Belize year 1986 Space Halley’s Comet stamps set MNH**
In 1986, Belize released a vibrant series of stamps to commemorate the return of Halley’s Comet. This was part of a global “comet fever” in philately, as many countries issued space-themed stamps to celebrate the comet’s once-in-a-lifetime transit.
The Belize collection is typically found in two main parts: a set of 6 individual stamps and a souvenir sheet.
Set Overview: “Appearance of Halley’s Comet”
The stamps were issued on April 30, 1986, and were designed by the well-known stamp artist Laszlo Gyula (Julian) Vasarhelyi.
| Value | Subject / Theme |
| 10¢ | Planet-A (Suisei) Spacecraft |
| 15¢ | Comet sighting in 1910 |
| 50¢ | Giotto Probe (European Space Agency) |
| 75¢ | Comet sighting in 1066 (Bayeux Tapestry style) |
| $1.00 | Vega 1 & 2 Spacecraft |
| $2.00 | International Cometary Explorer (ICE) |
Key Features
- Se-tenant Strips: The stamps were often printed in strips of three. For example, the 10¢, 15¢, and 50¢ values appear together as a horizontal or vertical unit.
- Souvenir Sheet: Belize also released a separate Souvenir Sheet (Scott #814), which typically features a single high-value stamp set against a larger illustrative border of the solar system or star charts.
- Design Style: The artwork combines historical depictions of the comet (like its 1066 appearance) with high-tech 1980s imagery of the “Halley Armada”—the fleet of spacecraft sent to intercept it.
Collector Information
- Catalog Numbers: * Scott: 812–813 (Sets of 3) / 814 (Souvenir Sheet).
- Michel: 873–878.
