Jean De Bast
Encyclopedia
Jean De Bast is a Belgian
postage stamp
s draughtsman
and engraver
.
After a very complete artistic training (drawing, painting, engraving ...), he joined in 1907 the National Postage Stamps Printing-house in Mechelen
. Going up step by step in the hierarchy, he finished there his career in 1945, as a senior foreman.
His first works in philately
are, in 1919, the drawing of the famous series “Helmeted King” and, in 1922, the engraving of King Albert I
’s effigy (“Houyoux” type).
In 1926, the Belgian sovereigns realized the artist’s value, following the issue of a stamp for the benefit of the fight against tuberculosis
. In accordance with the wish of the King, a competition was organized between four Prix de Rome
and De Bast, who was the winner. From that time onwards, the direction of the Postal Services stopped to appeal to foreign artists, and De Bast became its appointed engraver.
While keeping his office at the Postage Stamps Printing-house, De Bast worked then as a free engraver, realizing works of very high quality.
In 1952, he had a disagreement with the direction of the Postal Services, which had retouched without his agreement the original matrix of a stamp bearing the effigy of King Baudouin. The stamp so issued was so mediocre that it received a bad appreciation from the press and was rapidly withdrawn from sale.
Being in bad terms with the Postal Service
, De Bast waited for several years before being entrusted again with stamp engraving. He put an end to his engraver’s career in 1967, at the age of 84. In 1964 and 1965, two of his stamps received a golden medal in Paris: “Infant Christ with John the Baptist and two angels” (after Peter Paul Rubens) and “The daughters of the painter Cornelis De Vos”.
On the whole, between 1926 and 1967, he engraved more than one hundred postage stamps, ten or a dozen stamps for the Railways
, and 5 fiscal stamps for the Ministry of Finance.
This master engraver, who, by his exceptional expertise, raised his work to the level of Art, obtained numerous distinctions both for his work and his behaviour as a patriot during the war. Ten years after his death, on the occasion of the “Journée du timbre” (Stamp’s day), the Postal Service paid homage to him by issuing a stamp showing him at work.
(also called copperplate printing). Sine 1959, some of them have been printed by combination of intaglio and rotogravure
(also called heliography, screen printing or photogravure).
Other engraving works relating to Belgian postage stamps:
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
postage stamp
Postage stamp
A postage stamp is a small piece of paper that is purchased and displayed on an item of mail as evidence of payment of postage. Typically, stamps are made from special paper, with a national designation and denomination on the face, and a gum adhesive on the reverse side...
s draughtsman
Drawing
Drawing is a form of visual art that makes use of any number of drawing instruments to mark a two-dimensional medium. Common instruments include graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoal, chalk, pastels, markers, styluses, and various metals .An artist who...
and engraver
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
.
After a very complete artistic training (drawing, painting, engraving ...), he joined in 1907 the National Postage Stamps Printing-house in Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
. Going up step by step in the hierarchy, he finished there his career in 1945, as a senior foreman.
His first works in philately
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
are, in 1919, the drawing of the famous series “Helmeted King” and, in 1922, the engraving of King Albert I
Albert I of Belgium
Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
’s effigy (“Houyoux” type).
In 1926, the Belgian sovereigns realized the artist’s value, following the issue of a stamp for the benefit of the fight against tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
. In accordance with the wish of the King, a competition was organized between four Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
and De Bast, who was the winner. From that time onwards, the direction of the Postal Services stopped to appeal to foreign artists, and De Bast became its appointed engraver.
While keeping his office at the Postage Stamps Printing-house, De Bast worked then as a free engraver, realizing works of very high quality.
In 1952, he had a disagreement with the direction of the Postal Services, which had retouched without his agreement the original matrix of a stamp bearing the effigy of King Baudouin. The stamp so issued was so mediocre that it received a bad appreciation from the press and was rapidly withdrawn from sale.
Being in bad terms with the Postal Service
Mail
Mail, or post, is a system for transporting letters and other tangible objects: written documents, typically enclosed in envelopes, and also small packages are delivered to destinations around the world. Anything sent through the postal system is called mail or post.In principle, a postal service...
