Throughout its history, the area that is modern Belgium has been the battleground for many of Europe’s great battles. Perhaps at no time was this truer than during World War I, a war which brought epic suffering to the nation.

The opening battle of the invasion of Belgium took place on August 4, 1914, when the German army attacked the city of Liège in eastern Belgium. Germany had demanded the right to pass freely through the country as they prepared to attack France. However, on August 3, King Albert of Belgium refused the German’s demands with the statement, “I rule a nation, not a road!” Two days later, the Germans crossed the Belgian border, attacking the fortified city of Liège. The battle lasted until August 16.

During the battle, the Belgian army fought heroically, and many historians, as noted in  a 2007 historical thesis on WWI by Jens Thiel believe that their refusal to surrender may have delayed the German invasion of France by as many as four to five days, allowing the French valuable time to mobilize. Throughout the remaining years of World War I, the German occupational forces – which controlled 95 percent of the country – punished the Belgian citizens for defying their request for passage, as described in the book German Atrocities, 1914: A History of Denial.

The perron and its fountain, by sculptor Jean Del Cour in Liège (Belgium). From a February 2008 photo by Georges Seguin.

At the outbreak of the war, Belgium was the most densely populated country on earth and relied heavily on the import of food to feed their populace. The German occupation ended the free trade and import of foodstuffs that were needed for Belgians to feed themselves. For the next four years the citizens of Belgium experienced severe hardship and large-scale starvation was an ever-looming threat. It was only due to a massive international relief effort that this was avoided.

The Belgian city of Liège – Luik in Flemish – is located on the Meuse River (Figure 1) not far from the border with the Netherlands. Liège is the third-most populous city in the country after Brussels and Antwerp. Throughout its history the city has been an important center of both cultural and commerce. By the 1820s, Liège was one of Europe’s great industrial powers and was also the continent’s leading producer of steel. The city was also an important center for gunsmithing and was a major force in the European weapons industry, a position it continues to hold today.

Figure 1. A 1913 silver print photograph of Liège on the Meuse. 

The origins of the city of Liège date from around 588 A.D., when a small chapel was built to commemorate the martyrdom of Bishop Lambert, who was murdered for denouncing King Pepin’s adultery. By the ninth century the chapel had become a popular pilgrimage destination and its religious importance led to the construction of a new basilica to enshrine the bones of the recently canonized saint. This basilica, constructed at the request of Lambert’s successor, Bishop Hubertus, became the core of the city that grew into Liège. 

The city’s most famous landmark is a fountain known as the Perron of Liège, which dates from the mid-10th century (Figure 2). The Perron is the column holding an orb and a cross  that sits atop the fountain. These columns were constructed in many of the so-called “Good Cities” — the cities that were in accord with the Catholic Church and faithful to the Bishop and Pope – that formed the primary urban settlements of the Bishopric of Liège. Examples of perrons also exist Liègein nearby Limbourg Province in Belgium. 

Figure 2. Left, a 1903 picture postcard to Paris showing the Perron of Liège posted December 22, 1903, in France with a 5-cent Liberty, Equality, Fraternity stamp (Scott 113) on the front. Right, a colorful 1905 Belgian postcard celebrating the 75th anniversary of Belgian independence.

The current Perron of Liège has stood in its place since the end of the 13th century (Figure 3). It serves as a reminder to the citizenry of the rights and freedoms accorded to them by their rulers. In fact, laws were proclaimed and justice was regularly administered from this spot well into the 19th century. A representation of the Perron of Liège (Figure 4) can be found on coins from the region beginning with the reign of Prince-Bishop Henri de Leyen (1145-1165). 

Figure 3. (Right) A Belgian postcard with the Perron of Liège stamp shows the placement of the fountain in the square in front of Liège City Hall and near the Hôtel de Ville. Figure 4. (Left) A 1750 Liège Liard coin shows the Perron of Liège in the center.

The Stamp

The Perron of Liège stamp (in Catalogue Officiel Belge de Timbres-Poste as COB 164/164a, or Scott 123/123B) – was the first stamp to be issued by the Belgian government after the end of World War I (Figure 5). 

