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Buta. 1909 (Jan 12) Picture postcard sent to Belgium at the printed matter rate, an unoverprinted 10c tied by the scarce "BUTA" c.d.s, transit datestamp of Leopoldville (Feb 8). A sub-office was opened at the remote outpost of Buta in September 1907. Photo on Page 148. £160-200
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Coquilhatville. 1898-1901 Covers sent at the 50c rate to Belgium, the 1898 cover (endorsed from "Equateur") franked 5c + 10c (2) + 25c, the 1901 cover franked 10c pair + 15c (2), datestamps in blue, a few edge faults, the 1901 cover with vertical and horizontal folds, two unusual frankings. (2) £120-150
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Coquilhatville. 1904-07 Picture postcards to Belgium (2) or Italy, one franked at the 10c printed matter rate, the others franked 5c + 10c, or 15c, fine datestamps in black (2) or blue. (3). £120-150
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Coquilhatville. 1905 (Feb 2) Cover with printed heading "ETAT INDEPENDANT DU CONGO / COMMISSION D'ENQUETE" posted to Brussels, 5c + 15c vertical strip of three tied by Coquilhatville datestamps in black. Opening tears to upper edge, otherwise fine and unusual. The "Commission D'Enquete", composed of three eminent judges, was set up by King Leopold to look into allegations of atrocities in the Congo, and was in the Congo from October 1904 until late February 1905. The judges were chosen as likely to be sympathetic to the King, but still submitted a damning report on their return. Photo on Page 148. £150-180
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Dima. 1909 (May 12) Picture postcard to Belgium with unoverprinted 5c + 10c each tied by the scarce "DIMA" c.d.s in black. The Dima office opened in February 1909 (replacing Basongo) after the start of the colonial mandate, but the Congo Free State stamps were still valid for a 6 month grace period. A scarce cancel on Free State issues. Photo on Page 148. £150-180
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Ibembo. 1902 (Oct 18) Picture postcard to Brussels franked 5c + 10c cancelled at Ibembo, transit c.d.s of Leopoldville (Nov 12). £100-120
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Ibembo. 1907 (Jan 27) Cover to Sicily franked 5c pair + 10c + 15c (2), the five stamps each cancelled at Ibembo, backstamped at Leopoldville (Feb 21) and Palermo. Small edge tear at base affecting the 10c stamp and part flap missing, an attractive cover from this small office which closed in 1907. Photo on Page 150. £160-180
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Kasongo. 1908 (June 12) 10c Postal stationery postcard (H&G 20) franked 5c, written from "Section des Etudes, 15 May" to Belgium, two fine "KASONGO" cancels with Leopoldville transit c.d.s, overall staining but a scarce cancel, the office opened in 1905. £120-150
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Kinshasa. 1909 (Mar 17) Picture postcard sent at the 10c printed matter rate, an unoverprinted stamp with a fine cancel in black, Matadi transit datestamp. The Kinshasa sub-office opened in December 1908 after the "Free State" had formally become a Belgian Colony, but unoverprinted stamps continued to be valid in the first six months of 1909. A scarce cancel on Free State issues. Photo on Page 150. £120-140
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Leopoldville. 1895 (Dec 16) Cover to Brussels franked 50c tied by c.d.s in blue, backstamped at Leopoldville, Boma and Brussels. A fine early cover. £120-150
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Leopoldville. 1897 (Feb 3) Cover to London, the 50c rate paid by five 10c stamps (including vertical strip of three) each tied by c.d.s in blue, backstamped at Boma, Lisbon and Walthamstow. Some perf staining, otherwise fine, early and attractive. Photo on Page 150. £160-180
