two kingdoms, there was a small area that was split into a western part, with the village of Moresnet in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and an eastern part 'Neu-Moresnet' in the Kingdom of Prussia. In the middle however, a zinc mine was claimed by both sides.  As both kingdoms disputed this area, but yet another war was not an option, the area became 'neutral' (Neutral Moresnet). Technically speaking, the area was not 'independent', it had no ruler on it's own, and was not recognized as a country on it's own. It can be considered as a kind of condominium.
But since both royal houses did not intervene in what happened in the 3.4 km² area, Neutral Moresnet became a playground for both countries.

The 256 inhabitants of the area, but the zinc mine in particular,  were ruled by a Dutch and a Prussian commissioner. Around the area, 60 numbered border stones were placed. This created a point were from 1830, after the independence of Belgium, 4 'countries' came together. The only place in the world were 4 borders had one common point.

current 3-country point (BE - NL - DE)

Because of the complex situation, the area of Neutral Moresnet became a tax haven, a shelter for men who wanted to escape military service in one of the countries, a place were gambling and casinos flourished, and the zinc mine brought wealth.

By 1886, the sentiment of becoming independent was nourished by the German doctor Wilhelm Molly, who started a committee for independence. Dr Molly was the company's medic.
When the zinc mine was becoming less profitable, Molly founded the Verkehrs Anhalt Moresnet. A company that issued stamps in October of that year. And indirect way to claim 'independence' and a new way to create funds for the area.

Napoleonic laws that were in use - von Metternich was not progressive when it came to new rules and oppinions - forbid the exploitaition of postal services by a non-governmental organization. 
Yet, a set of 8 stamps were issued in two variations: perforated and imperforated.

Imperforated set of Moresnet stamps 1886

 More than a century later, the Moresnet stamps are among the most sought stamps.

 to be continued...