50th anniversary of Belgian Congo. No’s 344-349.

Five Belgium kings dressed in military uniform.

Leopold I (1831-1865)

Leopold II (1865-1909)

Albert I (1909-1934)

Leopold III (1934-1951)

Boudewijn I (1951-1993)

Note that none of these were "King of Belgium": their title is "King of the Belgians". The latter phrase indicates a popular monarchy linked to the people of Belgium, whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional or absolute monarchy linked to territory and a state. It is also noteworthy that Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition best described by the slogan "The king is dead, long live the king!". According to the Belgian constitution, the king only accedes to the throne when he takes a constitutional oath. For example, the present king didn't become monarch on the day on July 31, 1993 (the day his brother died) but on August 9 of that same year (when he took the constitutional oath). In all other current monarchies, the monarch becomes a monarch the moment his predecessor dies or abdicates.

The design was made by Jean van Noten, inspired by the memorial tablet of the 125e anniversary of the dynasty made by the sculptor Alfred Courtens (1889-1967).

Philatelic material.

First Day Covers (FDC):

Note: Blanco or airmail envelopes are not shown here but do exist.

Another series of FDC’s:

Maximum card as FDC:

To announce the new series a special leaflet was issued by the “Administration des Postes du Congo Belge” in 1958:

Left inside:

Right inside:

The back cover:

Maximum card “Kunstblad-50ste Verjaring van Belgisch-Congo”

This leaflet was offered for sale for 35 Franc at the World exhibition, pavilion Construction, Energy and Transportation of Belgium Congo and Ruanda-Urundi.

At the request of the buyers it would be cancelled with a special cancel.

Note 1: These were also for sale at normal Belgium post offices, and to our information most probably never sold in the Belgium Congo.

Note 2: the other 3 large leaflets were also sold at this pavilion:

Belgium Congo “Flowers”, 235 Franc

Ruanda-Urundi “Flowers”, 75 Franc

Belgium Congo and Ruanda-Urundi “Red Cross”, 35 Franc

Editor: Rodan, Brussels

Size: 21.5 x 28 cm

Cancelled as FDC: 1-7-58 (1958)