, De Bast waited for several years before being entrusted again with stamp engraving. He put an end to his engraver’s career in 1967, at the age of 84. In 1964 and 1965, two of his stamps received a golden medal in Paris: “Infant Christ with John the Baptist and two angels” (after Peter Paul Rubens) and “The daughters of the painter Cornelis De Vos”.
On the whole, between 1926 and 1967, he engraved more than one hundred postage stamps, ten or a dozen stamps for the Railways
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, and 5 fiscal stamps for the Ministry of Finance.
This master engraver, who, by his exceptional expertise, raised his work to the level of Art, obtained numerous distinctions both for his work and his behaviour as a patriot during the war. Ten years after his death, on the occasion of the “Journée du timbre” (Stamp’s day), the Postal Service paid homage to him by issuing a stamp showing him at work.
Works
All those stamps have been printed by intaglioIntaglio (printmaking)
Intaglio is a family of printmaking techniques in which the image is incised into a surface, known as the matrix or plate, and the incised line or area holds the ink. Normally, copper or zinc plates are used as a surface, and the incisions are created by etching, engraving, drypoint, aquatint or...
(also called copperplate printing). Sine 1959, some of them have been printed by combination of intaglio and rotogravure
Rotogravure
Rotogravure is a type of intaglio printing process; that is, it involves engraving the image onto an image carrier...
(also called heliography, screen printing or photogravure).
Belgian postage stamps
- « Antituberculeux » (fight against tuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
), 6 December 1926: lion and Cross of LorraineCross of LorraineThe Cross of Lorraine is originally a heraldic cross. The two-barred cross consists of a vertical line crossed by two smaller horizontal bars. In the ancient version, both bars were of the same length. In 20th century use it is "graded" with the upper bar being the shortest...
printed in typographyTypographyTypography is the art and technique of arranging type in order to make language visible. The arrangement of type involves the selection of typefaces, point size, line length, leading , adjusting the spaces between groups of letters and adjusting the space between pairs of letters...
. King Albert IAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
and Queen ElisabethElisabeth of Bavaria (1876-1965)Elisabeth of Bavaria , was the queen consort of Albert I of Belgium and was the mother of Leopold III of Belgium and grandmother of Baudouin I of Belgium and Albert II of Belgium.-Family:Born in Possenhofen Castle, her father was Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, an ophthalmologist of...
, each one in a medallion - « The sites », 2 December 1929 : waterfall of Coo, Bayard rock in DinantDinantDinant is a Walloon city and municipality located on the River Meuse in the Belgian province of Namur, Belgium. The Dinant municipality includes the old communes of Anseremme, Bouvignes-sur-Meuse, Dréhance, Falmagne, Falmignoul, Foy-Notre-Dame, Furfooz, Lisogne, Sorinnes, and Thynes.-Origins to...
, Menin GateMenin GateThe Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing is a war memorial in Ypres, Belgium dedicated to the commemoration of British and Commonwealth soldiers who were killed in the Ypres Salient of the First World War and whose graves are unknown...
in YpresYpresYpres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, Orleans’s walk in SpaSpa, BelgiumSpa is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liège. It is situated in a valley in the Ardennes mountain chain, some southeast of Liège, and southwest of Aachen. As of 1 January 2006, Spa had a total population of 10,543...
, Antwerp’s port, Green wharf in BrugesBrugesBruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country.... - « Philatelic exhibition in Antwerp », 9 August 1930 : the coat of armsHeraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
of the city - « Centenary of the National IndependenceIndependenceIndependence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
, 1 July 1930 : Kings Leopold ILeopold I of BelgiumLeopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
, Leopold IILeopold II of BelgiumLeopold II was the second king of the Belgians. Born in Brussels the second son of Leopold I and Louise-Marie of Orléans, he succeeded his father to the throne on 17 December 1865 and remained king until his death.Leopold is chiefly remembered as the founder and sole owner of the Congo Free...
and Albert IAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
, after paintings by Lieven De Winne and Jef Leempoels - « The castles », 1 December 1930 : castles of Beloeil, OoidonkOoidonk CastleOoidonk Castle is a castle in the city of Deinze, East Flanders, Belgium.- History :A fortress was first built on the site of the present castle in 1230, intended to defend the city of Ghent and to fortify the river Leie...
