Belgium is a country in Western Europe bordered by the North Sea to the West, Netherlands to the North, France to the South, and Germany & Luxembourg to the East. 
Belgium has a total land area of just under 12,000 square miles and a population of around 10.7 million making it a densely populated country at more than 800 per square mile. The country has two main ethnic groups – the Flemish community in the North that speaks Dutch, and the French community in the South. There is also a small German speaking community to the East. There are three official languages with about 59% of the population speaking Dutch, 40% speaking French, and about 1% German. Belgium became an independent country following the Belgian revolution of 1830 from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was occupied by Germany during World War I and II. Belgium has few natural resources, but was the first continental European country to undergo the industrial revolution. The GDP (ppp) stands at around $37K making it a solid developed country. Its highly productive workforce makes it possible for them to import raw materials and export finished products to the very competitive global marketplace.
Belgium gained independence from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 to 1830) following the Belgian revolution of 1830. Since then, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
The first stamps of Belgium were released in 1849 and depict a portrait of King Leopold I. The issues until 1867 all show portraits of King Leopold I in five different designs. Most of these stamps (Scott #1 to #22) are very valuable in MNH with a value range between $150 (Scott #18 10c slate) and $4000 (Scott #8 40c car rose). Used copies can be had for much lower with the lowest (Scott #18 and #19) selling for the $2 range and the highest (Scott #5 40c carmine rose) going for around $500. Following the 34-year reign of Leopold I, a coat of arms theme appeared in the period from 1866 to 1867. The set of four stamps (Scott #23 to #26b) are also very valuable with catalog values in the $600 range for MNH and around half that for Used – these were used only as newspaper stamps and for printed matter and that accounts for the rarity. Counterfeits exist and so collectors need to be careful when trying to acquire this set. The issue was promptly followed by the monarch theme with issues of different designs of Leopold II portraits.
The 20-year period from 1893 to 1913 saw more issues primarily in the monarch theme with King Albert I debuting in 1912 (Scott #103 to #107). The set is very affordable at less than $2 for MNH or Used.
One distinct characteristic of the issues during this period is a label attachment to the bottom. The issues with label attached are generally more valuable than their “missing label” counterparts. Other themes during the period include:
The former set (Scott #108 to #122) includes eight different designs - Albert I, Cloth Hall of Ypres (the famous Cloth market first constructed in the 13th century hit by German artillery), Bridge of Dinant (another landmark hit during world war I), Library of Louvain (the building and 300000 books destroyed during world war I), Scheldt River at Antwerp, Anti-slavery campaign in Congo, King Albert I at Fumes (Belgian military headquarters following German invasion), & Kings of Belgium Leopold I Albert I and Leopold II. 
The set is valuable at around $350 MNH and less than half that for Used. The latter has a single deign of King Albert I in a trench helmet with different colors for the denominations. The set is very valuable at almost $1200 for MNH and about half that for Used. The design showing the Fountain of Liege (a major first battleground in World War I) completes the designs during this period. The issues that followed till World War II were predominantly based on the Monarch theme with occasional issues of other great men, arms, and certain overprints. One significant issue during the period is the set of three stamps (Scott #251 to #253) showing Auguste Piccard’s (the Belgiun scientist who pioneered research on helium balloons – Herge, the creator of ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ cartoon books was inspired by his distinct figure for the creation of the cartoon character, Professor Cuthbert Calculus) balloon. The set is sought after and catalogs for around $100 for MNH and one-tenth that for Used. Other significant Belgian stamps issues include:
Last Updated: 07/2011.
Belgium has a total land area of just under 12,000 square miles and a population of around 10.7 million making it a densely populated country at more than 800 per square mile. The country has two main ethnic groups – the Flemish community in the North that speaks Dutch, and the French community in the South. There is also a small German speaking community to the East. There are three official languages with about 59% of the population speaking Dutch, 40% speaking French, and about 1% German. Belgium became an independent country following the Belgian revolution of 1830 from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. It was occupied by Germany during World War I and II. Belgium has few natural resources, but was the first continental European country to undergo the industrial revolution. The GDP (ppp) stands at around $37K making it a solid developed country. Its highly productive workforce makes it possible for them to import raw materials and export finished products to the very competitive global marketplace.Belgium gained independence from the United Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815 to 1830) following the Belgian revolution of 1830. Since then, Belgium has been a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy.
