150e anniversary of Belgium, 1980

Stamps issued to commemorate the 150e anniversary of Belgium. The stamps depict historical events and portraits.

Five Belgium kings are depicted:

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.

Date of issue: 13 December 1980

Expiration date:

Design: Oscar Bonnevalle (1920-1993)

Printing:

Perforation: 14

Size: 39 x 26.5 mm

Sheet: 50 (5 x 10)

Marginal inscriptions: ‘ZAIRE’ on top in color of the stamp

Circulation: 315,000

No 1066. 10k, green. Leopold I (1831-1865)

No 1067. 75k, rose. Leopold II (1865-1909)

No 1068. 100k, purple. Albert I (1909-1934)

No 1069. 145k, blue. Leopold III (1934-1951)

No 1070. 270k. Boudewijn I (1951-1993)

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.

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