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Leopoldville. 1900 Registered cover to the Netherlands franked 5c, 10c, 25c (2), 40c and 50c all cancelled in blue, with boxed "Recommande", backstamped at Boma, Antwerp and The Hague, flap missing, otherwise fine, an attractive and unusual registered franking. Photo on Page 150. £150-180
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Leopoldville. 1905-08 Covers sent to England at the 50c rate, the first bearing 5c pair and strip of four + 10c pair, the second cover to the Natural History Museum franked 25c pair. (2). £140-160
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Leopoldville. 1902-07 Covers to Switzerland or Belgium (2) cancelled in blue (2) or black; the first cover unusually franked 5c + 15c pair + 25c + 40c paying the double rate, the covers to Belgium franked 50c or 10c + 15c, the last a little stained, otherwise largely fine. (3). £160-200
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Libenge. 1905 (Dec 5) Picture postcard to Brussels franked 5c + 10c each cancelled in black, transit datestamp of Leopoldville (Dec 15). £100-120
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Lisala. 1909 (Feb 3) Picture postcard to Belgium with unoverprinted 15c tied by the Lisala c.d.s in black, Leopoldville (Feb 18) and Gand datestamps. Posted after the formation of Belgian Congo as a colony, during the grace period when "Free State" stamps were still valid. Photo on Page 150. £120-140
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Lukungu / Tumba. 1896 (Aug 20) Cover to the Netherlands with return address of Tumba, bearing 5c block of six + pair, 10c and 50c paying the 1f double rate, all cancelled by blue "LUKUNGU" datestamps, backstamped at Matadi, Boma, Antwerp and Utrecht. The Lukungu office was officially opened in July 1896, but the railway had reached Tumba by this date and the c.d.s was therefore used at Tumba whilst a Tumba datestamp was being made, and for a short time concurrently with the First Tumba c.d.s. A scarce early use, on a cover proving its use at Tumba (also see lot 867). Photo on Page 150. £250-300
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Lusambo. 1903 (Oct 21) Cover to Copenhagen bearing 5c vertical strip of three, 10c and 25c all cancelled in black, backstamped at Leopoldville (Oct 24) and Copenhagen. The Sankuru office was renamed Lusambo in late 1899. Minor edge stains and closed tear at right edge, an attractive three colour franking from this small office to an unusual destination. Photo on Page 150. £160-180
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Lusambo / Kabinda. 1905 Cover to the "Council Superieur de L'Etat du Congo" in Brussels, sent by an "Agent Katanga" (agent for the Katanga Chartered Co.) at Kabinda, franked 50c cancelled by light Lusambo c.d.s in blue. £100-120
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Matadi. 1896 (Jan 27) Missionary cover to the USA with a 25c stamp on the front, the reverse franked 5c (3) + 10c, all cancelled in black, transit and arrival datestamps of Boma, Brussels and Columbia, South Carolina. An attractive early cover to the USA. £120-150
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Matadi. 1902-07 Covers to Belgium or France franked 10c vertical strip of five or 50c, cancels in blue or black, the 1907 cover with tear to upper edge, otherwise fine. (2). £100-120
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M'Toa. 1898 10c Postal stationery postcard (H&G 16) written in April from Moliro, commercially used to Kinshasa with superb "M'TOA" c.d.s (June 1), transit datestamps of Stanley Falls (June 22 & 25) and Leopoldville (July 19) all in blue. Small and barely noticeable crease, otherwise superb and very scarce. Photo on Page 150. £250-300
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Nouvelle-Anvers. 1904 (Dec 13) Postcard with printed heading for "La Belega Sonorilo, Gazeto Propaganda de la Linguo Esperanto", sent to Brussels by the "Agent de la Co du Lomami a Flambi" franked 5c + 10c cancelled in black, Leopoldville transit c.d.s (Dec 24) and an arrival datestamp. An unusual Esperanto postcard from this small trading settlement. Photo on Page 152. £120-150
