Bull’s-eye cancels on Belgian Congo 1910-15 pictorial stamps a worthy challenge

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

Colonial stamps have great appeal for many collectors, especially those who collect the 1840-1940 classic period of postage stamp production. The stamps often feature engraved and colorful designs with exotic and fascinating subjects.

The most popular colonial stamp issues are probably those of the British Empire and French Empire. But don’t overlook the lesser colonial issues of Italy, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Denmark and Belgium.

Belgian Congo began life as the Congo Free State (1885-1908), the personal fiefdom of Belgian King Leopold II (reigned 1865-1909). The Belgian government had no role in the operation of the colony.

The best of the colonial powers, notably the British, took an interest in their colonies in areas such as the suppression of slavery; sanitation, clean water and other infrastructure; and medical services, education and the rule of law.

The worst of abusive colonial conduct is rightly attributed to Leopold’s administration of the Congo Free State, which was run solely for his profit, mostly from rubber, ivory and mining interests. Atrocities and brutality against the native people were a frequent feature of the colony’s operation.

Public outcry became so overwhelming that in 1908 the Belgian government stripped the king of his colony and annexed it as the Belgian Congo.

Belgian Congo gained independence as the Republic of the Congo in 1960. The name of the country was changed to Zaire from 1971 to 1997, after which it became the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Belgian Congo issued some beautiful classic stamps. Look for the set of 15 bicolor and engraved pictorial stamps (Scott 45-59) issued from 1910 to 1915. The Scott Classic Specialized Catalogue of Stamps and Covers 1840-1940 values the set in unused, hinged condition at $123.05 and in used condition at $88.75. A set in mint, never-hinged condition is valued at $400.

These stamps were widely marketed and popular with schoolboy collectors of the last century. You will come across many examples from old collections with heavy hinge remnants and toned, tropicalized or stained gum. Avoid such stamps.

A lightly hinged set in very fine grade is a good buy at or near catalog value. Used singles can often be found with bull’s-eye cancels with legible place and date postmarks. A rewarding challenge would be to build a set of used stamps with well-struck bull’s-eye cancels.

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