Propaganda for the National Parks II. No 197-202.

By Royal Decree of 26 November 1934, an Institute for National Parks in Belgian Congo was established. This series of stamps were issued to promote these National Parks, each stamp depict one of the parks. The alternate color of the center (gray/bistre) is notable and the unusual values.

Belgium researchers explored the flora and fauna; between 1934-1935 Gaston-François de Witte collected reptiles for the “Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique”. He is also the photographer for this series of stamps.

Date of issue: the series was issued in 3 phases;

20 October 1939, 1 March 1938, and 3 October 1938.

Expiration date: 1 September 1942

Design: photos by Gaston-François de Witte (1897-1980)

Engraving: Malvaux

Printing: Atelier du Timbre, Malines. (Zegeldrukkerij, Mechelen-Belgium)

Perforation: 11.5

Size: 24 x 34 & 33 x 24 mm

Sheet: 100 (in two panels of 50)

Marginal inscriptions:

Circulation: see the series

No 197. 5c. Molindi River, black center, violet border*, 2,000,000 stamps

No 198. 90c. Tshamugussa. Bamboo forest on the volcano Musule, brown center, red border, 500,000 stamps

No 199. 1,50Fr. Kibga. Suza River coming down the slope of the Visoke vulcano, black center, brown-carmine border*, 2,500,000 stamps

No 200. 2,40Fr. Plain of Lake Eduard, the Rutshuru River in Gwangwa, brown center, green-black border, 500,000 stamps

No 201. 2,50Fr. Volcano Karisimbir, black center, ultramarine border, 1,000,000 stamps

No 202. 4,50Fr. Mitumba, brown center, green border, 1,000,000 stamps

* Light or dark violet, both exist.

The series:

The imperforated series is in size and coloring exact the same as above:

Remark: the white border around these stamps is much larger when cut from a side, top, bottom or corner of a sheet. (Sorry no image available)

Variations:

199-V “small lake”, this is the white spot above ‘aux’ of the word Nationaux.

In each sheet there is one on position 42.

No.197 with a horizontal line due a scratch in the plate.