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Nyangwe. 1903 15c Postal stationery postcard (H&G 17) written at Baraka (Feb 20) on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, to Brussels, cancelled by scarce "NYANGWE" c.d.s in blue, transit and arrival datestamps of Stanleyville (Mar 20), Leopoldville (Apr 9) and Brussels. Nyangwe post office closed in 1905 when the office at Kasongo 60km up the Lualaba River was opened. Vertical fold, otherwise fine, a scarce cancel on an interesting card. Photo on Page 152. £200-250
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Popokabaka. 1902 (Oct 19) Cover to Norway franked 25c (2) + 50c with a fine central cancel in blue, backstamped at Boma (Oct 31) and Kristiana. Located on the Kwango River near Angola, the spelling changed from Popocabacca to Popokabaka in 1898. A very scarce cancel, very unusual to Norway, a fine cover. Photo on Page 152. £250-300
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Pweto. 1903 (Nov 27) 15c Postal stationery card (H&G 19, outward half) from an Officer in the Katanga Police at Pweto, located on the northern end of Lake Mweru, addressed to an agent of the "Comite Special ou Katanga" at Lukonzolwa, cancelled in blue. Addressees surname overwritten, otherwise fine and a scarce cancel, the post office opened in 1902. Photo on Page 152. £150-180
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Sankuru. 1899 10c Postal stationery postcard (H&G 21, outward half) written from Lukengo to Kinshasa, cancelled by blue Sankuru c.d.s with an arrival datestamp of Leopoldville. Sankuru post office established in July 1896, the datestamp used until the end of 1899 when the office was renamed Lusambo. Fine and scarce. Photo on Page 152. £150-180
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Stanley Falls / Stanleyville. 1898 (Mar 10) Cover to Belgium franked 5c (2) + 40c each cancelled by Stanley Falls c.d.s. in blue, a further strike on reverse, also backstamped at Leopoldville (Mar 29 & 30), Boma (Apr 6) and Liege, carried to Belgium on the inaugural voyage of S.S "Leopoldville 2". Also a 1908 picture postcard to Belgium franked on the picture side by 5c + 10c, each cancelled by Stanleyville c.d.s in black. Stanley Falls post office was established in July 1896; it was renamed Stanleyville in 1908. A good pair, the 1898 cover fine and uncommon. (2). Photo on Page 152. £200-240
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Thysville. 1906 Cover to Norway franked 50c and a 1907 picture postcard to Belgium franked 5c pair, each with a superb cancellation in black, the cover with an arrival backstamp of Kristiana. Both fine, the cover to an unusual destination. The post office opened in 1905 to replace both Tumba and Mbanza-Ngungu. (2). Photo on Page 152. £180-200
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Tumba. 1899 15c Postal stationery postcard (H&G 17) to Kinshasa, with a superb cancel in black. Tumba post office opened in 1896 at what was then the railhead of the Matadi to Leopoldville Railway; it closed in 1905 in favour of Thysville. Photo on Page 152. £140-160
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Tumba. 1903 10c Postal stationery card, outward half handstamped "CARTE POSTAL INCOMPLETE" (H&G PC18c.M), franked 5c to Belgium, each cancelled in black, datestamps of Matadi and Gand. £140-160
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Tumba. 1904 (May 3) Picture postcard (native porters carrying ivory tusks) to Brussels, franked 5c + 10c on the picture side, both cancelled in blue, underpaid so handstamped "T" with a 50c postage due stamp applied, refused and handstamped boxed "REBUT" and "RETOUR A L'ENVOOYEUR / Terug aan afzender", although no senders address is shown. Small glue stain to reverse, otherwise fine and unusual. Photo on Page 154. £120-140
