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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

BELGIUM 1914-15 Red Cross issues

Return To Catalogue - Belgium 1849-1865, King Leopold - Belgium 1866-1869 Lions - Belgium 1869-1892 - Belgium 1893-1911 - Belgium 1912 Arms and King Albert issue - Belgium 1915 onwards

Currency: 100 Centimes = 1 Franc

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
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For stamps of Belgium before 1915 click here.

All the 'red-cross' issues of 1914-15 were sold by the Belgian Post in Le Havre (France) for double the value, where half of that amount was destined for the Red Cross. A further private bogus issue with the image of the King and the Queen in the values 5 c, 10 c and 20 c seems to exist, although I have not seen it.

1914 War issue, statue of war heroes (Merode monument), with red crosses

Either genuine or very dangerous forgeries.

With "POPERINGHE" cancel, one of the post offices that stayed open during the whole war.

  5 c green
  10 c red
  20 c lilac

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Forgeries:

(forgery with cancel, reduced size)

(forgeries)

Forgeries with forged cancel "ANTWERPEN 1 1 AL ANVERS 11-12 7 X 1914" (also with inverted date "11-12 X 7 1914").

These stamps are quite rare (see printed quantities above). However, enormous quantities of forgeries exist. Some forgeries can easily be recognized by the "Q" of "BELGIQUE", this should be a real "Q", but in the forgeries it resembles more an "O". Perforated and imperforate forgeries with or without forged cancels exist. The above stamps are such forgeries.
According to www.bondskeuringsdienst.nl/BKD.pps, these forgeries were made by the Belgian forger Verschueren from Antwerp (the printer who printed the original stamps), however with different printing plates. The 1915 red cross issue (King Albert, small size) was also forged by him. These forgeries also exist on letter (a letter adressed to Monsieur Levionnois 15, Rue de Charleroi Charleroi can be found on the above mentioned website) with a full set of all six forgeries. I've also seen a forged letter with all three above stamps and the 1915 King Albert small sized stamps (all three) on a letter to 'Monsieur Lauwers 33, Avenue Louise Bruxelles' with the same cancel as shown above "ANTWERPEN ANVERS 11-12 7 1914". See also http://postzegelsdemerode.be/NL/vervalsingenf.html for more information.
More dangerous forgeries also exist, very closely resembling the original stamps. These were made with similar printing plates as those used for the genuine stamps.

Forgery with "ANTWERPEN 9-10 7 X 1914 ANVERS" cancel. Also a forgery with a "BAARLE-HERTOG BAAR LE-DUC" cancel.

1915 War issue, king Albert and red crosses, small size

  5 c green
  10 c red
  20 c lilac

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

There are two types of the 5 c, this type I has the pearls of the ellipse just below the letters "BE" of "BELGIQUE" not joined together. Both types have the word "BELGIQUE" placed higher than in the 'simple' forgeries. However, dangerous forgeries also exist with these distinguishing characteristics.

There are two types of the 5 c, this type II has the pearls of the ellipse just below the letters "BE" of "BELGIQUE" joined together. However, dangerous forgeries also exist with these distinguishing characteristics. By the way, the cancel "ANTWERPEN 9-10 7 X 1914 ANVERS" looks highly suspicious to me (it is the same as in the forgeries of the previous set).

There are two types of the 10 c, type I has the upper right containing rectangle of the cross intact. Type II has this corner shaved off. The word "BELGIQUE" is placed higher than in the 'simple' forgeries. However, dangerous forgeries also exist with these distinguishing characteristics. Here Type I on the left and type II on the right.

There are two types of the 20 c, this is type I. Both types have "BELGIQUE" placed slightly higher than in the 'simple' forgeries. However, dangerous forgeries also exist with the same distinguishing characteristics as the genuine stamps.

There are two types of the 20 c, this type II has the pearls of the ellipse to the right and slightly above the eyes of the King joined to each other and to the pearl of the upper right ornament. However, dangerous forgeries also exist with these distinguishing characteristics.

