Here's one that puzzles me, even after looking it up in a couple of European catalogs. Seeing the "Winged Wheel" on the bottom, brought Belgium to mind, but didn't see anything in Michel's even close to this. Anyone seen something like this?
Mike
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re: whatchamacallit?
Beauties!
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Wow, that was FAST. Thanks for that information. Where do you find them listed? I looked in Facit and Michels, without success, so must assume there is a more specialized source for these and similar items.
Mike
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Scott lists the Belgium because they are parcel post stamps, some of which happen to also be railway stamps.
If I'm not mistaken, the Scott policy is that if the stamp is valid for general postage or parcel use (not limited to railway), then Scott will list it.
"Where do you find them listed? I looked in Facit and Michels, without success, so must assume there is a more specialized source for these and similar items."
That is correct, they are not listed in any of the major general stamp catalogs that I am aware of because so many of the railway stamps are fiscal in nature and/or private/local. Sometimes the general catalogs will list a few if the railway stamps are valid for general parcel/letter postage. You need to go the specialized railway stamp catalogs to see detailed listings, including several specialized country/region railway stamp catalogs. I don't see them up for sale often, but they can usually be acquired through the various railway stamp/philatelist groups.
AS noted the Belgium railway stamps saw service both by regular post & railway post.
This is a synopsis of an article on them.
In the beginning (1879 up to 1928) there was only one type of stamps (Railway stamps "Chemins de Fer - Spoorwegen) issued by a service which was common to postal and railway services. Those stamps were sold both by the postal services AND by the railway services.
In 1928, the Postal Service issued for the first time two special stamps (Scott Nr. Q174 and Q175) for small parcels accepted at the offices of the postal services.
You can see from the cancellation if the stamp was used for a parcel deposited at the Post Office (round cancellation) or at the Railway Station (rectangular cancellation). Scott notes a premium on the postal cancellation stamps.
For a short time only, 1928-33, the Belgian Post Office operated a small packet service, and issued stamps for that service. This service was subsequently taken over by the railway company and short sets of stamps inscribed "Colis Postal" or the letter "B" in an oval and incorporating a post-horn into the design were issued from 1934 onwards and were available at post offices as well as at railway stations.
In the period 1960-1990 and maybe a few years later, the Belgian Post Services had their own trains (painted in red) which they operated for transporting mail (including small parcels).
From about 1960 to about 1990, Railway stamps were not sold to the general public by the regular post office. One had to go to a separate office of the Railway Company to get them. Apparently at a later date, collectors could obtain them from the post office.
All this to say that the services overlapped to a great extent It became difficult to separate their use.