Stamps of the Belgium Generalgouvernement
Feb 10, 2017 20:55:30 GMT -5
kacyds, Gordon Lee, and 5 more like this
Post by PostmasterGS on Feb 10, 2017 20:55:30 GMT -5
And now, for Part II of the German-occupied territories of World War I.
All images open to larger versions.
Part I -- Stamps of the Etappengebiet West
Background
Following the German advance into Belgium and France in the early days of WWI, the Germans set-up several administrations to govern the occupied areas.
On the Western Front, they divided occupied Belgium into three zones. The largest was the Belgium Generalgouvernement, consisting of Brussels and the surrounding area.
Postage of the Belgium Generalgouvernement
In order to provide postal service to civilians living in the the Generalgouvernement, Germany overprinted Germania issues with "Belgien" and new values, originally issuing these on 1 October 1914. There are a total of 9 major issues with several varieties due to minor differences in color, printing date and method, and overprint spacing.
A second set was issued beginning in May 1916. This set saw a change in the abbreviations used on the denomination overprint, from "Centimes" to "Cent." on the smaller issues, and from "Fr"and "C" to "F" and "Cent." on the larger issues.
Again, numerous minor varieties exist due to minor differences in color, printing date and method, and overprint spacing.
The Belgium Generalgouvernement stamps remained valid until the armistice on 11 November 1918.
To see hi-res scans of the individual stamps, see my website here.
All images open to larger versions.
Part I -- Stamps of the Etappengebiet West
Background
Following the German advance into Belgium and France in the early days of WWI, the Germans set-up several administrations to govern the occupied areas.
On the Western Front, they divided occupied Belgium into three zones. The largest was the Belgium Generalgouvernement, consisting of Brussels and the surrounding area.
Postage of the Belgium Generalgouvernement
In order to provide postal service to civilians living in the the Generalgouvernement, Germany overprinted Germania issues with "Belgien" and new values, originally issuing these on 1 October 1914. There are a total of 9 major issues with several varieties due to minor differences in color, printing date and method, and overprint spacing.
A second set was issued beginning in May 1916. This set saw a change in the abbreviations used on the denomination overprint, from "Centimes" to "Cent." on the smaller issues, and from "Fr"and "C" to "F" and "Cent." on the larger issues.
Again, numerous minor varieties exist due to minor differences in color, printing date and method, and overprint spacing.
The Belgium Generalgouvernement stamps remained valid until the armistice on 11 November 1918.
To see hi-res scans of the individual stamps, see my website here.
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