Figure 5. The 1919 Perron of Liège second issue (Scott 123, COB 164).

To celebrate the liberation of the country, the government had initially intended to issue a series of 14 stamps bearing a portrait of King Albert I, the Soldier King. The photo on which the stamps were to be based had been taken while the government was in exile (Figure 6), and because the king’s uniform is that of a soldier, they are often referred to as “The Tin Hat” issue. 

Figure 6. A Belgian postcard reproducing the official image of King Albert, taken in exile during World War I and the king as the subject of a stamp known as the Tin Hat issue (Scott 127).

These stamps were scheduled to be issued throughout Belgium beginning July 19, 1919. 

However, this plan was altered when a decision was made to honor the city of Liège with a special stamp featuring an image of the Perron. This distinction was accorded to the city because it had fought valiantly during the first battle against the Germans in August 1914. The Perron was chosen for the issue because it had become a symbol of the Belgian resistance to the German attack and of the bravery of the Belgian army. 

A Belgian government memo of June 30, 1919, states that “a different stamp” would be created with a value of 25 centimes, which was intended to replace the 25-cent Tin Hat issue, when the set was offered for sale in Liège. The first issue of the stamp would be offered for sale in Liège only. 

This issue was printed in a limited edition  and only offered for sale in Liège. The general issue  would be put on sale throughout the rest of the country starting a week later. 

Because the Belgian printing house in Mechelen had been used as a supply depot by the German army during the war, it was not possible to resume printing activities in time to produce the new stamps. For this reason, the stamps were printed by the Dutch printing firm of Joh. Enschedé & Zonen in Haarlem, the Netherlands, with the design engraved by Hendrik Seegers 

The stamps of the first issue were printed in sheets of 10 (Figure 7). The exact number of sheets produced is not known. What is known is that only 500 sheets were sold at the post offices in Liège. In addition, some sheets were also provided to politicians and dignitaries, but the exact number is not known. The stamps measure 18½ millimeters by 28 millimeters and were printed on soft, porous, poor quality, unwatermarked paper with white or yellowish gum, which can often be found with cracks. They are perforated 11½ by 11. 

Figure 7. A complete sheet of the special printing of the Perron of Liège stamp (Scott 123B, COB 164a).

The first printing was released for sale in Liège on July 19, 1919. The sale was limited to five sheets per customer because of the scarcity. The release day was scheduled to coincide with the release of the 10-cent carmine Tin Hat stamp, which was offered for sale in the rest of the country. 

Because the fountain stamp was only put on sale in Liège, first day cancels are most often found with postmarks from one of the four city post offices:

LIÈGE – 1 – LUIK, from the Rue de la Regénce
LIÈGE – 2 – LUIK, from the Quartier d’Amercouer (oblit, à étoiles)
LIÈGE – 3 – LUIK, from the Gare des Guillemins
LIÈGE – 4 – LUIK, from the Rue Grétry, quartier du Longdoz (gare)

This circular date stamp is a simple circle of 28mm and is bilingual in both Flemish and French. It contains the name of the city and indicates the post office around the outside of the ring. The day, month and year are in the center of the circular datestamp in descending order. 

It is difficult to find covers with the limited edition printing stamp with cancellations that come from cities other than Liège; examples, when found, are extremely valuable and very rare. 

Similarly, a number of collectors attempted to secure cancellations of covers with both the limited issue Perron of Liège stamp and the 10-cent red Tin Hat stamp on them. However, because the two stamps were issued in different places – one in the town of Liège, the other in the remainder of the country – this proved difficult logistically. Still, a number of these are known, although in most cases they bear postmarks from Liège and another city and are clearly philatelic. The author is aware of five covers that contain both stamps, canceled with a single Liège post office circular datestamp. 

The second printing, was distributed to the remainder of the country for sale a week later, beginning on July 25, 1919 (Figure 8). The number of stamps printed in this second edition was so great that the actual number has never been accurately determined. Stamps of the second issue remained on sale into the 1930s, with the issue finally being invalidated for sale on May 1, 1931. 

