The Mouse that Roared

Today I’m thinking about unrecognized breakaway republics. There have been many over the years. Many, if they lasted long enough, have issued postage stamps to give a semblance of legitimacy. Even today it remains a way to do that, at least to feel as though they were establishing legitimacy. A contemporary example is the breakaway Republic of Transnistria, a very small unrecognized region on the border between Moldova and Ukraine. They have issued a variety of postage stamps, one way to bring in revenue.

Many in the Baby Boom generation will remember the film “The Mouse That Roared,” in which the fictional Duchy of Grand Fenwick declares war on the United States, expecting to lose and be rebuilt by the victor and gain legitimacy. In the past breakaway and small republics have done some very interesting things.

I’d like to look at two such republics that are represented in my stamp collection.  Both fit into my collection time frame of pre-1960ish.  These are North Ingria and the Republic of South Moluccas. You’ve never heard of them? Well, here we go.  

In the aftermath of the 1917 Russian Revolutions, the former empire unraveled. In order to sue for peace the Bolsheviks negotiated away large territories including Poland and Ukraine. Finland was never officially negotiated away but they declared independence when nobody was looking. This didn't happen peaceably, though. A civil war was fought in 1918-19 between the Whites, who wanted to be independent of Russia, and the Reds who supported the Bolshevik government. Today Russia and Finland share a long border, the southern part of which crosses the Karelian Peninsula. St. Petersburg, Russia is at the base of this peninsula, just barely into Russia. After the Bolshevik Revolution the country was almost immediately plunged into a bitter civil war that lasted until 1923.

North Ingria stamps, 2nd issue, 1920

At the fringes of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) a small region at the border between the now independent Finland and Russia was North Ingria. The region seceded from Russia after the October Revolution and declared independence. From late 1919 to late 1920 the area was ruled by a governing council. One enterprising person in the local government thought it would be a good idea to issue postage stamps. These stamps, which were used as postage, became an immediate hit with collectors at the time. They are still popular today although in the past they have been widely forged. The self-declared independent district was formally absorbed back into Russia in October, 1920 by the Treaty of Tartu between Finland and Russia.

The second republic for today is South Moluccas. It lies in the middle of two larger islands in the archipelago of Indonesia. Moluccas is a group of 150 islands known in the past as the Spice Islands. In the 16th century the Dutch gained control of the islands and colonized what is now Indonesia, gaining fabulous wealth from the sale of spices, most notably cloves and nutmeg. The Moluccas were at the center of the spice trade and a concentrated missionary effort gradually led to a Christian majority in an area that was predominantly Muslim.


During World War II Japan occupied Indonesia, which gained independence form the Netherlands after the war. Soon thereafter President Sukarno came to power as president, ruling until 1967. Sukarno had an autocratic style and formed a government on that basis. The South Moluccas islands, with a Christian majority, declared independence in 1950 and only maintained that independence for a few months. An Indonesian invasion of one of the main islands ended that. Thousands of Christian Moluccans fled to the Netherlands, and a government in exile was formed, which is still based today in the Netherlands. They are a member of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO).

The government in exile issued some postage stamps as a way to gain recognition.  One set of stamps, two of which are shown here, celebrated the Universal Postal Union.

South Moluccas fish stamps

Human nature never changing, an enterprising stamp dealer with strong German/Austrian connections, Henry Stolow, had a large group of stamps printed with the name “REPUBLIC MALUKU SELATAN” and illustrations of fish, animals, birds, and flowers of the region. These appeared on the stamp market in 1955 and became immediately popular because of the bright colors and beautiful illustrations. They were never used as legitimate postage stamps, and qualify as “Cinderella” stamps (ie, they appear to be something they are not).

The largest stamp catalogs do not see them as legitimate stamps and vociferously denounce them as fakes and fantasy stamps. Despite such vocal denouncements they are still popular with collectors because of the beautiful illustrations and the interesting back story.