The surcharge stamps appeared in 1923. Before the surcharge was added using the regular stamp, which were then stamped with a special postmark “TAXES” or “TAXE” either with or without cadre and sometimes through the letter “T”. As of 1916 a uniform stamp was issued to all post offices, a date stamp normally accompanies it. As the stamp with “taxes” signifies a special use, the collect ability has increased either cancelled or mint. Many of the mint stamps were originally surcharged for collectors, although low values were surcharged in the morning and used during the day.

NOTE: Stamps with a reversed overprint are not rare; there is no extra value.

 

Stamps originally made for the Belgium Congo in 1915.

In November 1916 they were overprinted with a dark blue text:

“Est Africain Allemand Occupation Belge/Duitsch Oost-Afrika Belgische Bezetting “

Translation: German East African Belgian Occupation

This series was used as tax stamp in 1919.

 

TX1.    5c, green (no 28)

TX2.    10c, carmine (no 29)

TX3.    15c, green (no 30)

TX4.    25c, blue (no 31)

TX5.    40c, carmine-brown (no 32)

TX6.    50c, lilac-brown (no 33)

TX7.    1F,olive (no 34)

TX8.     5F, orange (no 35)

The series: TX1-TX8:

 

1924, 1 December. Surcharge stamps from Belgian Congo.

Stamps originally made for the Belgium Congo in 1923.

Overprint Ruanda above the number, and Urundi below the number.

The overprint was done by: Atelier du Timbre, Malines. (Zegeldrukkerij, Mechelen-Belgium)

Perforation: 14

Sheet: 100

Circulation: 26,000 stamps

TX9.    5c, brown (no 66)

TX10.  10c, carmine (no 67)

TX11.  15c, violet (no 68)

TX12.  30c, yellow-green (no 69)

TX13.  50c, blue (no 71)

TX13a. 50c, ultramarine (no 70)

TX14.  1F, gray (no 72)

The series:

 

Curiosities:

TX9 5c double overprint           TX11-Cu 15c double overprint

          

 

1943, 7 August. Surcharge stamps from Belgian Congo.

Stamps originally made for the Belgium Congo in 1943.

Overprint among us Ruanda-Urundi.

NOTE: According to the O.B.C. the overprint was done in carmine, later in red. The color nuance of the overprint of the first and second edition is not easy to determine, especially not on a scan.

Perforation: 12,5 & 14 x 14.5

Sheet: 100

 

1e edition with carmine (see note above) overprint

Perforation: 12,5

Circulation: 5,000 stamps

TX15. 10c, olive (no 73)

TX16. 20c, blue (no 74)

TX17. 50c, green (no 75)

TX18. 1F, dark brown (no 76)

TX19. 2F, orange (no 77)

The series:

 

2e edition with red (see note above) overprint

Perforation: 12,5

Circulation: 15,000 stamps

TX15a. 10c, olive (no 73)

TX16a. 20c, blue (no 74)

TX17a. 50c, green (no 75)

TX18a. 1F, dark brown (no 76)

TX19a. 2F, orange (no 77)

The series:

 

3e edition with red overprint

Perforation: 14 x 14,5

Circulation:

TX15b. 10c, olive (no 73)

TX16b. 20c, blue (no 74)

TX17b. 50c, green (no 75)

TX18b. 1F, dark brown (no 76)

TX19b. 2F, orange (no 77)

The series:

 

Printer’s proofs, each middle stamp has an overprint in red through the word Congo:

 

1959. Surcharge stamps from Belgian Congo.

Stamps originally made for the Belgium Congo issued in 1957.

Overprint among us Ruanda-Urundi.

The overprint was done in carmine, later in red.

Perforation: 11,5

Sheet: 50

Circulation: 75,000

TX20. 10c brown-bistre

TX21. 20c brown-lilac

TX22. 50c green

TX23. 1Fr blue

TX24. 2Fr red

TX25. 4Fr violet

TX26. 6Fr violet-blue

The series:

 

Curiosities:

TX20 moved overprint

 

TX21 moved overprint

 

TX22 moved overprint

 

TX22 here is only one stamp overprinted, right bottom.

Note: I own part of a sheet and there are two stamps with overprint, how many the total would be in a whole sheet is unknown to me:

 

TX23 moved overprint

 

TX24 moved overprint