Belgium – Scott # 77, hinged

Description

This Belgium definitive stamp, Scott #77, was issued in 1894 as part of a late 19th-century series reflecting the country’s postal administration and national identity. The design centers on the Belgian coat of arms, featuring the crowned shield with lion emblem, rendered in a formal, heraldic style typical of the period.

Along the bottom of the stamp appears a trilingual postal notice reading “NE PAS LIVRER LE DIMANCHE / NIET BESTELLEN OP ZONDAG,” meaning “Do not deliver on Sunday.” This inscription reflects Belgium’s multilingual character and documents historical postal regulations governing mail delivery, adding notable social and administrative context to the issue.

The engraving is finely detailed, with symmetrical ornamentation, strong vertical lines, and balanced typography. The denomination panels and inscriptions are clearly integrated into the design, emphasizing functionality alongside official symbolism.

This example is offered unused with hinge, showing original gum with evidence of a prior hinge attachment. Unused hinged examples remain collectible and are valued by collectors of classic European stamps, postal history, and regulatory markings.

• Scott Catalog Number: 77

• Denomination: 10 centimes

• Design: Belgian Coat of Arms with Sunday Delivery Prohibition

• Condition: Unused, hinged

• Country: Belgium