I have seen forgeries of the small sizes stamps (all values). There are even different types of forgeries. According to www.bondskeuringsdienst.nl/BKD.pps, these forgeries were made by the Belgian forger Verschueren from Antwerp (the printer of the original stamps). The 1914 war issue (statue) was also forged by him. These forgeries also exist on letter (a letter adressed to Monsieur Levionnois 15, Rue de Charleroi Charleroi can be found on the above mentioned website). I've also seen a forged letter with all three above small stamps and the 1915 Merode stamps (all three) on a letter to 'Monsieur Lauwers 33, Avenue Louise Bruxelles' with the cancel 'ANTWERPEN ANVERS 11-12 7 1914'. See also http://postzegelsdemerode.be/NL/vervalsingenf.html for more information.
The 'simplest' forgeries of the small type only have 3 pearls in between the word "BELGIE" and the value label on the right. The genuine stamps have 3 1/2 pearls. Imperforate stamps, stamps with double cross, on different paper etc are all forgeries.
However, very dangerous forgeries also exist. The book of Vervisch and Rompaey lists them all: 'De vervalsingen van de rode kruiszegels van 1914'.

Vervisch lists some 'simple' forgeries. There are three of such simple forgeries for each value. Apparently, all three forgery types were printed in the same sheet.

First 'Simple' forgery according to Vervisch of the 5 c; the word "BELGIQUE" is placed too low, there are only 3 pearls between the word "BELGIE" and the "5". The bottom of the "Q" is pointing to the left. The pearl to the left of "B" of "BELGIE" in the curved ornament is half missing. The impression is clearer than in the genuine stamps.

Second 'Simple' forgery according to Vervisch of the 5 c; the word "BELGIQUE" is placed too low, "Q" of "BELGIQUE" is closed. The impression is clearer than in the genuine stamps. In my opinion, there is always a broken pearl below the "E" of "BELGIQUE".

Third 'Simple' forgery according to Vervisch of the 5 c; the word "BELGIQUE" is placed slightly too low, "Q" of "BELGIQUE" is closed. There are only 3 pearls between the word "BELGIE" and the "5". There is a white line on the left cheek of the King (from his point of view).

First 'Simple' forgery according to Vervisch of the 10 c; the word "BELGIQUE" is placed too low, "Q" of "BELGIQUE" is closed. The "1" of "10" is badly done. The red cross is placed too low (in the genuine 10 c stamps, it is always printed in the same location).

First 'Simple' forgery according to Vervisch of the 20 c has the word "BELGIQUE" too far down. The "Q" of this word is closed.

Second 'Simple' forgery according to Vervisch of the 20 c; 3 pearls in the lower right corner (in between "BELGIE" and "20"), "Q" of "BELGIQUE" has almost no tail, this letter has a scratch at the left hand side. In my opinion, the "B" of "BELGIQUE" has no serifs.

Third 'Simple' forgery according to Vervisch of the 20 c; "B" of "BELGIQUE" has a dent in the bottom. This word is placed too low.

All three types of the 'Simple' forgeries printed together on one sheet, proving that these forgeries were made at the same time. Type I is the second one in the top row.

A bunch of 'phantasy' products, imperforate stamps, crossed omitted, double crosses etc.

A reprint on silk.

1915 War issue, king Albert and red crosses, larger size

  5 c green and red
  10 c red
  20 c lilac and red

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

Although my Senf catalogue says that there are forgeries (reprints) of these stamps, I have not seen them. Since these stamps were printed by Waterlow Brothers & Layton, which later became Waterlow & Sons (and were not printed by Verschueren as the previous two issues), 'reprints' might not exist.

Imperforate stamps.

An imperforate reprint from later date? Inscription "Reproduction only No Postal or Philatelic value" on the back.

Belgium 1915 onwards

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer