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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

FRANCE 1917-1926

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1917 Inscription "ORPHELINS DE LA GUERRE", various designs

  2 + 3 c brown
  2 + 1 c brown (1926)
  5 + 5 c green
  15 + 10 c olive
  25 + 15 c blue
  35 + 25 c grey and violet
  50 + 50 c brown
  50 + 10 c brown (1926)
  1 F + 1 F red
  1 F + 25 c red (1926)
  5 F+ 5 F black and blue
  5 F + 1 F black and blue

Surcharged

 
  1 c on 2 + 3 c brown
  2 1/2 c on 5 + 5 c green
  5 c on 15 + 10 c olive
  5 c on 25 + 15 c blue
  5 c on 35 + 25 c grey and violet
  10 c on 50 + 50 c brown
  25 c on 1 + 1 F red
  1 F on 5 + 5 F black and blue

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

With overprint used for Indochina

2 c + 3 c stamp cancelled by the 'US ARMY POSTAL SERVICE' in 1918

Forgeries of the rare 5 F + 5 F exist made out of cheaper 5 F + 1 F stamps and scratching out the "1 F" and replacing it by "5 F"

A modern forgery, made by Peter Winter in the 1980's; this forgery has "FAUX" written in the lower left corner.

(Peter Winter forgery)

I've only seen this forgery with the cancel 'BAR S AUBE 2E/1 FEVR (9)'. This forgery also exist on letter (same cancel). There is an inscription "FAUX" (=forgery) at the left hand bottom side of this forgery.

1918 Red Cross issue

  15 c + 5 c grey and red

This stamp is perforated 14 x 13 1/2.

vc = very common
c  = common
*  = not so common
** = uncommon

*** = very uncommon
R   = rare
RR  = very rare
RRR = extremely rare

1923 Pasteur issue

('Pasteur' 1923 issue)

  10 c green 
  15 c green (1924?)
  20 c green (1926)
  30 c red
  30 c green (1926?)
  45 c red (1924?)
  50 c blue
  75 c blue (1924?)
  90 c red (1926?)
  1 F blue (1926?)
  1.25 F blue (1926)
  1.50 F blue (1926?)

Surcharged
  50 c on 75 c blue (1926?)
  50 c on 1.25 F blue (1926?)
  '10 FR' on 1.50 F blue (1928, airmail stamp: RRR)

Overprinted 'C A', colour changed and surcharged with new value

  'C A +50 c' on 1.50 F orange (1927)
  'C A +50 c' (blue) on 1.50 F lilac (1928)
  'C A +50 c' on 1.50 F red (1929)

Overprinted 'CONGRES DU B.I.T. 1930' (1930)
  1.50 F blue

The airmail stamp '10 FR' (and double bar on old value) on 1.50 F blue was issued on the paquebot 'Ile-de-France'. The surcharge was applied in New York authorized by the French consul general on 1000 of these stamps. On some stamps the distance '10 FR' and the double bar is larger (6 1/2 mm instead of 4 1/2 mm). A hydroplane would leave the paquebot so the mail would arrive earlier in France. Many forged overprints exist. The same overprint was also applied to a 90 c Berhelot stamp.

A postal forgery of the 1.50 F Pasteur stamp

According to 'Postal Forgeries of the World' by H.G. Leslie Fletcher the above stamp is a postal forgery. The printing is much clearer than in the genuine stamps, the 'E's have long horizontal lines. The 'C' of 'FRANCAISE' is more closed than in a genuine 1.50 F stamp. Also, the shading around the mouth is much more heavy. Finally, the 'f' above '150' is placed slightly more to the right than in a genuine stamp.

I've seen modern computer generated Hialeah forgeries of the values 1.50 F blue (imperforate) and the 10 F on 1.50 F (also imperforate).

1924 Olympic games, various designs

  10 c green (2 shades in one stamp)
  25 c red (2 shades in one stamp)
  30 c black and brown
  50 c blue (2 shades in one stamp)

Olympic games labels:

I've seen these labels in other colors as well.

1924 Ronsard

  75 c blue

1924 Arts exhibition in Paris

  10 c green and yellow
  15 c blue and green
  25 c blue and violet
  75 c blue (two shades on one stamp)

For stamps of France for 1927 onwards, click here.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer