Belgium – parcel post issues

What is a parcel post stamp and what is a railway stamp? Here, you have both and both government issues as well. Why such Belgium stamps gets included and others do not is a mystery for the ages.

Meanwhile:  File:Belgium 2f PP numeral.jpg|1894 2fr value. File:Belgium 50c numeral A.jpg|1895 50c black numeral. File:Belgium 1fr wheel PP.jpg|1902 1fr value. File:Belgium wingedwheel ovt B.jpg|1915 5fr provisional overprint. File:Belgium 1916 winged wheel.jpg|1916 55c value. File:Belgium 5fr PP.jpg|1916 5fr value. File:Belgium 25c winged wheel C.jpg|1920-21 25c value (revised design). File:Belgium arms PP.jpg|1922 20fr value. 
 * Beginning in 1879, Belgium's first parcel post stamps were issued featuring the Belgian coat of arms. This has CHEMINS DE FER ("railway") at top and "BELGIE" and "BELGIQUE" at the sides. Cancels appear to be mostly hexagonal. Pinholes are normal for used stamps but reduce their values by half.
 * In 1882-94, a monocolor numeral design was released using the bilingual legend CHEMINS DE FER and SPOORWEGEN. The familiar rectangular cancels began appearing on these stamps. This issue has been forged extensively as mint "stamps". Originals are perf 15½x14½, forgeries are otherwise or imperf.
 * In 1895-97, the design was changed with numerals in black except for the franc values, with curved value labels inside the centers. The forgery comments above apply to this issue, too. New values were added in 1901-02.
 * In 1902-14, a bicolor winged wheel design was released.
 * In 1915, Albert I definitives were handstamp overprinted "CHEMINS DE FER" and "SPOORWEGEN" vertically with a winged wheel between. These are known forged.
 * In 1916, a new series was released with lower values featuring a winged wheel and higher values with a steam locomotive.
 * In 1920, those designs were reworked with the denomination repeated larger at or near the top of the design.
 * In 1920-21, that design was revised slightly with less shading overall and other differences.
 * 1922 saw a return to the Belgian arms design but with curved labels and more heavily shaded.
 * Beginning in 1923, the familiar designs with small arms was released





[[Category:B]]