The Vicicongo, the company of the local railroads of the Congo, introduced the first series in February of 1939. The PK 1-5 from 1886 and 1887, were not anymore in use.
This group of special post parcel stamps is poorly catalogued, there are two series published in the OBC, while more series were made. According to the leading Belgium Congo stamp dealer and expert, Dominique Bilmans, at least four series exist. Below are examples and a concise explanation; it is clear that a thorough study should be made.
All series bare the same text:
Société des chemins de fer Vicinaux du Congo.
———–
Services des petits
Colis
——-
BON VALEUR
(the value)
The image is a train wheel (a so-called “Roue ailée” in French) with wings attached.
The design of the wheel different not in its size but the small horizontal lines do in each series, from many to almost none. The color is also not consistent.
The first series bare 7 horizontal lines.
The second series the 1 Fr. has a few lines while the rest of the series has none.
The third and forth bare many lines.
The colors can also slightly differ, difficult to see on a scan, there for an example of three different series all of the same value:
First series: PK6-11
Date of issue: 1939, February
Expiration date:
Design:
Printing:
Perforation: 12
Size: 31 x 35 mm
Sheet: 25
Circulation:
PK1-10: 2.000 examples.
PK11: 1.000 examples
PK6 1Fr yellow
PK7 2Frs violet
PK8 3Frs carmine
PK9 5Frs dark green
PK10 10Frs brown
PK11 25Frs light green
The series:
On the back “1er tirage”, I do not know if this is always the case:
Second series: PK12-17
Date of issue: 1940, March
Expiration date:
Design:
Printing:
Perforation: 12
Size: 31 x 35 mm
Sheet: 25
Circulation:
PK12-16: 5.000 examples.
PK17: 2.000 examples.
PK12 1Fr lemon yellow
PK13 2Frs dark violet
PK14 3Frs red
PK15 5Frs blue
PK16 10Frs orange
PK17 25Frs dark green according to OBC, mine stamp has a light green print.
The series:
Third series: PK18-25
Date of issue:
Expiration date:
Design:
Printing:
Perforation: 12
Size: 31 x 35 mm
Sheet: 25?
Circulation:
PK18 1Fr lemon yellow
PK19 2Frs dark violet
PK20 3Frs red
PK21 5Frs blue
PK22 10Frs orange
PK23 25Frs dark green according to OBC, mine stamp has a light green print.
PK24 50Frs lemon yellow
PK25 100Frs dark green.
The series:
Forth series: PK26-
Date of issue:
Expiration date:
Design:
Printing:
Perforation: 12
Size: 31 x 35 mm
Sheet: 25?
Circulation:
PK18 1Fr
PK19 2Frs
PK20 3Frs
PK21 5Frs dark blue
PK22 10Frs
PK23 25Frs
PK24 50Frs orange
PK25 100Frs
Notice the difference in color for the first stamp.
The s is lacking 5 Fr. instead of 5 Frs.
The first stamp is from the forth series and the other from the third.
Guy van Rijn
