This cover(envelope has some stains, creases, nicks, and tears(most connected to the original opening of the mail) here and there around its edges; back flap is about 60-65% intact) has a unique, interesting history behind it! It was sent on February 25(?), 1892, from Gravenhage/The Hague(Number 44. CDS), Netherlands, to Lieutenant Commander Gustaaf Frederik Tydeman, of H. M. Melvill van Carbee," east coast of Sumatra, Dutch East Indies, via Brindisi, Italy, British Singapore(3/30/1892; a decent, transit CDS), Weltevreden(arrived on 4/2/1892; a pretty fine, transit CDS!), Batavia, Java, and two, different paquebots(Dutch and French; noted the black cachets!)! There are some addition, auxiliary, routing marks written in blue crayon, including the word, Soerabaia(on Java)!) The Melvill van Carbee was a three-masted schooner-brig operating as an opnemingsvaartuig (surveying vessel). It was named in honor of Baron Pieter Melvill van Carnbée, a legendary 19th-century Dutch hydrographer and geographer of the East Indies. Under Tydeman's command in the early 1890s, the ship executed critical, extensive hydrographic mapping across 180 nautical miles of the Sumatran coastline along the Malacca Strait. His precise charts drastically improved navigational safety in the region. He would eventually rise to the rank of Vice-Admiral! As for the light brown, 5-Cent, Dutch definitive, it's in fine-very fine condition! Noted imperfections aside, this cover remains a nifty, uncommon piece of postal history connected to The Netherlands, Dutch East Indies, Dutch Navy's Melvill van Carbee, and Lieutentant-Commander Gustaaf Frederik Tydeman, that survey ship's commander!