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Tumbu-Mani. 1898 (Nov 15) 15c Postal stationery card, reply half handstamped boxed "BOMA: CARTE INCOMPLETE" (H&G PC19.R) to Belgium, cancelled in blue (Nov 11, four days prior to the written message, possibly sold precancelled, or with an incorrect date), transit c.d.s of Boma (Nov 21) and Antwerp. Tumbu-Mani post office opened in 1898, the c.d.s used until 1900 when replaced by a datestamp with the spelling Tumba-Mani. Small part address erased, otherwise fine and scarce. £100-120
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Umangi. 1907 Aug 17) 15c Postal stationery card (H&G 19, outward half) to an official at the Ministry of War in Brussels with an apparently coded message, cancelled by two "UMANGI" datestamps in black (Aug 17 & 25). Umangi sub-office opened in 1899 but closed again at the end of 1904, in favour of Lisala. A scarce cancel. Photo on Page 154. £160-200
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Uvira. 1907 (Feb 14) Picture postcard (of Sierra Leone) written from Luvemgi to Belgium, franked 5c + 10c each cancelled at Uvira in blue, transit datestamps of Stanleyville (Mar 9), Leopoldville (Apr 7) and Antwerp. Uvira located at the northern tip of Lake Tanganyika on the frontier with German East Africa, the post office opened in 1906. Fine and scarce. Photo on Page 154. £150-180
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Uvira. 1907 Picture postcard written from Beni (July 5) to Belgium franked 15c, cancelled in black at Uvira (Aug 3), transit datestamps of Stanleyville (Sep 14) and Leopoldville (Oct 1), Tournai arrival c.d.s. £120-140
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1904-07 Picture postcards to Belgium franked 10c or 25c (2) with datestamps of Irebu, Bumba or Coquilhatville, the first two a little faint but quite readable, the last superb. Also 1906 10c postal stationery card franked 5c to Belgium both cancelled by "INONGO" datestamps, severely stained and splitting with the upper right corner detached and reapplied with hinges, nevertheless a rare cancel. (4). £180-200
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Gare de Luki. c.1903 Cover to Bruges bearing 1900 5c black and green cancelled in manuscript at Luki and signed, a Belgium postman's delivery number handstamp below, reverse flap missing (therefore without backstamps), otherwise fine. Also a 50c stamp with "GARE DE LUKI" c.d.s (28 Nov. 1903). Luki was one of four stations on the Boma to Chela railway authorised to act as collection points for mail; they were issued with small single ring datestamps, but also sometimes cancelled stamps in manuscript. Two rare cancels. (2). Photo on Pages 140 & 154. £400-500
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Cancellations on stamps, comprising 1894 5f block of four cancelled by large double ring "DISTRICT DU STANLEY-POOL" handstamps with a central flag (used on gun licences, usually applied to the documents but occasionally found cancelling stamps); 1894 1f and 1895 5c cancelled blue "TUMBA / POSTE" within a circle (used at the railhead station, a collection centre for mail); also datestamps including 1900 50c with scarce blue "MUSOFI", etc. (9 stamps). £120-150
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Riverboat Mail. 1902 Cover to the USA, from one of the American Presbyterian missionaries working from their mission station on the Upper Kasai River, both sides bearing the cachet "Steamer / Samuel N Capsley" in violet. Carried by the Missionary Steamer to Leopoldville where it was posted franked 50c, backstamped at Richmond, Va. The steamer was named after the head of this first missionary group in the Congo, who died of fever in 1892. A scarce cover, possibly from the head of the mission, the Rev. William Sheppard. Photo on Page 154. £250-300
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Lado Enclave. 1906 (Mar 26) Picture postcard written by Commandant E. Longobardo from "Enclave de Lado, Congo, via Khartoum-Egypt", to Italy, franked 15c cancelled "Lado" and the date in red manuscript, further cancelled by a 'retta' applied in Khartoum, datestamps of "WHITE-NILE / T.P" (Dec 31), Khartoum (Jan 9) and Florence. A fine and scarce card from an Italian officer in the Lado Enclave, which was located in the Sudan but was leased in 1896 to King Leopold for his lifetime. Photo on Page 154. £500-600
