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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 2

BELGIUM 1869-1892

Return To Catalogue - Belgium 1869 5 Francs forgeries, part 1 - Belgium 1869 5 Francs forgeries, part 2 - Belgium 1849-1865, King Leopold - Belgium 1866-1869 Lions - Belgium 1893-1911 - 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;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

For stamps of Belgium 1849-1865, King Leopold or Belgium 1866-1869 Lions, click here.

1869 King Leopold II in a fully coloured oval, various frames

10 c green 20 c blue 30 c brown 40 c red 1 F violet

Genuine Certified genuine by Pierre Kaiser Genuine, signed by Champion Certified by Pierre Kaiser.

5 F yellow-brown, reduced size 5 F brown

  10 c green
  20 c blue
  25 c yellow
  30 c brown
  40 c red
  50 c grey
  1 F violet
  5 F brown (1878, 2 shades of colour)

For the specialist: these stamps are usually perforated 15, but the 10 c and 25 c also exist perforated 14, the 10 c, 25 c and 30 c also seem to exist imperforate (rare).

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10 c *** vc  
20 c R c  
25 c *** c  
30 c RR **  
40 c RR **  
50 c RR ***  
1 F RR ***  
5 F RRR RRR Shades: 1878 yellow brown, 1881 redbrown.


I've been told that these are essays in green and red of the 5 F value. I'm not sure if this is true.

Forgeries:

Sites with interesting information about forgeries of this issue (especially the 5 F): http://users.skynet.be/philately/1869/1869-faux.html and http://fauxtimbres.skynetblogs.be/. Also the book 'Les Timbres Belges Faux et Truques' by M.G.Slagmeulder.


Forged cancels 'NORD II' and 'ANVERS NORD 1' on 10 c values


Forgery of the 20 c value. Cut from some kind of souvenir sheet?

The 5 F is very rare (30.000 stamps in red-brown colour were issued and 18.000 in another shade of yellow-brown only). This is probably the reason that dangerous forgeries of this stamp are known to exist (at least 17 different, some from improved plates). Among the forgers that made forgeries of these stamps are Fournier, Sperati and Venturini. Fourteen of these forgeries are described in the book of M. Slagmeulder: 'Les Timbres Belges Faux & Truqués' (104 pages) or 'Les Timbres Faux de Belgique' (1955, 157 pages).
These stamps were designed by H.Hendrick and the engraving was done by A.Doms of the stamp factory (Zegelfabriek) in Mechelen. The initials 'HH' are found in the left bottom corner and the initials 'AD' in the right bottom corner of the 5 F stamps.

Distinguishing characteristics of the genuine 5 F:
1) There is a very typical delta-shaped ornament in to the left of the eye of the King. In many forgeries this ornament has a different shape.
2) On top of the second 'E' of 'BELGIQUE' there should be only one line (not a V-shaped ornament as in some forgeries).

Click here for Belgium 1869 5 Francs forgeries part 1 or Belgium 1869 5 Francs forgeries, part 2.


Stamp from my personal collection. I think the stamp is genuine, but the right hand side has been reperforated.

 

1883 King Leopold II, new design

10 c red 20 c blue 25 c blue 50 c violet 

  10 c red
  20 c blue
  25 c blue
  50 c violet

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks
10 c *** c  
20 c *** *  
25 c R ***  
50 c R ***  


Forgery of the 25 c, some kind of cut from a souvenir card? The perforation is done with scissors?

 

1884 King Leopold II, new designs (king with small beard: 'Fine Barbe')

10 c red on blue

20 c olive 25 c blue on red 35 c brown (no tab!) 2 F violet 

  10 c red on blue
  20 c olive
  25 c blue on red
  35 c brown
  50 c yellow
  1 F brown on green
  2 F violet

As 35 c type, but with small tab attached (1893)

1 F red on green 2 F lilac

  10 c brown
  10 c red
  20 c green
  25 c blue
  35 c brown
  50 c brown
  50 c grey 
  1 F red on green
  1 F orange
  2 F lilac on red
  2 F violet

The small attachment with inscription 'NE PAS LIVRER LE DIMANCHE NIET BESTELLEN OP ZONDAG' could be used to prevent the delivery on sunday. With the removement of this attachment the sender of the letter did not object to deliver the letter on sunday. Stamps without tab are worth less. These stamps are all perforated 14.

Value of the stamps

 
vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon
 
*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare
Value Unused Used Remarks

Without Tabs
10 c * vc  
20 c *** c  
25 c * vc  
35 c *** *  
50 c ** *  
1 F RR **  
2 F *** ***  
With Tabs
10 c brown * vc  
10 c red * vc  
20 c ** c  
25 c ** c  
35 c *** *  
50 c brown *** **  
50 c grey ** *  
1 F red on green *** ***  
1 F orange R ***  
2 F lilac on red R ***  
2 F violet R **  

Mute cancel:

I have seen postal stationery of the type with tab: 10 c red, 10 c brown and 25 c blue on red. The tab could be crossed out with a pen (since it could not be detached as in the stamps). I have seen postal stationery in the design without tab as well: 10 c red and 25 c blue on red.

The Serrane Guide mentions two forgery types of the 2 F, one of which has the impossible cancel "LIEGE 25 JUIN 1892" (the stamps were only issued in 1893).

 

Issues of 1893 onwards

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer