Belgian definitive stamps
Record status
Individual type · research required
Period
1849 onwards
Issuing entity
Kingdom of BelgiumBelgian definitive stamps comprise the regular postal issues of Belgium, inaugurated in 1849 as one of the earliest national adhesive stamp programmes in the world. The initial series, known as the "Epaulettes," featured King Leopold I wearing a military uniform with prominent epaulettes. These first stamps were intaglio printed and issued imperforate in two denominations: a brown 10 centimes and a blue 20 centimes.
While the earliest issues contained no country name or were inscribed solely in French, postal reforms later expanded to include bilingual inscriptions.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 2
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
Influenced by Britain's 1840 postal reforms, the Belgian government passed legislation in December 1847 and April 1849 to replace postage payment by the recipient with sender prepayment. Prepayment stimulated a sharp increase in mail traffic, rising to between ten and fifteen million letters annually by 1849. Mail was processed using circular black ink cancellations containing post office numbers from 1 to 135. The Epaulettes series was replaced by the Medallion type in October 1849 and was officially superseded in 1859, remaining valid until demonetisation on 1 July 1866.
Design
- Note
- Leopold I portrait in the first issues.
Identification
- Note
- Epaulettes and Medallions issues are distinguished by portrait framing.
- Recognition pointers (from background sources)
- Distinguish early Leopold I definitives by their portrait framing: the initial Epaulettes series shows visible shoulder epaulettes, whereas Medallion issues place the portrait within a circular window. Check for the watermark of two crossed "L"s representing Leopold I's monogram on the imperforate 1849 Epaulettes issues. Observe language inscriptions: the earliest Belgian stamps carry no country name or use only the French "Belgique", whereas stamps produced from 1889 include the Dutch name "België".
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Catalogue numbers and printing details require transcription from a standard stamp catalogue.