, GhentGravensteenThe Gravensteen is a castle in Ghent originating from the Middle Ages. The name means "castle of the count" in Dutch. -History:The present castle was built in 1180 by count Philip of Alsace and was modeled after the crusaders castles that Philip of Alsace encountered while he participated in the...
, BouillonCastle of BouillonBouillon Castle is a medieval castle in the town of Bouillon in the province of Luxembourg, Belgium.Although it was mentioned first in 988, there has been a castle on the same site for a much longer time...
and Gaasbeek - « King Albert IAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
wearing a kepi », 15 June 1931 - « Nurse wearing a head-band », 1 December 1931 : effigy of Queen ElisabethElisabeth of Bavaria (1876-1965)Elisabeth of Bavaria , was the queen consort of Albert I of Belgium and was the mother of Leopold III of Belgium and grandmother of Baudouin I of Belgium and Albert II of Belgium.-Family:Born in Possenhofen Castle, her father was Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria, an ophthalmologist of...
- « InfantryInfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
», 4 August 1932 : stamp issued for the erection in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
of a monument in praise of infantry ; after a drawing by the painter Armand MassonetArmand MassonetArmand Massonet was a Belgian painter.He studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts of Brussels and the Ecole National des Beaux-Arts in Paris , where he followed the steps of Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec... - « Piccard balloon », 26 November 1932 : the stratosphericStratosphereThe stratosphere is the second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, just above the troposphere, and below the mesosphere. It is stratified in temperature, with warmer layers higher up and cooler layers farther down. This is in contrast to the troposphere near the Earth's surface, which is cooler...
balloonBalloon (aircraft)A balloon is a type of aircraft that remains aloft due to its buoyancy. A balloon travels by moving with the wind. It is distinct from an airship, which is a buoyant aircraft that can be propelled through the air in a controlled manner....
with which the scientist Auguste PiccardAuguste PiccardAuguste Antoine Piccard was a Swiss physicist, inventor and explorer.-Biography:Piccard and his twin brother Jean Felix were born in Basel, Switzerland...
reached a record altitude of 15.785 m (51,775 ft) in 1931 - « Knight », 1 December 1934 : crusade against tuberculosisTuberculosisTuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
; after a drawing by James Thiriar - « SITEB », 25 May 1935 : Franz von Taxis, first chief postmaster ; after a painting by Hans Holbein the YoungerHans Holbein the YoungerHans Holbein the Younger was a German artist and printmaker who worked in a Northern Renaissance style. He is best known as one of the greatest portraitists of the 16th century. He also produced religious art, satire and Reformation propaganda, and made a significant contribution to the history...
- « City hall of CharleroiCharleroiCharleroi is a city and a municipality of Wallonia, located in the province of Hainaut, Belgium. , the total population of Charleroi was 201,593. The metropolitan area, including the outer commuter zone, covers an area of and had a total population of 522,522 as of 1 January 2008, ranking it as...
», 18 October 1936 ; after a drawing by Marcel Rau - « BasilicaBasilica of the Sacred Heart, BelgiumThe National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica and parish church in Brussels. The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart, inspired by the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Paris. Symbolically King Leopold II laid the first stone of the basilica in 1905 during the...
of KoekelbergKoekelbergKoekelberg is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. On January 1, 2006 the municipality had a total population of 18,157...
», 1 June 1938 : the quireQuire (architecture)Architecturally, the choir is the area of a church or cathedral, usually in the western part of the chancel between the nave and the sanctuary . The choir is occasionally located in the eastern part of the nave...
of the church - « The belfriesBelfries of Belgium and FranceThe Belfries of Belgium and France is a group of 56 historical buildings designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Site, in recognition of an architectural manifestation of emerging civic independence in historic Flanders and neighbouring regions from feudal and religious influences, leading to a...
