COVER N. 558 - BELIZE

Postmark: Ladyville Registration

Posted on the 11th February; Received on the25th February 2025

_________________________________________________________________________________

Independent from its former colonising power, the UK, since 1981, and only recognised by neighbouring Guatemala, with whom there are still disputes as to the definition of the common border, in 1992, the state of Belize,  holds a total population of about 400,000 nationals and, as a realm of the Commonwealth, is a parliamentary constitutional monarchy, its Head of State being the Monarch of the former colonising power, that is to say, King Charles III.

With an economy deepley rooted in tourism and agriculture, this small state of Central America gets its name, it seems, from one of the rivers that run through it, River Balis.

Once part of the Mayan civilisation, Belize fell first to the Spanish concquerors in the 16th century and was then occupied by English settlers in the 18th century.

Belize was not yet on my list of countries, here on my blog, so it was with great joy that I opned up my leterbox today to find that my friend, the Flying Dutchman, had included me in a circuit originated in this rather not so usual location. Muito Obrigado, Eric. Um grande abraço!

Eric used a 75 cent stamp issued on 06DEC1999 as part of a four stamp (25; 60; 75 Cents; 1 Dollar) Christmas issued for the year, featuring reproductions of religious paintings. The work highlighted on the 75 cent stamp is "Madonna and Child with St. John and Angel"  by an unknown artist, as indicated in the legend on the base of the stamp.

The postmark was applied at Ladyville, the largest village of Belize, located some eight miles from the country's capital, Belize City, of which it is actually a suburb.