Catalogue France

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Newspaper stamps

1868 Newspaper stamp, imperial eagle, inscription 'TIMBRE IMPERIAL JOURNAUX'

  2 c blue (imperforated or perforated)
  2 c lilac (imperforated or perforated)

Reprints exist of these stamps (made in 1913, rare). Futhermore fiscal stamps in the same design: 2 c red, 5 c lilac, 5 c blue and 5 c red.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Imperforate
2 c blue	RRR	RR
2 c lilac	RRR	R
Perforated
2 c blue	***	**
2 c lilac	***	**

I know that forgeries of these stamps exist, for example in the Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries the values 2 c and 5 c can be found as forgeries (they also appear in Fournier's 1914 pricelist for 1 Swiss Franc as first choice forgeries, either perforated or imperforate). They appear there with a large 'EL' or 'RO' cancel together with a line and '1870' above it. But this need not always be the case for these forgeries.

Telegraph stamps

1868 Inscription 'EMPIRE FRANCAIS TELEGRAPHES'

The following values exist: 25 c red, 50 c green, 1 F orange and 2 F violet (all of them imperforate or perforated, the perforated issues are more common).

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
Imperforate
25 c	RRR	RR
50 c	RRR	RR
1 F	RRR	RR
2 F	RRR	RR
Perforated
25 c	RR	***
50 c	R	*
1 F	RR	*
2 F	RR	***

I know that forgeries of these stamps exist, for example in the Fournier Album of Philatelic Forgeries the values 25 c and 2 F can be found as forgeries (they also appear in Fournier's 1914 pricelist for 1 Swiss Franc as first choice forgeries both, either imperforate or perforated).

The following cancels can also be found in this album under Alsace, but I think they were used on telegraphic stamps of France instead (the date is 1869! Stamps of Alsace were only issued in 1870):

Training stamps

Training stamps, these stamps were used for learning purposes (instruction courses of the postal services), they have the inscription 'SANS VALEUR', and exist in many values, small and large sizes and even overprints.

These test stamps exists in many different colours (even more colours on the same stamp).

Rare airmail stamps (1928)

Stamps issued by chambres of commerce

1909 Amiens, inscription 'CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE AMIENS', issued during a postal strike

Besides the misprint 'missing C', one stamp was printed upside down in the sheet, creating a tete-beche variety. 2000 sheets of 25 stamps were printed, thus a total of 50000 stamps. These stamps were printed by Yvert et Tellier.

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 c	***	***

1914 Valenciennes, inscription 'Chambre de commerce de Valenciennes service postal interimaire', issued during the German occupation

This emergency stamp was issued during the German Occupation and before overprinted German stamps came into use. On letter:

Value of the stamps
vc = very common c = common * = not so common ** = uncommon		*** = very uncommon R = rare RR = very rare RRR = extremely rare
Value	Unused	Used	Remarks
10 c	RR	RR

1945 Inscription 'CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE SAINT-NAZAIRE FRONT ATLANTIQUE'

Forgeries exist of these stamps; I have seen modern Hialeah forgeries of the 2 F, made with a scanner and printer.

1953 'Chambre de Commerce d'Orleans et du Loiret 10 Fr TAXE d'acheminement'

Telephone stamps

I have seen many values, with slightly different inscriptions; ('Service telephonique international.', 'A partir des cabvines telephoniques publiques.' or ' A partir des cabines telephoniques ouvertes au public.').

Stamps of France, overprinted 'POSTES SERBES'

Issues for the government in exile of Montenegro in Bordeaux

These stamps were issued for the government in exile of Montenegro in Bordeaux (south west of France).

Parcel post stamps for Paris

Besides the above 60 c black on green, I have also seen the values 85 c black on green and 25 c black on lilac (without the inscriptions 'REMBOURSEMENT').

I have seen other stamps in a similar design (it seems that the large part with 'RECEPISSE' was given to the customer) with inscription '96 Rue Amelot', this stamp has the inscription '23 Rue du Louvre'.

I don't know what the following stamps were used for, they have the arms of Paris and 'L M' at both sides of the arms.

The above stamp has the inscription 'CHARGEMENT', I have also seen 'LETTRE' (red) and 'IMPRIME' (green, 2 types, one with '5 CENTIMES' on top and another with 'Timbre Commission 5c Avis' below). I have never seen these stamps in used condition.

Bogus issues

A description of (these?) stamps is given in 'Les timbres de phantaisie' of Georges Chapier. The image on the stamps is supposed to be general Boulanger, who wanted to take power in France in 1887. He didn't succeed, but a german enterprise printed these stamps (maybe hoping to sell them if the general succeeded with his revolution?). These stamps seem to be quite rare and exist in perforated or imperforated condition. The following values are listed:

  1 c green and grey
  5 c red and grey on blue
  10 c red and grey on yellow
  20 c blue and grey on blue
  25 c lilac and grey
  30 c green and grey on blue
  50 c blue and grey on yellow
  75 c (?) lilac and grey on blue
  1 F red and grey
  5 F blue and grey
  10 F green and grey on blue
  20 F bronze and grey on blue

FRANCE Miscellaneous