CONGO BELGE overprint

The CONGO BELGE overprints of 1908 have complicated story.

There are both typographed overprints and handstamped ones, the latter in two recognizable types.

Handstamp overprints were done in Brussels/Bruxelles and locally. Overprints done in Belgium are generally cleanly and neatly done. Handstamps are near the top or the bottom of each stamp. Ink ranges from gray to black. There are 8 different overprint types though not every value is known with every handstamp type.

The local overprints are more sloppily applied anywhere on the stamp with double overprints, inverts, angled, etc. The ink is thinner than the Bruxelles types, grayish black with a violet tinge to a blue gray. There are 8 different local overprints, different from the Bruxelles types, again where not every value is know with every type. They apparently don't match up with usages in specific cities or towns.

Both have been forged, sometimes obviously. Naturally, since these are on the stamps inscribed "ÉTAT", cancels for genuine overprints must be from 1909 or slightly later. A feature of both Bruxelles and local overprints is that most of the round letters (B, C, G, O) in each type are flattened at top and bottom. This will weed out the "easier" forgeries. But, there are some excellent forgeries around. A gauge was once produced by Willy Balasse to identify all type quickly and accurately.

M.R. Engles' Les surcharges CONGO BELGE 1909 is partly reproduced in the Belgian Study Circle newsletter number 112: in French, showing the types

The typographed types are neatly printed in a dense semi-gloss ink. The spotting feature for genuine is that the round letters have flattened tops and bottoms. There are two types, one with the "C" with a rounded base. The other has a "C" with a flat base, the following "O" with a flat top. It is unclear at this time if there are particularly dangerous forgeries.

There is also a "Prince's Printing", a new printing with a special handstamp overprinting done later, using two Bruxelles type of handstamps. The are hard to tell from the first overprinting, in different shades. There were a limited number left unoverprinted, today offered in sets of 10 with high prices. The majority of this printing were typograph overprinted and sent to the colony.  File:Bel Congo hs ovpt.jpg|Local handstamp overprint, type unclear. Struck three times or stuttered. Genuine? File:Bel Congo CONGO BELGE fake B.jpg|no flat letters to speak of – forgery. The 1917 usage is very likely too late as well. File:Bel Congo ptd overprint.jpg|Typographed overprint. The second type. 

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