50th anniversary of Belgian Congo. No’s 344-349.
Five Belgium kings dressed in military uniform.
Leopold I (1831-1865)
Leopold II (1865-1909)
Albert I (1909-1934)
Leopold III (1934-1951)
Boudewijn I (1951-1993)
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.
The stamp was designed by Jean van Noten, inspired by the memorial tablet of the 125e anniversary of the dynasty made by the sculptor Alfred Courtens (1889-1967).
Date of issue: 1 July 1958
Expiration date: 30 June 1960 (* see note)
Design: Jean van Noten (1903-1982)
Engraving: G. Minguet
Printing: Imprimerie Belge de Sécurité, Brussels (subsidiary company of Waterlow)
Perforation: 12.5
Size: 31 x 41 mm
Sheet: 50
Marginal inscriptions:
Circulation: see the series
No 344 1Fr, violet, 500,000 stamps
No 345 1,50Fr, blue, 1,500,000 stamps
No 346 3Fr, carmine, 5,000,000 stamps
No 347 5Fr, mineral green, 1,000,000 stamps
No 348 6,50Fr, red brown, 1,500,000 stamps
No 349 10Fr, blue violet, 1,000,000
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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.
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There are no variations or curiosities known for any of the above shown material.
Color proofs without value and country indication:
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Note: a special proof was sold in auction in 1999, framed with text in gold on paspartout: Imprimerie Belge de Sécurité, Brussels.
* Note: The Belgium Congo stamps, without new value (overprint), were theoretically demonetized (can no longer be used as postage) on 30 June 1960
In practice many stamps of the colony could be used (and were sold) till 1965 because of lack of available values.
For example in 1964 you could still buy and use the series "masques" of 1947 without any problem in Kivu, Kasaï, and in the eastern province.
In 1965 the 3 highest values of these series were still for sale in Elisabethville.
Only certain private (or special) colonial emissions were really demonetized; for example the series with a portrait of King Boudewijn of 1955, and the series of the 50th anniversary of Belgium Congo of 1958.