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 Belgian stamps get included and others do not is a mystery, though France seems to have gotten their railway parcel stamps finally listed In Scott. Progress. And don't get me started on Belgium's official stamps which are used on official mail of the railway company only.

Plus several issues like the 1928 overprints were issued by and for the post office and not the rail system. It gets complicated. If you'd like more details, there is William Senkus' excellent article aided by Jean Maas, which can be found here.

Meanwhile:  File:Belgium PP first.jpg|1879 50c value. File:Belgium 2f PP numeral.A.webp|1894 2fr value. File:Belgium 50c numeral A.jpg|1895 50c black numeral. File:Belgium 80c bicolor PP.jpg|1902 80c bicolor stamp. File:Belgium 1fr wheel PP.jpg|1902 1fr value. File:Belgium wingedwheel ovt B.jpg|1915 5fr provisional overprint. 
 * 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 of value in black except for the franc values, and 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, previous designs became bicolor, with a new bicolor winged wheel design used on franc values.
 * In 1915, Albert I definitives were handstamp overprinted "CHEMINS DE FER" and "SPOORWEGEN" vertically with a winged wheel between. These are known forged.

 File:Belgium 1916 winged wheel.jpg|1916 55c value. File:Belgium 5fr PP.jpg|1916 5fr value. File:Belgium 60c wheel 1920 PP.jpg|1920 60c value. File:Belgium 1.10fr PP.A.webp|1920 1.10fr value. File:Belgium 30 revised PP.jpg|1920-21 60c value (revised design). File:Belgium arms PP.jpg|1922 20fr value. File:Belgium Colis postal.jpg|1928 4fr value with shifted overprint. 
 * 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 including changed colors (mostly).
 * 1922 saw a return to the Belgian arms design but with curved labels and more heavily shaded.

1923 to present highlights
 File:Belgium 1927 30c PP.jpg|1927 30c value. Stamps up to the 90c are vertical format, the franc values are horizontal. File:Belgium 5fr loco PP 1934.jpg|1934 5fr value. File:Belgium B PP 7fr.jpg|1940 7fr value. File:Belgium engineer PP.jpg|1945 50c railroad engineer. File:Belgium Mercury PP.jpg|1945 6fr Mercury. File:Belgium hands PP.jpg|1948 11fr OOPS! File:Belgium engr loco PP.jpg|1949 5fr steam locomotive. 
 * Beginning in 1923, the familiar long designs (horizontal or vertical) with small-size Belgian arms was released. These overprinted JOURNAUX / DAGBLADEN are newspaper stamps listed here. These overprinted BAGAGES / REISGOED are revenues used to collect fees on luggage.
 * In 1928, two definitives were overprinted with COLIS POSTAL / POSTCOLLO with scrollwork first letters. These were for small package service via post office and not railways. Issues that followed with such inscriptions are also issues of and by the post office.
 * In 1935, engraved new and old locomotive designs were used on the State Railway centennial set. The 5fr was also overprinted BAGAGES / REISGOED for use as a revenue.
 * In 1940, the railway's "B" in oval logo was overprinted on many of the 1923-40 parcel post stamps.
 * in 1945-46, a photogravure railroad workers series was released, similar to a short engraved 1942 set.
 * In 1949, a locomotive series with elaborately engraved frames was issued.

 File:Belgium loading PP.jpg|1951 18fr railcar loading. File:Belgium 8f buildings pp.A.webp|1953 8fr New North Station. File:Belgium PP bldg.A.webp|1956 14fr on 13fr surcharge. File:Belgium kilopost.jpg|2003 under 0.5kg Kilopost self-adhesive value. 
 * In 1953-57, and issue showing several (ugly) railroad stations was released. These had a denomination and the "B" logo only.
 * A number of commemorative issues followed, with several depicting other, nicer railroad stations.
 * In 1968-73, the basic series changed to train designs.
 * In 1980, a set of freight car designs was released.
 * Beginning in 2003, parcel post stamps became non-denominated, differing by weight class. These showed the Kilopost logo used to publicize the concept. These are used both by the post office and the railway system.