This post features the pipe organ of Geraardsbergen stamp from Belgium. In 1988, Belgium issued a stamp celebrating the famed organ of St. Bartholomew Church in Geraardsbergen. Check out this blog post about the stamp on the Pipe Organs of the World on Postage Stamps blog.
The pipe organ is often called the “King of Instruments” because of its massive sound and enormous size. Of course, it is largely an instrument associated with the Christian church. It represents the majesty God, but also the wealth and power of the church. The temporal power of the church, however, has often been intertwined with secular rulers. For example, the church and its leaders can confer legitimacy on a ruler and coronations and investitures typically occur in a cathedral or sacred space that suggest the divine blessing on a ruler. The organs are symbols of important churches and the power of the its religious and civic leaders.
For that reason, specific organs from individual churches or cathedrals are not uncommon on postage stamps. You can read, for instance, about other organ postage stamps in my collection in this post about an organ in Wasquehal, France; and in this post about the famous Arp Schnitger organ in Hamburg, Germany.
Scott Number 1299
The Church of Saint Bartholomew
The Church of Saint Bartholomew in Geraardsbergen dates to around 1500. The oldest parts of the building are in a late gothic style. Subsequently, the church was enlarged with elements of baroque and neo-gothic architecture. In the eighteenth century, the church also acquired some important works of art. This includes a painting attributed to the sixteenth century painter Abraham Janssens as well as several by the seventeenth century artist Gaspard De Craeyer. It is also home to three impressive eighteenth-century silver reliquaries. Learn more about the church’s history, architecture, and art on its website.
Photo by LimoWreck, WikimediaCommons
The Pipe Organ
The organ in the church is by the notable organ builder Charles Anneessens (1835-1903). Charles Anneesens was a Belgian born organ builder who built over two hundred organs for churches across Europe in the second half of the nineteenth century. The St. Bartholomew organ dates to 1890 and has 1,422 pipes and 29 stops. The instrument has two keyboard manuals and a full pedalboard. A restoration and enlargement of the organ took place in 1970. The design of a new case is by Louis Bert and the organ work was by the Duffel organ company.
Hear the organ played by the great organist Gert van Hoef in a concert from early 2019.
