Founding of Congo Free State, 50th anniversary. No’s 185-191.
Four Belgium kings depicted.
Leopold I (1831-1865)
Leopold II (1865-1909)
Albert I (1909-1934)
Leopold III (1934-1951)
Note that none of these were "King of Belgium": their title is "King of the Belgians". The latter phrase indicates a popular monarchy linked to the people of Belgium, whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional or absolute monarchy linked to territory and a state. It is also noteworthy that Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition best described by the slogan "The king is dead, long live the king!". According to the Belgian constitution, the king only accedes to the throne when he takes a constitutional oath. For example, the present king didn't become monarch on the day on July 31, 1993 (the day his brother died) but on August 9 of that same year (when he took the constitutional oath). In all other current monarchies, the monarch becomes a monarch the moment his predecessor dies or abdicates.
Date of issue: 15 August 1935
Expiration date: 1 January 1939
Design: Jean de
Vos?
Engraving and
printing: Institut de Gravure et d'Impression de Papiers-Valeurs, Paris
Perforation: 12.5 x 12
Size: 36 x 23.8 mm
Sheet: 100 (in 4 panels of 25 (5 x 5)
Marginal inscriptions: mosaic and curly letters
Circulation: see the series
No 185. 50c, green, 500,000 stamps
No 186. 1,25Fr, carmine, 1,150,000 stamps
No 187. 1,50Fr, brown-lilac, 1,500,000 stamps
No 188. 2,40, red-orange, 250,000 stamps
No 189. 2,50Fr, blue-green, 600,000 stamps
No 190. 4Fr, lilac, 300,000 stamps
No 191. 5Fr, brown-black, 200,000 stamps
The series:
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There are no variations or curiosities known for any of the above shown material.
The imperforated series is in size and coloring exact the same as above:
Remark: the white border around these stamps is much larger when cut from a side, top, bottom or corner of a sheet (with gum).
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Proofs (never with gum):
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Proofs and approval for printing signed on the back for no.189 (same exists for the others numbers).
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Not excepted designs by Jean de Vos:
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