Figure 8. A cover to Herstal, Belgium, with the regular issue Perron of Liège stamp (Scott 123). This cover was posted on July 24, 1919, one day before the official first date of sale. It’s the earliest known usage. 

The stamps of the second printing are slightly larger than those of the first printing, officially measuring 18¼mm by 28½mm. The width of the stamp can be as narrow as  18mm. Like the first issue, they are printed on soft, porous, poor quality, unwatermarked paper with white or yellowish gum, which can often be cracked. They are perforated 11½ by 11. Because of the stamp’s long production history, the color of the stamp can vary from blue, to light blue, pale blue, dark blue or gray blue.

Therefore the only discernable difference between the first and second printing is ½ mm of size.

Additionally, because of the longevity of sale, the second issue can be found on some very interesting covers, including those reflecting the early histories of airmail service (Figure 9) and the automobile. 

Figure 9. Above, an airmail cover to Grenoble, France with a block of four of the fountain stamp and below a cover from the East Kent Car Club, U.K, to Wisconsin.

The second issue  also exists in an imperforate form (Figure 10). There are also  overprints for the regions of Malmedy and Eupen, former Germany territories awarded to Belgium in the Treaty of Versailles. 

Figure 10. An imperforate of the regular printing of the Perron of Liège stamp, which is not listed in the Scott catalog.

One can also find wonderfully diverse cancels on these stamps, including parcel post/railway  and telegraph  cancellations (Figure 11).

Figure 11. Above, a Geet-Betz parcel post / railway cancel on cover and below, an excerpt from a cover carrying an Iseghem telegraph cancel.

The stamps of the first issue of the Perron of Liège issue are true rarities of the world and complete sheets in very fine condition have a catalog value in the thousands of dollars. Sheets with extra fine centering can sell for as much as 60 percent higher. They are a fitting issue to mark the close of a painful and catastrophic period in Belgium’s history,

Resources

Tavano, Leo. Le Perron Liègeois 1919 (Privately published, unknown, 1980).
Catalogue Officiel Belge de Timbres-Poste (Brussels, Belgium: Chambre Professionnelle Belge des Negociants en Timbres-Poste, 2021).
Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue (Sidney, Ohio: Amos Media, 2019).
Kramer, Alan and John Horne. German Atrocities, 1914: A History of Denial (2001).
Thiel, Jens. 'Menschenbassin Belgien': Anwerbung, Deportation und Zwangsarbeit in Ersten Weltkreig (2007).
Belgian National Archive. Actes Officiels - A.M. 30 Juin 1919.

The Author

Gregg Redner is a lifelong philatelist, having begun collecting stamps at the age of eight. He holds a PhD from Exeter University in England and a double Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School in New York City. His teachers have included Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, Vincent Persichetti and Roger Sessions. Gregg is also a published author and his book, Deleuze and Film Music is published by Intellect Press.
Gregg is a passionate collector of Belgian stamps, focusing on the issues of 1919 to 1921. He has done extensive research into the 1919 Perron of Liège issue, as well as the 1920 Antwerp Olympic issues. Gregg has also published articles in The Canadian Philatelist, The Journal of Sports Philately, The Philatelic Communicator, Topical Times and The Philatelic Exhibitor. In addition to membership in the Royal Philatelic Society Canada and APS, Gregg is a board member of the RPSC and Sports Philatelists International. 

For Further Learning 

Recommendations from the APRL research staff:

Prinet. Prinet Belgique Dereume: Belgique, Katanga, Sud-Kasai, Congo, Ruanda Urundi (Bruxelles: Les Editions Dereume, 1966). [G6010 .A1 P957] 

Prinet. Prinet Catalogue Specialise et Illustre pour la Belgique (Bruxelles: Les Editions Dereume, 1973). [G6010 .A1 P957 1973]

Lambrette, M. “Belgium Postal History,” Constant Philatelic Museum (May 14 - June 15, 1949). 

Barker, B. Leslie. “Belgium: The Classic Issues and the Early Postal History,” London Philatelist (July 1963).