International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog/Congo, Democratic Republic

Congo, Democratic Republic

(includes Belgium Congo, Katanga, Zaire, Democratic Republic of Congo)

---

• Meter stamps of the Democratic Republic of Congo can easily be confused with those of the Peoples Republic of Congo which is an entirely separate nation. The Democratic Republic of Congo is a former Belgian colony, and the Peoples Republic of Congo is a former French colony. Franks that contain “Republique du Congo” or “Republique Populaire du Congo” (in full or abbreviated) are from the Peoples Republic of Congo. See CONGO, PEOPLES REPUBLIC for these issues.
• The first meter was installed in 1929. The stamps are grouped according to the country name in the frank:

A - Issues as a Belgian colony, inscribed CONGO/ BELGISCH BELGE or variation, 1929-1960

B - Issues of breakaway state of Katanga, inscribed ETAT DU KATANGA, 1960-1963

C - Issues of the first republic, 1960-1971, inscribed CONGO alone or CONGO/ REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE

D - Issues after name change to ZAIRE, 1971-1997

E - Issues of the second republic, 1997 to present, inscribed RDC or provisional issues without country name

---

GROUP A: Issues of Belgium Congo. (1929 – 1960), inscribed CONGO/ BELGISCH BELGE or variation

A1. Timbrographe (LV-9), 1929. [$35]

Frank is upright rectangle with straight border.

Inscribed “CONGO BELGE” above and “BELGISCH CONGO” below value figures.

M# with “A” prefix at bottom, A1-4 known.

TM: nil

Values: 5c, 10c, 20c, 25c, 50c, 60c, 75c, 1Fr, 1F25, 1F50, 1F75, 2Fr, 2F50, 2F75, 3F25, 3F50, 4Fr, 5Fr, 6Fr, 7Fr, 10Fr

A2. Hasler “F88” (MV), 1948. [$5]

Upright frank with straight-line border except for small scallops in the corners.

Crown at top above ribbon containing “CONGO BELGE” with “BELGISCH CONGO” in ribbon at bottom.

M# with “B” prefix below frank.

A. Large frank 28 x 32 mm

B. Small frank 26 x 30 mm

TM: DC, SC or nil

V/F: oo 0oo 00oo

a. “7” of meter number “B7” backwards (shown at right) [$10]

b. M# unengraved block [$10]

A3. Universal “MultiValue” (MV), 1949.

Frank with simulated perforation outer border and straight line inner border.

“CONGO” in panel at top with “BELGISH” and “BELGE” vertical in side panels.

“FR | CT” below value figures.

M# with “U” prefix in boxes in lower corners.

A. “BELGE” at left and “BELGISCH” at right (U1, U2) [$50]

B. “BELGISCH” at left and “BELGE” at right [$5]

TM: DC

V/F: 0oo (A,O) 00oo 000oo

a. TM unengraved

A4. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$5]

As type A3 but much wider frank, 30 x 29 mm.

“BELGISCH” at left and “BELGE” at right.

M# with “U” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 00oo 000oo 00oo

A5. Satas “C” (MV), 1950. [$35]

Narrow, upright frank with simulated perforation border.

Inscribed “BELISCH/ CONGO/ BELGE” at top.

Large solid star at bottom above M# with “N” prefix.

M#s 150-153 seen.

TM: SL or nil

V/F: 0.oo

A6. Francotyp “Cc” (MV), 1952. [$5]

Upright frank with simulated perforation outer border.

Inscribed “BELGISCH CONGO BELGE” in arc around sides and top.

M# with “F” prefix at sides of large star at bottom center.

A. Both M# and prefix in small boxes

B. Only prefix boxed, M# unboxed

TM: SC

V/F: 0.00 (O,G) 00.00 (O,G)

A7. Francotyp “Cc” (MV), 1952. [$10]

Similar to Type A6 but with M# in box at bottom center with lions rampant at each side.

M# with “F” prefix.

TM: SC

V/F: 0.00 (O,G) 00.00 (O,G)

NOTE: The stamp at right is a proof of a Universal "Simplex" stamp. Postally used examples are not known. It is probably an essay.