The first stamps of Belgium were released in 1849 and depict a portrait of King Leopold I. The issues until 1867 all show portraits of King Leopold I in five different designs. Most of these stamps (Scott #1 to #22) are very valuable in MNH with a value range between $150 (Scott #18 10c slate) and $4000 (Scott #8 40c car rose). Used copies can be had for much lower with the lowest (Scott #18 and #19) selling for the $2 range and the highest (Scott #5 40c carmine rose) going for around $500. Following the 34-year reign of Leopold I, a coat of arms theme appeared in the period from 1866 to 1867. The set of four stamps (Scott #23 to #26b) are also very valuable with catalog values in the $600 range for MNH and around half that for Used – these were used only as newspaper stamps and for printed matter and that accounts for the rarity. Counterfeits exist and so collectors need to be careful when trying to acquire this set. The issue was promptly followed by the monarch theme with issues of different designs of Leopold II portraits.The 20-year period from 1893 to 1913 saw more issues primarily in the monarch theme with King Albert I debuting in 1912 (Scott #103 to #107). The set is very affordable at less than $2 for MNH or Used.
One distinct characteristic of the issues during this period is a label attachment to the bottom. The issues with label attached are generally more valuable than their “missing label” counterparts. Other themes during the period include:- The Arms of Antwerp set of three stamps (Scott #76 to #78) released in 1894. It catalogs for around $10 MNH and about half that for Used.
- The Saint Michael and Satan set of three stamps (Scott #79 to #81) released between 1896 and 1897. This set also catalogs for around $10 MNH and less than half that for Used.
- The Lion of Belgium theme of 1912 released as part of a long set of eleven stamps (Scott #92 to #102). The lower denominations of this set are in this theme while the higher denominations show a portrait of King Albert I. The set is valuable at around $140 for MNH and less than half that for Used.
The former set (Scott #108 to #122) includes eight different designs - Albert I, Cloth Hall of Ypres (the famous Cloth market first constructed in the 13th century hit by German artillery), Bridge of Dinant (another landmark hit during world war I), Library of Louvain (the building and 300000 books destroyed during world war I), Scheldt River at Antwerp, Anti-slavery campaign in Congo, King Albert I at Fumes (Belgian military headquarters following German invasion), & Kings of Belgium Leopold I Albert I and Leopold II. The set is valuable at around $350 MNH and less than half that for Used. The latter has a single deign of King Albert I in a trench helmet with different colors for the denominations. The set is very valuable at almost $1200 for MNH and about half that for Used. The design showing the Fountain of Liege (a major first battleground in World War I) completes the designs during this period. The issues that followed till World War II were predominantly based on the Monarch theme with occasional issues of other great men, arms, and certain overprints. One significant issue during the period is the set of three stamps (Scott #251 to #253) showing Auguste Piccard’s (the Belgiun scientist who pioneered research on helium balloons – Herge, the creator of ‘The Adventures of Tintin’ cartoon books was inspired by his distinct figure for the creation of the cartoon character, Professor Cuthbert Calculus) balloon. The set is sought after and catalogs for around $100 for MNH and one-tenth that for Used. Other significant Belgian stamps issues include:- Following World War II, industry became a common theme on Belgian stamps. In this theme, one significant issue is the set of twelve stamps (Scott #374 to #385) in six different designs released in 1948. The set catalogs for around $50 MNH and less than $10 for Used. The designs were – Chemical Industry, Industrial Arts, Agriculture, Textile Industry, Communications Center, and Iron Manufacture.
A set of twelve stamps released on May 14, 1952 during the UPU Congress Meeting in Brussels depicting Barons, Counts, and Princes. The set (Scott #435 to #445 and B514 – Beaulieu Castle) is very expensive at around $300 for MNH and $200 for Used.
Belgium issued many stamps over the years in the Stamp Collecting theme with a focus on youth philately. The first such issue was a stamp released on October 1, 1960 showing two children examining a stamp using tongs with the picture of a globe in the foreground. The issue comes attached with a horizontal label with a post horn design. The stamp is inexpensive and can be had for a few cents MNH or Used. Since then, Belgium issued a stamp in the same theme every year in October until 1995 when it became less frequent. Most of these stamps are inexpensive and so theme is a good collecting area, especially for budding philatelists.
A set of five stamps issued on June 22 1974 depicting historic buildings and monuments of Belgium. The set (Scott #871 to #875) is affordable at around $2 for MNH or Used. The designs were Planetarium of Brussels, Pillory of Braine-le-Chateau (16th century), Soleilmont Abbey Ruins (Abbey of Trappist nuns founded in the 11th century), and Belfry of Bruges (13th Century). 
A set of four stamps issued on May 6 1985 depicting locomotives to mark the year of public transportation. The set and a souvenir sheet (Scott #1194 to #1198) catalogs for less than $10 MNH or Used. The designs were Steam Tram Locomotive (1896), Locomotive Elephant and Tender (1835), Tank Engine (1935), and Electric Locomotive (1975). 
A beautiful sheet of nine stamps issued November 18, 1996 to mark Christmas and New Year. The colorful set (Scott #1634a-i) catalogs for around $10 MNH and a little less for Used.
Last Updated: 07/2011.
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