What Is The Significance Of The Horn Overprint On Belgium Heraldic Lion Definitive Stamps?

Hi!

I was determined to find the answer to this question on my own, but have exhausted all I know to search.

I have a number of the subject Begium definitive with an overprint rectangle and the horn imprint. There are no dates or other writing. Are these a form of pre-cancels or ???

These are typically Scott 967 thru 976, etc.

Thank you!
Mobilman44

If you Google "Belgian Precancels" and go to "Images" you will get a whole page of stamps, some of which look like what you are describing - and yes, they are precancels


Peter

as above, further...

The Post Horn is one of the most employed Icons in Philately,
the Mail was delivered to towns on horseback, blowing the posthorn to announce his arrival.
It must have been a very exiting time, for villages awaiting news from loved ones.

Thank you,
I really do my best to find the answers to my questions on my own, and its good to know that you all are there to bail me out. Please know that your help is greatly appreciated. When I get a question like this one, it is just a thorn in my side until I can get it answered.

Its amazing (to me) how some countries had so many pre-cancelled stamps out there, while other countries did not. I wonder why?

Thanks again,
Mobilman44

The POSTAL HORN as a notice of the mail coach or rider on horseback arriving goes back to the days of THURN and TAXIS which had enjoyed the privilege of a postal monopoly across Europe .I believe this was awarded them by the Pope in Rome .

I do keep a replica postal horn hanging on the wall in my stamp room .

Suggestion.
It may be linked, both to population and the state of commerce in those particular countries.
Subsequent to the penny postage, mail numbers exploded, one could expect countries like the US and their mail-order businesses, to require a process that did not require the standard Post Office regime, pre-cancelled stamps fitted the need.