», 1 December 1939 : bell towerBell towerA bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
s of VeurneVeurneVeurne is a city and municipality in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the town of Veurne proper and the settlements of Avekapelle, Booitshoeke, Bulskamp, De Moeren, Eggewaartskapelle, Houtem, Steenkerke, Vinkem, Wulveringem, and Zoutenaaie.-Origins in the 15th...
, NamurNamur (city)Namur is a city and municipality in Wallonia, in southern Belgium. It is both the capital of the province of Namur and of Wallonia....
, AalstAalst, BelgiumAalst is a city and municipality on the Dender River, 19 miles northwest from Brussels. It is located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Aalst itself and the villages of Baardegem, Erembodegem, Gijzegem, Herdersem, Hofstade,...
, TournaiTournaiTournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut.... - « Portraits of the SenateBelgian SenateThe Belgian Senate is one of the two chambers of the bicameral Federal Parliament of Belgium, the other being the Chamber of Representatives. It is considered to be the "upper house" of the Federal Parliament.-History and future:...
»: full-length pictures of personages, decorating the hemicycle of the Senate; most of those paintings made by Louis GallaitLouis GallaitLouis Gallait was a Belgian painter.Gallait was born in Tournai, Hainaut, Belgium in 1810. He first studied in his native town under Philippe Auguste Hennequin. In 1832 his first picture, Tribute to Caesar, won a prize at the exhibition at Ghent...
. The series was issued in four times :- 15 August 1946 : Pippin of HerstalPippin of HerstalPepin of Herstal, or Heristal, was the Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia from 680 to his death and of Neustria and Burgundy from 687 to 695...
, CharlemagneCharlemagneCharlemagne was King of the Franks from 768 and Emperor of the Romans from 800 to his death in 814. He expanded the Frankish kingdom into an empire that incorporated much of Western and Central Europe. During his reign, he conquered Italy and was crowned by Pope Leo III on 25 December 800...
, Godfrey of BouillonGodfrey of BouillonGodfrey of Bouillon was a medieval Frankish knight who was one of the leaders of the First Crusade from 1096 until his death. He was the Lord of Bouillon, from which he took his byname, from 1076 and the Duke of Lower Lorraine from 1087...
, Robert of JerusalemRobert II, Count of FlandersRobert II was Count of Flanders from 1093 to 1111. He became known as Robert of Jerusalem or Robert the Crusader after his exploits in the First Crusade.-History:...
, Baldwin I of ConstantinopleBaldwin I of ConstantinopleBaldwin I , the first emperor of the Latin Empire of Constantinople, as Baldwin IX Count of Flanders and as Baldwin VI Count of Hainaut, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Fourth Crusade, which resulted in the capture of Constantinople, the conquest of the greater part of the Byzantine... - 25 September 1947 : John II, Duke of BrabantJohn II, Duke of BrabantJohn II van Brabant , also called John the Peaceful, was Duke of Brabant, Lothier and Limburg...
, Philip of AlsacePhilip, Count of FlandersPhilip of Alsace was count of Flanders from 1168 to 1191. He succeeded his father Thierry of Alsace.-Count of Flanders:...
, William the GoodWilliam I, Count of HainautWilliam I, Count of Hainaut was Count William III of Avesnes, Count William III of Holland and Count William II of Zeeland from 1304 to his death...
, Notker of LiègeNotker of LiègeNotker of Liège was a Benedictine monk, bishop and first prince-bishop of the Bishopric of Liège with a capital Liège/Lüttich, ....
, Philip the NoblePhilip I of NamurPhilip I , called the Noble, was the margrave of Namur from 1195 to his death. He was the second son of Baldwin V, Count of Hainault, and Margaret I, Countess of Flanders... - 15 December 1948 : Isabella of AustriaInfanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of SpainIsabella Clara Eugenia of Austria was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands in the Low Countries and the north of modern France, together with her husband Albert. In some sources, she is referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia...
, Albert of AustriaAlbert VII, Archduke of AustriaArchduke Albert VII of Austria was, jointly with his wife, the Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia, sovereign of the Habsburg Netherlands between 1598 and 1621, ruling the Habsburg territories in the southern Low Countries and the north of modern France... - 20 December 1949 : Philip the GoodPhilip III, Duke of BurgundyPhilip the Good KG , also Philip III, Duke of Burgundy was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty . During his reign Burgundy reached the height of its prosperity and prestige and became a leading center of the arts...
