Belgian Colonial History Appraisal

Belgique Congo (Congo Belge) Stamp featuring an adult and child

The item is a philatelic stamp from 'BELGIQUE' (Belgium) and 'BELGIË' (Dutch name for Belgium), with an additional inscription indicating 'AFRIQUE' or 'AFRIQUE BELGE' (Belgian Africa/Congo). The dominant color of the stamp is a rich, purplish-pink or magenta, which gives it a distinct appearance. The image depicts two figures: an adult, likely a woman, with their back partially turned, and a child, possibly a baby, facing the adult. The child appears to be reaching towards the adult's face, suggesting a tender, intimate moment such as a mother and child interaction. The imagery is somewhat obscured and out of focus, making precise identification of facial features or expressions difficult, but the overall composition conveys warmth and familial connection. In the bottom left corner, there is a numerical value '15', and in the bottom right corner, another numerical value '5', presumably indicating the denomination of the stamp. The text 'BELGIQUE' and 'BELGIË' are visible in the lower band of the stamp, above the '5'. In the upper left corner, there is a distinct capital 'A' within a shield-like or stylized frame. The edges of the stamp show perforations, a standard characteristic of postage stamps, indicating it was designed to be separated from a sheet. The overall condition, based on the image, suggests some blurriness and possibly age-related fading or discoloration in the paper surrounding the stamp, but the stamp itself appears relatively intact without obvious major tears or creases, although detailed inspection for minor faults is impossible from this image quality. The style of art is illustrative, common for stamps of the early to mid-20th century. The subject matter suggests a humanitarian, social, or perhaps colonial theme reflecting the relationship between Belgium and its African colony, Congo.