Bruxelles Brussel 1897 Local Stamp ?

Whats the story behind this stamp,
is it a local stamp for Brussel ?
if so, why was it issued.
Why not use just regular Belgian stamps from that time.
And whats the motif in it looks kinda violent.

Thanks in advance
best regards mrmagic

Not a local.

In the Scott catalog, Belgium #81(1896-1897), assuming the stamp color is lilac brown. The stamp depicts the battle between Michael and Satan.

If your stamp is orange brown, then it is #80.

Thanks for your answer,
how common is it to not have the name of the country on the stamp.
does it have any value in this condition ?

mrmagic

Other than Great Britain, it is not that common for the country name to be absent. However, there are enough of them around so that you will run into them and they do cause some headaches until you've notched some more experience.

Many of the Belgian stamps of that era were printed with a label, and the Scott catalog values the stamps WITH the labels still attached.

The 2011 Scott catalog values for mint hinged stamps WITH label are:

#80 (orange brown) $8.50
#81 (lilac brown) 50c

There is a pretty hefty drop-off in retail value if the label is not attached.

Nice Rod

Agreed, BeeSee,
one of my favourites too,
I like the way the designer has treated the night sky.

Nice picture Rod.
Yes I like the sky as well. thanks for the info of the value khj.

What is that thing below the date--a portal to another universe??

Brussel (Dutch)
Bruxelles (French)
Brussels (English)

Perhaps the sign or insignia below the year date is the heraldic prancing lion of Belgium? At the time of this stamp other countries sometimes had their emblems or symbols depicted on stamps so you could tell what country the stamp was for and from because of that insignia.

The Archangel Michael is a fascinating subject. I was captivated by some of the differing depictions of Michael trampling Satan that seemed to have been copied or referred to to come up with this depiction on the stamp.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michae...archangel%29