, Charles QuintCharles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
, Maria-ChristinaArchduchess Maria Christina, Duchess of TeschenMaria Christina, Duchess of Teschen , called "Mimi", was the fourth daughter and fifth child of Maria Theresa of Austria and Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor...
, Charles of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of LorrainePrince Charles Alexander of Lorraine was a Lorraine-born Austrian soldier.-Background:Charles was the son of Leopold Joseph, Duke of Lorraine and Élisabeth Charlotte d'Orléans...
, Maria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa of AustriaMaria Theresa Walburga Amalia Christina was the only female ruler of the Habsburg dominions and the last of the House of Habsburg. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia, the Austrian Netherlands and Parma...
- 15 August 1946 : Pippin of Herstal
- « Centenary of the first Belgian postage stamp » : 1 July 1949 : postilion, train and aircraft ; after a drawing by Jacques Bruynseraede
- « Belgian-British Union », 15 March 1950 : coat of armsHeraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
of the United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and BelgiumBelgiumBelgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, tankTankA tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, memorialMemorialA memorial is an object which serves as a focus for memory of something, usually a person or an event. Popular forms of memorials include landmark objects or art objects such as sculptures, statues or fountains, and even entire parks....
in Hertain (TournaiTournaiTournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
) ; after drawings by Marc Séverin - « BasilicaBasilica of the Sacred Heart, BelgiumThe National Basilica of the Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic Minor Basilica and parish church in Brussels. The church was dedicated to the Sacred Heart, inspired by the Basilique du Sacré-Coeur in Paris. Symbolically King Leopold II laid the first stone of the basilica in 1905 during the...
of Koekelberg », 1 March 1952 : consecration of the basilica by CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
Van Roey ; after a drawing by Marc Séverin - « King Baudouin », 14 May 1952 : first stamp, large size, bearing the effigy of the new King ; after a photography by Robert Marchand
- « 13th congress of the U.P.U. », 14 May 1952: congress of the Universal Postal UnionUniversal Postal UnionThe Universal Postal Union is an international organization that coordinates postal policies among member nations, in addition to the worldwide postal system. The UPU contains four bodies consisting of the Congress, the Council of Administration , the Postal Operations Council and the...
, in BrusselsBrusselsBrussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
. The 12 stamps show the chief postmasters of the Thurn und TaxisThurn und TaxisThe Princely House of Thurn and Taxis is a German family that was a key player in the postal services in Europe in the 16th century and is well known as owners of breweries and builders of many castles.- History :...
family and the castle of Beaulieu ; after drawings by William Goffin - « King Baudouin », 10 December 1952 : new effigy, stamps in standard size
- « Edouard Anseele », 27 October 1956 : centenary of the birth of this Minister of StateMinister of StateMinister of State is a title borne by politicians or officials in certain countries governed under a parliamentary system. In some countries a "minister of state" is a junior minister, who is assigned to assist a specific cabinet minister...
- « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 15 March 1959 : oath of Johann Baptista von Taxis in front of Charles QuintCharles V, Holy Roman EmperorCharles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
; after a wall painting by Jean-Emmanuel Van den Bussche - « Cultural issue », 4 July 1959. Fourth centenary of the establishment of a first Royal LibraryRoyal Library of BelgiumThe Royal Library of Belgium is one of the most important cultural institutions in Belgium. The library has a history that goes back to the age of the Dukes of Burgundy...
in Brussels by Philip II of SpainPhilip II of SpainPhilip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
: Charles the RashCharles I, Duke of BurgundyCharles the Bold , baptised Charles Martin, was Duke of Burgundy from 1467 to 1477...
, great coat of arms of Philip the GoodPhilip III, Duke of BurgundyPhilip the Good KG , also Philip III, Duke of Burgundy was Duke of Burgundy from 1419 until his death. He was a member of a cadet line of the Valois dynasty . During his reign Burgundy reached the height of its prosperity and prestige and became a leading center of the arts... - « Pope Adrian VIPope Adrian VIPope Adrian VI , born Adriaan Florenszoon Boeyens, served as Pope from 9 January 1522 until his death some 18 months later...
