Philately of Belgium: Varieties of Postage Stamps

1907/08. Coat of arms. Printed in letterpress. Perforation 14.

TYPES
1 c.

Type I
Type II		 Type I:

  • NEPASLIVRER,
  • larger distance between left frame and inscription on the tab,
  • without dots behind DIMANCHE and ZONDAG.

Type II:

  • NE PAS LIVRER,
  • the distance between left frame and inscription on the tab is shorter,
  • dots behind DIMANCHE and ZONDAG.

1913/13. King Albert I. in uniform. Printed in letterpress. Perforation 14.

TYPES
Multiple values
Postage stamp of Belgium Albert I in uniform type I
Type I		 Belgium 1913 postage stamp king Albert I
Type II
Type III		 Type I:

  • two buttons on uniform.

Values: 10, 35, 40, 50 c., 1, 2 fr.

Type II:

  • one button on uniform,
  • designer’s name below the bottom frame.

Values: 10, 20, 25, 40 c.

Type III:

  • one button on uniform,
  • without designer’s name.

Values: 10, 20, 25 c.

15 October 1915 – June 1922 King Albert I. Printed in letterpress in sheets of 400 (20×20), then divided into four panes of 100 (10×10). Perforation 14.

TYPES
Belgium 1915 postage stamp types Belgium King Albert postage stamp type 1 Belgium King Albert postage stamp type 2 Belgium King Albert postage stamp type 3 Belgium King Albert postage stamp type 4
Differentiation between types:

  • relation between the upper oval line above inscription BELGIQUE and the ornament to the right (1),
  • state of the large curved ornament in the upper left corner (2),
  • length of the middle leaf in the upper right ornament (3).
 Type I, 15.10.1915, London print:

  • oval line above BELGIQUE and ornament to the right connected (1),
  • large curved ornament broken (2),
  • middle leaf short (3).

Values: 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 cents.

 Type II, 1919/1920, London print:

  • oval line above BELGIQUE and ornament to the right connected (1),
  • large curved ornament complete (2),
  • middle leaf short (3).

Values: 1, 2, 3, 5, 15, 20 cents.

 Type III, 1920, London print:

  • oval line above BELGIQUE and ornament to the right separated (1),
  • large curved ornament broken (2),
  • middle leaf short (3).

Values: 2, 5, 10, 15 cents.

 Type V, 1922, Mecheln print:

  • oval line above BELGIQUE and ornament to the right connected (1),
  • large curved ornament broken (2),
  • middle leaf long (3).

Values: 5, 20 cents.

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in literature)
1 White dot next to the numeral 5 to the right.
Type II		 Belgium postage stamp error White dot next to the numeral 5
1 Letter B in BELGIQUE damaged on bottom.
Type I		 Belgium postage stamp error Letter B in BELGIQUE damaged
1 White dot in letter C in the left denomination box.
Type I		 Belgium postage stamp error White dot in letter C

1915, 1919. Handover of flags in Veurne. Printed in line engraving. Perforations line 14 and line 15.

TYPES
5 fr
Belgium handover of flags in Veurne postage stamp 5 franken
Type I		 Belgium handover of flags in Veurne postage stamp 5 frank
Type II		 Type I:

  • value inscription 5 FRANKEN.

Type II:

  • value inscription 5 FRANK.

5 March 1921. Provisional issue: commemorative stamps for Antwerpen Olympic Games of 1920 overprinted with new values.

UNLISTED VARIETIES
20 c. on 5 c. + 5 c.
1 Dot after left-sided denomination positioned significantly lower. Belgium 1921 Antwerpen Olympic games postage stamp overprint error

1953/66. King Baudouin.

TYPES
2.50 f.

Type I
Type II		 Type I:

  • denomination number thin,
  • portrait evenly shaded.

Type II:

  • denomination number thick,
  • portrait pale.
3 f.

Type I
Type II		 Type I:

  • denomination number thicker,
  • both horizontal strokes of letter F of equal length.

Type II:

  • denomination number thinner,
  • lower horizontal stroke of letter F shoter.
3.50 f.

Type I
Type II		 Type I:

  • dimensions 21 x 24,5 mm.

Type II:

  • dimensions 20,5 x 24 mm.
4.50 f.

Type I		 Type I:

  • with year mark 1962 in bottom left corner.

Type II:

  • without the year mark.
7 f.

Type I
Type II		 Type I:

  • denomination thin.

Type II:

  • denomination thick.
UNLISTED VARIETIES
2.50 f.
1 White circle between 2 and F.

8 December 1962. Fight against tuberculosis.

TYPES
40 c. + 10 c.
Belgium queen Louise-Marie 1962 postage stamp type 1
Type I		 Belgium 1962 postage stamp fight against tuberculosis type 2
Type II		 Type I:

  • monogram L.

Type II:

  • monogram ML.

1968/73. Heraldic lion.

TYPES
2 f.
Belgium 2 f postage stamp heraldic lion type 1
Type I		 Belgium heraldic lion stamp type 2
Type II		 Type I:

  • distance between 2 and F short,
  • horizontal stroke of numeral 2 thin,
  • horizontal line below letter F thick.

Type II:

  • distance between 2 and F longer,
  • horizontal stroke of numeral 2 thicker,
  • horizontal line below letter F thinner.

8 November 1969. John F. Kennedy tunnel in Antwerpen.

CONSTANT VARIETIES
3 f. Field number
I Belgium Antwerpen John F. Kennedy tunnel postage stamp variety Cloud line above ship missing. ?

 

Bibliography

  • Michel Nord- und Nordwesteuropa 2005/2006, Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-683-3