---

GROUP B: Issues of breakaway state of Katanga (July 1960 – January 1963), inscribed “ETAT DU KATANGA”

• Stamps with Katanga franks were used for many months after reintegration with the Congo in 1963.
• Proof impressions of these stamps on unmailed covers are relatively common. Their value is less than examples on postally used covers.

---

---

B1. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$40]

As Type A2A but inscribed “KATANGA” at top and “ETAT DU” at both sides.

M# with “U” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 0oo 000o 000oo

B2. Francotyp “Cc” (MV). [$40]

Horizontal rectangle with straight sides and complete inner box around the value figures.

“KATANGA” at top and “ETAT DU” at both sides.

M# with “F” prefix in small boxes at bottom.

TM: SC

V/F: 0.00 00.00

a. Without TM

---

GROUP C: Issues of the first Democratic Republic of Congo. (1960 – 1971), inscribed “CONGO” alone or “CONGO/ REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE”

C1. Hasler “F88” (MV). [$25]

Provisional stamp as Type A2 but with crown obliterated.

“BELGE” and “BELGISCH” removed from the ribbons at top and bottom.

M# with “B” prefix below frank.

M#s B17 and B47 seen.

TM: DC

V/F: 00oo

C2. Universal “MultiValue” (MV). [$25]

Provisional stamp as Type A3, but with “BELGISCH” and “BELGE” removed from the side panels.

M#s U63, U64 and U75 seen.

TM: DC

V/F: 00oo 000oo

C3. Satas (MV). [$40]

As Type A5 but with “BELGISCH” and “BELGE” removed.

M# with “N” prefix.

TM: SL

V/F: 00.oo

C3.1. Satas (MV). [Quite rare, value uncertain]

As Type C3 but with "REPUBLIQUE / DU" added above "CONGO".

Without meter number.

TM: SL

V/F: 00.oo

C4. Francotyp “Cc” (MV). [$5]

As Type A6A but with “BELGISCH” and “BELGE” removed.

Two frank widths: 26mm and 27mm.

M# with “F” prefix in small boxes.

TM: SC, nil

V/F: 0.00 00.00

C5. Francotyp “Cc” (MV). [$25]

Similar to Type C4 but with “REPUBLIQUE” and “DEMOCRATIQUE” vertical at sides.

M# below star breaking bottom frame lines.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.00

C6. Hasler “F88” (MV), around 1963. [$20]

Upright frank with single straight-line border.

Inscribed “CONGO” in arc at top with one star above and six stars below.

“M# with “B” prefix above bottom frame line.

TM: nil

V/F: 0oo 00oo

C7. Hasler “F88” (MV), around 1966. [$35]

Frank is horizontal rectangle with simulated-perforation outer border and straight-line inner border.

“CONGO” alone at top. Large star at left.

M# with “B” prefix below frank.

TM: nil

V/F: 0oo

C8. Hasler “F88” (MV), around 1969. [$10]

Frank is upright rectangle with straight-line border.

“CONGO” at top, “REPUBLIQUE” and “DEMOCRATIQUE” vertical at the sides.

Large star at bottom.

M# with “B” prefix below bottom frame line.

TM: SC

V/F: 0oo 00oo 00,oo

C9. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV), around 1963. [$35]

Horizontal frank with straight-line border.

“CONGO” at top and “REPUBLIQUE” and “DEMOCRATIQUE” at sides.

Large hollow star under “CONGO” and small solid star left of value figures.

Bottom frame line does not touch the side lines.

M# with “U” prefix in lower left corner.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋00.oo

C10. Universal “Automax” (MV). [$25]

Upright frank with simulated-perforation outer border.

Inscribed “REPUBLIQUE DU” at top and “CONGO” at bottom.

Two vertical lines at each side.

M# with “U” prefix in small boxes in lower corners.

TM: DC

V/F: =000

C11. Universal “Automax” (MV). [$5]

Frank slightly wider than tall with single straight-line border.

“CONGO” at top and “REPUBLIQUE” and “DEMOCRATIQUE” at sides.

