Olympic Games of Rome, Pro Juventute (for the Youth). No’s 367-371.

Fifty-four years after Italy had to give up hosting the Olympics, Rome finally got its chance. They made the most of their dramatic history, holding the wrestling competition in the Basilica of Maxentius, site of wrestling contests 2,000 years earlier. Among the other ancient sites that were used were the Caracalla Baths (gymnastics) and the Arch of Constantine (finish of the marathon). By winning the silver medal in light-welterweight boxing, Ike Quartey of Ghana became the first black African Olympic medallist. Five days later in the marathon, Abebe Bikila, running barefoot, outlasted Rhadi Ben Abdesselem of Morocco to become the first black African Olympic champion.

Date of issue: 2 May 1960

Expiration date: 30 June 1960 (*see note)

Design:

Printing: Imprimerie Belge de Sécurité, Brussels (subsidiary company of Waterlow)

Perforation: 13.5 (some catalogues indicate wrongly 13.5 x 13)

Size: 36 x 20 mm

Marginal inscriptions: none

Sheet: 50 (5 x 10)

Circulation: see the series

The extra tax was to the profit of the education of the youth of Belgian Congo and Ruanda-Urundi (Pro Juventute = for the Youth).

* 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.

No 367 50c + 25c, ultramarine & red – High Jump, 300,000 stamps

No 368 1,50Fr + 50c, red & green - Hurdles, 150,000 stamps

No 369 2Fr + 1Fr, green & red - Soccer, 125,000 stamps

No 370 3Fr + 1,25Fr, lilac & blue - Javelin, 100,000 stamps

No 371 6,50Fr + 3,50, red brown & red – Discus thrower, 100,000 stamps

The series:

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.

Proofs, size is exact as the series. All proofs are gummed.

(The slight difference in color is impossible to show in a scan)

There are no variations or curiosities known for any of the above shown material.