Theme : Esperanto 13ba - Neutral Moresnet 2

continued from : Neutral Moresnet 1

The issued stamps of Moresnet exist perforated and non perforated.
They were issued gummed and without gum. 
The stamps were never postally used, but they exist with several cancels  'Ausser Cours (gesetzt)' = taken out of circulation or 'Kelmis Moresnet', in various colours.
 

Neutral Moresnet 1 Pf - 1886

 

Neutral Moresnet 50 Pf - 1886

Stamps are bilingual German - French and issued in German 'Pfennig' values (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 20 and 50 Pfennig).

A 10 pfennig black stamp, with a lion and a german eagle, is a fantasy issue by the Belgian dealer and collector J.B. Moens. 

A second attempt for full independence occurred in 1906, when Molly met the Esperanto movement through Gustave Roy. The growing Esperanto movement was the inspiration for both men, to use Esperanto as 'national' language, an idea that was welcomed by the population of Moresnet.
Esperanto was introduced in the local schools, a national anthem was created and the to-be-founded country would  be "Amikejo" (Esperanto for friend(ship) place).
Esperanto founder L. Zamenhof gave his permission, and the next Esperanto World Congress would be held in Kelmis in Moresnet.
As the international congress in the end was not held in the area, the enthousiasm dropped, and also the more 'german-minded' mayor blocked further development of the first Esperanto-state.
Also the nearby German rulers saw the idea of an independent state as a threat, and preferred an annexation with Prussia.

map of Neutral Moresnet and suggested flag

In 1914, with the outbreak of the first World War, Belgium and Moresnet came under German authority.
And as German lost the war, Moresnet was again detached from the Prussian (now German) influence.
The new world order after the war, decided that there was no place for an ambiguous country within Europe, and by the time the area celebrated it's centenary, Neutral Moresnet became part of Belgium. 

Sign in honour of Gustave Roy and the Esperanto movement

There is a documentary on Neutral Moresnet on youtube.
It is in Dutch, French, German and Esperanto, the documentary was published in 1991, and speaks about the mine, the country, through current city officials and someone (Mr. Peter Zimmer) who was 18 when the country was dissolved. A gem !

Youtube link 

Collecting : my collection 03b

In France, a similar project started.

In 1861 the first 'real' stamp catalogue appeared, as the "Catalogue des timbre-postes crées dans les divers états du monde".
It contained 1080 ! stamps and and 132 postal stationeries.
Alfred Potiquet, the author, had access to the stamp registration by Oscar Berger-Levrault, a bookshop owner in Strasbourg (France) who made the first stampcatalogue in the world. This book was not intended for public and Poitiquet added illustrations, and published the book.
However the book was far from complete.  Some stamps weren't know yet in 1861.
Among those 'missing' stamps, the blue and red Mauritius for example.

From then on, more countries started to publish their own 'world catalogues'.
As I can't mention them all, I want to add one special one, that appeared in 1862.
It was issued in Belgium by Jean-Baptiste Moes. Member of the city board of the city Elsene (near Brussels). As a 15 year old boy, he organised the first stamp sale.
As he was working as a dealer, he's known as the first stamp dealer in the world.
He published several manuscripts on stamp collecing and one of the first world catalogues :  "Manuel du Timbromane".
Among his customers, was Philippe de Ferrary, one of the world greatest collectors. He was impulsive in his buying and seemed to be indifferent to price, so dealers and counterfeiters took advantage of him. Exceptionally dangerous forgeries gained the nickname, "Ferrarities".

J-B Moens was also the first publisher of a book on forgeries. This book, "Manuel du Collectionneur de Timbres-Poste" was translated the same year into English by E. Doble.

Jean-Baptiste Moens

JB Moens on a Belgian stamp + label (1973)