| 1909 "CONGO BELGE" Locally Handstamped Overprints | |
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Type L1 Surcharge, issued to Boma. 5c - 10f Set of ten mint with additional 5c block of eight, 10c, 25c and 50c, the 10f perf 12; and the set used with additional 25c, 1f and 5f, the two 1f stamps perf 13½ and perf 16, the two 5f stamps perf 14 and perf 15, the 10f perf 12, the used 3f.50 with Belgian Study Circle Certificate (1999). A fine group S.G. 36/45A, £1,830, B.30/39L, €1,850. (33). Photo on Page 140. £300-400
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Type L2 Surcharge, issued to Banana. 5c - 50c, 3f.50 and 10f Perf 12, 25c block of four and 1f unmounted corner block of nine (sheet number '4') all mint. Also used 5c block of eight (Kinshasa datestamps), 10c (3) and 15c - 1f. A fine group, the 1f block very scarce. S.G. 36/45A, £1,815+, B.30/39L, €2,460+. (37). Photo on Pages 156 & 168. £400-500
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Type L3 Surcharge, issued to Matadi. 5c - 10f Set of ten mint, the perf 12 10f without gum; and the set of ten used with additional 50c (2), 1f and 10f (both perf 12 and perf 14½, the latter crossed by blue crayon lines), one 1f and perf 12 10f with telegraphic cancels. A scarce group, the mint set with Luc Vander Marcken Certificate (2012), used 3f.50 with Leo Tavano Certificate (2012) and used 5f with Belgian Study Circle Certificate (2000). S.G. 36/45A, £2,000+, B.30/39L, €2000+. (24). Photo on Page 156. £500-600
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Type L4 Surcharge, issued to Boma. 5c, 10c and 15c Overprint varieties comprising 5c block of four overprint inverted, 5c block of four all with double overprints, 10c overprint inverted, 10c block of six with overprint at foot on four stamps (one double), 15c diagonal overprint and 15c pair with overprint inverted, all mint, an unusual group, S.G. 36/38A, B.30/32L, var. (18). Photo on Pages 156, 158 & 168. £300-400
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Type L4 Surcharge, issued to Boma. 5c - 1f, 5f and Perf 12 10f mint with additional 5c, 10c, 15c (5) and 50c (2), the 40c, 5f and one 50c without gum. A scarce group, with Luc Vander Marcken Certificate for the nine values. S.G. 36/45A. £750+, B.30/39L, €730+. (18). Photo on Page 156. £180-220
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Type L5 Surcharge, issued to Leopoldville. 5c - 1f Mint with additional 5c, 10c (TAXES handstamp), 25c blocks of four (2 blocks, one stamp with double overprint), 40c vertical strip of three, the 50c in a block of four; and 5c - perf 12 10f set of ten used with additional 15c (2), 25c pair, 50c block of six (Yumbi telegraphic cancels) and single, the 10f with Leo Tavano Certificate (2012). A fine and scarce group. S.G. 36/45A, £960+, B.30/39L, €880+. (44). Photo on Page 156. £200-250
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Type L6 Surcharge, issued to Thysville. 5c Corner marginal single and unmounted block of four, 10c, 25c and 40c mint, 10c - 1f used, 40c cancelled at Basankusu and 50c at Kinshasa, a very scarce overprint type. S.G. 36/42A, B.30/36L. (14). £180-220
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Type L7 Surcharge, issued to Bumba. 5c - 1f, 5f and Perf 12 10f used with additional 1f, the 5f with Coquilhatville telegraphic cancel, the 10f used at Pweto, a scarce group. S.G. 36/45A, B.30/39L. (10). Photo on Page 156. £150-180
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5c - 10f with "TAXES" Handstamps, various local "CONGO BELGE" overprint types, mint set with additional 5c, 10c, 25c, 40c and 1f, used stamps comprising 5c (2, one with c.d.s), 15c, 25c (2, one type II), 40c, 50c (c.d.s), 1f (c.d.s) and 10f, both 10f stamps perf 12. S.G. 36/45A, B.TX.7/16, €2,000. (24). Photo on Page 156. £300-350
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