| Added by |
 Bart Perdieus
|
| General Description : | The "Belgica" was a barque-rigged steamship that was built in 1884 by Christian Brinch Jørgensen at Svelvik, Norway as the whaler Patria. In 1896, she was purchased by Adrien de Gerlache for conversion to a research ship, taking part in the Belgian Antarctic Expedition of 1897–1901, becoming the first ship to overwinter in the Antarctic. In 1902, she was sold to Philippe, Duke of Orléans and used on expeditions to the Arctic in 1905 and from 1907–09. In 1916, she was sold and converted to a passenger and cargo ship, serving Spitsbergen from the Norwegian mainland under the name Isfjord. In 1918, she was sold and renamed Belgica, being converted to a factory ship. Requisitioned by the British in April 1940, she was used as a depôt ship, being scuttled when the Franco-British Expeditionary Force evacuated Harstad. |
| Face value | 17 francs |
| Catalog code (Michel) | BE 2778 |
| Catalog code (Scott) | BE 1671 |
| Catalog code | Yvert et Tellier BE 2726 Stanley Gibbons BE 3401 AFA number BE 2786 Belgium BE 2726 Unificato BE 2726 |
| Stamp colour | multicolor |
| Stamp use | Commemorative stamp |
| Print run | 5.108.240 |
| Issue date | 23/05/1997 |
| Designer | François Schuiten |
| Print technique | photogravure |
| Perforation | 11 1/2 |
| Height | 38.00 mm |
| Width | 49.00 mm |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