Large star at bottom center. M# with “U” prefix in boxes in lower corners.

TM: DC

V/F: 000oo =0000 =000= =00.oo

C12. Camp (MV). [$50]

Frank without outer frame line.

Inscribed “REPUBLIQUE/ DEMOCRATIQUE /DU CONGO” at top.

Large “K” at bottom center.

M# with “PR” prefix in lower corners.

TM: SC with hour figure between TM and frank

V/F: 000

C13. Satas “P” (MV). [$50]

Frank with outer frame line.

Inscribed “REPUBLIQUE/ DEMOCRATIQUE /DU CONGO” at top.

Large “K” at bottom center.

M# with “SP” prefix at lower left.

TM: SC with hour figure between TM and frank

V/F: 00.o

---

GROUP D: Issues of Zaire (1971 – 1997), inscribed “ZAIRE”

D1. Satas (MV). [$50]

Similar to Type A5 but not as tall and with “ZAÏRE” at top.

M# with “N” prefix.

TM: SL

V/F: 00.oo

D2. Francotyp (MV). [$50]

As Type C5 but with “ZAIRE” at top.

M# with “F” prefix.

TM: SC

V/F: 00.00

a. Used with country name (CONGO) obliterated but before "ZAIRE" inserted. This stamp appears identical to Type E1 but is dated in 1976 during the transition to ZAIRE rather than during the later transition from ZAIRE. One example known (F34), printed in black.

D3. Francotyp (MV). [$35]

Similar to Type D2 but M# unboxed and breaks bottom frame line in center.

“ZAIRE” fills the top of the frank.

TM: DC, SC

V/F: 00.00

D4. Hasler “F88” (MV). [$5]

As type C7 but with “ZAIRE” at top.

M# with “B” prefix at bottom.

Frank variable in height from 27 to 29 mm and in spacing.

TM: SC

V/F: 0oo 00,oo 00 K

a. Printed in black (B107)

D5. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV). [$35]

Similar to D4, but M# with “D” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 00.000

D6. Pitney Bowes-GB “5000” (MV). [$10]

Similar to Type C10 but with “ZAIRE” at top and not as wide.

With double bottom frame line attached to sides.

M# with “U” prefix in lower corners.

TM: DC

V/F: ≋00.oo ≋00.o

D7. Pitney Bowes “MultiValue” (MV). [$25]

Horizontal rectangle with straight-line outer border and double-line inner border at sides and bottom.

“ZAIRE” at top. M# with “U” prefix in lower corners.

Oval value figures made with lines of variable thickness.

TM: DC

V/F: 000oo

D8. Pitney Bowes “Automax” (MV).

Very similar to Type D7 but value figures plainer, made with lines of uniform thickness.

TM: DC

V/F: 00000 =00.oo =0000

D9. Frama (MV). [$5]

Very similar to Types D7 and D8 but much smaller.

M# with “A” prefix. Value figures large and thick.

TM; DC

V/F: 00.00 00,00 00000 000,00

D10. Satas “J” (MV). [$25]

Small upright frank with simulated-perforation border with breaks in the sides.

“ZAIRE” at top, M# at bottom with “SJ” prefix.

TM: SC

V/F: 00.oo

---

GROUP E: Issues of 2nd Democratic Republic of Congo. (1997 to present), Inscribed “RDC” or provisional issues without country designation

E1. Francotyp “Cc” (MV). [Probably rare, value unknown]

As Type C4 but blank at top, without country designation.

One seen with “LUBUMBASHI” in the TM.

M# with “F” prefix.

TM: SC

V/F: 00.00

NOTE: See Type D2a.

E2. Hasler “Mailmaster” (MV).

As Type D5 but with “RDC” at top.

M# with “D” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 000.00

E3. Frama (MV).

As Type D9 but with “RDC” at top.

Value figures large and thick.

M# with “A” prefix.

TM: DC

V/F: 000,00

---

Return to main catalog ⇒ International Postage Meter Stamp Catalog

Return to top ⇒ Congo,_Democratic_Republic