», 31 August 1959 : 5th centenary of the birth of this PopePopeThe Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
; after a painting by J. Van Scorel - « Legends and Folklore », 5 December 1959 : the Blancs-Moussis of StavelotStavelotStavelot is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Liège. On January 1, 2006, Stavelot had a total population of 6,671. The total area is 85.07 km² which gives a population density of 78 inhabitants per km².-History:...
, the Madonna of Peace ; after drawings by Jean Van Noten - « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 20 March 1960 : Alexandrine of Rye, countess of Taxis ; after a piece of tapestry
- « The World Year of the RefugeeRefugeeA refugee is a person who outside her country of origin or habitual residence because she has suffered persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or because she is a member of a persecuted 'social group'. Such a person may be referred to as an 'asylum seeker' until...
», 7 April 1960 : 3 stamps, showing a child, a man, a woman ; after drawings by Jean Van Noten - « Frère-Orban », 15 October 1960 : centenary of the Crédit Communal de Belgique, established by the minister of Finance Walthère Frère-Orban : after a medal
- « Art crafts », 5 December 1960 : laceLaceLace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed via removal of threads or cloth from a previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as part of the lace fabric. Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace was...
- « Nicolaus Rockox », 20 March 1961 : 400th anniversary of the birth of this burgomasterBurgomasterBurgomaster is the English form of various terms in or derived from Germanic languages for the chief magistrate or chairman of the executive council of a sub-national level of administration...
of Antwerp ; after a drawing by Anthony van DyckAnthony van DyckSir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of Charles I of England and his family and court, painted with a relaxed elegance that was to be the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for the next...
, adapted by Victor Dolphijn - « Belgian important people », 22 April 1961 : Henri VieuxtempsHenri VieuxtempsHenri François Joseph Vieuxtemps was a Belgian composer and violinist. He occupies an important place in the history of the violin as a prominent exponent of the Franco-Belgian violin school during the mid-19th century....
and W. De Mol ; after a drawing by Peter Colfs - « Architecture masterpieces », 12 March 1962 : the Castle of the Counts in Male, the basilica Our Lady in Tongeren ; after drawings by Marc Séverin
- « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 25 March 1962 : horse postilion of 16th century ; after a drawing by James Thiriar
- « Gerardus MercatorGerardus Mercatorthumb|right|200px|Gerardus MercatorGerardus Mercator was a cartographer, born in Rupelmonde in the Hapsburg County of Flanders, part of the Holy Roman Empire. He is remembered for the Mercator projection world map, which is named after him...
», 14 April 1962 : 450th anniversary of the birth of this geographerGeographerA geographer is a scholar whose area of study is geography, the study of Earth's natural environment and human society.Although geographers are historically known as people who make maps, map making is actually the field of study of cartography, a subset of geography...
and cartographerCartographyCartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
; after an engraving by Frans Hogenberg - « Concentration campsInternmentInternment is the imprisonment or confinement of people, commonly in large groups, without trial. The Oxford English Dictionary gives the meaning as: "The action of 'interning'; confinement within the limits of a country or place." Most modern usage is about individuals, and there is a distinction...
», 16 September 1962 : AllegoryAllegoryAllegory is a demonstrative form of representation explaining meaning other than the words that are spoken. Allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation...
; after a drawing by Idel IancheleviciIdel IancheleviciIdel Ianchelevici was a Russian-born Romanian and Belgian sculptor and draughtsman.-Life:Born to Jewish parents in Leova, Bessarabia, he left Romania for Belgium in 1928 to devote himself entirely to his passion for sculpture and drawing... - « Queens of Belgium », 8 December 1962 : Queen FabiolaQueen Fabiola of BelgiumQueen Fabiola of Belgium is the widow of King Baudouin of Belgium. She was Queen consort of the Belgians for 33 years...
- « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 7 April 1963 : mail-coach of 1505 ; after a drawing by Eugène VerboekhovenEugène Joseph VerboeckhovenEugène Joseph Verboeckhoven , Belgian painter, was born at Warneton in West Flanders, and received instruction in drawing and modelling from his father, the sculptor Barthélemy Verboeckhoven...
- « Centenary of the first International Postage Conference », 7 May 1963 : frontage of the General Post Office in Paris
- « Ruben’s works », 7 December 1963 : Nicholas, painter’s son ; Infant ChristChristChrist is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
with John the BaptistJohn the BaptistJohn the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
and two angelAngelAngels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s - « Famous Belgian important people », 2 March 1964 : Andreas VesaliusVesaliusAndreas Vesalius was a Flemish anatomist, physician, and author of one of the most influential books on human anatomy, De humani corporis fabrica . Vesalius is often referred to as the founder of modern human anatomy. Vesalius is the Latinized form of Andries van Wesel...
, anatomistAnatomyAnatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
of 16th century - « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 5 April 1964 : postilion of Liège country, about 1835 ; after a drawing by James Thiriar
- « Roger van der WeydenRoger van der WeydenRogier van der Weyden or Rogier de le Pasture was an Early Flemish painter. His surviving works consist mainly of religious triptychs, altarpieces and commissioned single and diptych portraits. Although his life was generally uneventful, he was highly successful and internationally famous in his...
», 19 September 1964 : Deposition - « Famous works of Belgian painters », 5 December 1964 : Charles ICharles I of EnglandCharles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
’s child, painting by Anthony van DyckAnthony van DyckSir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of Charles I of England and his family and court, painted with a relaxed elegance that was to be the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for the next...
; painter Cornelis De Vos’s daughters, by himself - « Philately of the Youth », 27 March 1965 : Sir Rowland Hill (postal reformer)Rowland Hill (postal reformer)Sir Rowland Hill KCB, FRS was an English teacher, inventor and social reformer. He campaigned for a comprehensive reform of the postal system, based on the concept of penny postage and his solution of prepayment, facilitating the safe, speedy and cheap transfer of letters...
, who originated the basic concepts of the modern postal service - « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 25 April 1965 : horse postmaster of 19th century ; after a drawing by James Thiriar
- « Centenary of King’s Leopold ILeopold I of BelgiumLeopold I was from 21 July 1831 the first King of the Belgians, following Belgium's independence from the Netherlands. He was the founder of the Belgian line of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
death », 13 November 1965 : effigy after stamps of 1865 - « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 17 April 1966 : country postman of 1852 ; after an aquarelle by James Thiriar
- « Professor August KekuléFriedrich August Kekulé von StradonitzFriedrich August Kekule von Stradonitz was a German organic chemist. From the 1850s until his death, Kekule was one of the most prominent chemists in Europe, especially in theoretical chemistry...
», 9 July 1966 : portrait of that chemistChemistA chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
who discovered the ring shape of the benzeneBenzeneBenzene is an organic chemical compound. It is composed of 6 carbon atoms in a ring, with 1 hydrogen atom attached to each carbon atom, with the molecular formula C6H6....
molecule - « Cultural issue », 27 August 1966 : sight and sealSeal (device)A seal can be a figure impressed in wax, clay, or some other medium, or embossed on paper, with the purpose of authenticating a document ; but the term can also mean the device for making such impressions, being essentially a mould with the mirror image of the design carved in sunken- relief or...
of the town HuyHuyHuy is a municipality of Belgium. It lies in the country's Walloon Region and Province of Liege. Huy lies along the river Meuse, at the mouth of the small river Hoyoux. It is in the sillon industriel, the former industrial backbone of Wallonia, home to about two-thirds of the Walloon population...
; after a composing by Jean Malvaux - « Children games », 3 December 1966 : children forming a caterpillar ; after a drawing by Francine Somers
- « Journée du timbre (The day of the stamp) », 16 April 1967 : horse postilion of 1833 ; after a drawing by Oscar Bonnevalle
Other engraving works relating to Belgian postage stamps:
- OverprintOverprintAn overprint is an additional layer of text or graphics added to the face of a postage stamp or banknote after it has been printed. Post offices most often use overprints for internal administrative purposes such as accounting but they are also employed in public mail...
assigned to be put on the stamps of the first series « OrvalOrval AbbeyOrval Abbey is a Cistercian monastery founded in 1132 in the Gaume region of Belgium and is located in Villers-devant-Orval, part of Florenville in the province of Luxembourg...
