Description: The stamp features an engraved portrait printed in a warm ochre or light brown ink against a cream paper background. The central vignette portrays the young King Baudouin in a three-quarter frontal pose, wearing his characteristic horn-rimmed eyeglasses and a formal military uniform complete with braided shoulder epaulets and a structured standing collar. Positioned in the upper left corner is the face value denomination "2 F 50", while the bilingual state identity is accommodated by the vertical text inscriptions "BELGIË" running up the left margin and "BELGIQUE" running down the right margin. The entire composition is sharply framed inside a crisp, nested double rectangular border configuration.
Circa: 1957-1960s
Condition: Used - Hinged
Notes:
Belonging to Belgium's deeply studied mid-century "Marchand type" definitive series, this specific fractional value is a favorite for postal historians due to the wealth of information preserved in its cancellations. This exceptional specimen showcases a highly collectible, near-complete circular town postmark from the capital city reading "BRUXELLES" at the top, cleanly struck on "1 VIII 1960" with the specific time block code "3-9" also preserved over the monarch's chin.