Belgium year 1915 / 1960 Numeral Postage due – Porto stamps

Belgium 1915/1960 Numeral Postage due – Porto stamps lot MNH- stamps set

Belgium’s Numeral Postage Due (“Porto”) stamps were issued to collect unpaid or underpaid postal charges. Here’s a brief overview of the Numeral Postage Due stamps for Belgium between 1910 and 1960:

1. 1910 Series:

• Design: This series featured a numeral design indicating the value in centimes or francs. The numerals were often bold and centrally placed, surrounded by decorative elements, with the word “Port” (meaning “postage due”).
• Colors and Values: Different colors were used for each value, which made it easier to differentiate between the rates.
• Purpose: These stamps were affixed to letters when there was a postage deficiency. They indicated the amount to be collected from the recipient.

2. Later Issues (1920s-1960):

• Variations: Over the years, Belgium re-issued postage due stamps with slight design modifications, changes in color, and new values to accommodate inflation and changes in postal rates.
• Design Updates: The basic numeral design remained a key feature, though the frames and inscriptions might have changed slightly. The stamps still carried the word “Port” prominently.
• Post-WWII Changes: After WWII, the designs were modernized, and the denominations were adjusted due to economic factors like inflation.

Collecting Information:

• Print Varieties: Collectors often note differences in perforation, watermarks, and overprints. Some issues also had multiple printings leading to subtle color variations.
• Rarity: Certain values and printings are rarer, particularly those with errors or limited production runs.

These stamps are popular among collectors for their historical value, representing postal rate changes and economic conditions over half a century in Belgium.