», with regard to the laying of the foundation stone of the abbeyAbbeyAn abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
by Prince LeopoldLeopold III of BelgiumLeopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
. This overprint shows the monogramMonogramA monogram is a motif made by overlapping or combining two or more letters or other graphemes to form one symbol. Monograms are often made by combining the initials of an individual or a company, used as recognizable symbols or logos. A series of uncombined initials is properly referred to as a...
L topped by a crown, and bears the date 19-8-29 (19 August 1929). - The ornaments figuring on the sheet Koekelberg. The stamp showing the basilica’s quire was issued on 1 June 1938. On 21 July, this stamp was republished, in a different colour, on the middle of a sheet bearing :
- above, an escutcheon sustained by two angels and showing the basilica’s front view
- below, the words VT PATRIA VOTVM PERSOLVAT
Airmail stamps
- « Aircraft Fokker VII flying over varied towns », 30 April 1930 : rotogravureRotogravureRotogravure is a type of intaglio printing process; that is, it involves engraving the image onto an image carrier...
; after a drawing by P. Goblet - « DC 4 Skymaster », 23 February 1946 : aircraft linking Brussels and LéopoldvilleKinshasaKinshasa is the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The city is located on the Congo River....
; after a drawing by Marcel Cros - « BastogneBastogneBastogne Luxembourgish: Baaschtnech) is a Walloon municipality of Belgium located in the province of Luxembourg in the Ardennes. The municipality of Bastogne includes the old communes of Longvilly, Noville, Villers-la-Bonne-Eau, and Wardin...
», 15 June 1946 : with extra postage for the benefit of the setting up of a memorial to pay homage to American combatants of Bastogne ; after a drawing by S. André
Stamps for Railways and postal packets
- « Arms of the Kingdom », 1923
- « General Post Office in Brussels », 25 February 1929
- « Centenary of Belgian Railways », June 1935 : diesel motor-coach, steam-engine
- « International Railway Congress, in Brussels », 6 July 1939 : allegory ; after a medal by Godefroid De Vreese
- « Handicrafts », 11 November 1942 : digger, engine-driver, fireman
- « Signal », 1 August 1942 : electric train and signaling
- « Level crossing », 2 June 1946
Stamps for the Belgian Congo
- « Airplane flying over a landscape », 22 January 1934 : airmailAirmailAirmail is mail that is transported by aircraft. It typically arrives more quickly than surface mail, and usually costs more to send...
stamps
Projects of stamps not carried or unpublished
- « Albert IAlbert I of BelgiumAlbert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
» (1928) : this engraving is De Bast’s participation to the competition he won against four engravers, Prix de RomePrix de RomeThe Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by... - « Albert I » (1934) : project carried but not issued, due to the accidental death of the King ; engraving assigned to a typographic printing
- « Protection of black children » (1936) : stamp for the Belgian CongoBelgian CongoThe Belgian Congo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo between King Leopold II's formal relinquishment of his personal control over the state to Belgium on 15 November 1908, and Congolese independence on 30 June 1960.-Congo Free State, 1884–1908:Until the latter...
, showing Queen AstridAstrid of SwedenAstrid of Sweden was Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Leopold III.-Early life:Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on 17 November 1905...
surrounded with Congolese children ; project refused by the Postal Services, who issued 3 stamps very similar, in rotogravure - « Prince CharlesPrince Charles of BelgiumPrince Charles, Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium was the second son of Albert I, King of the Belgians and Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria. Born in Brussels, he served in lieu of his older brother King Leopold III from 1944 until 1950 as Prince Regent until Leopold could return to Belgium and...
» (1947) : portrait of the Regent, who finally refused the issue of stamps bearing his effigy - « King Baudouin wearing glasses » (1953) : project to replace the stamp badly retouched by the Postage Stamps Printing-house