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Preview of Stamps Catalogue: VOLUME 1

FRANCE, Napoleon III issues

Return To Catalogue - Forgeries of the Napoleon III stamps - Essays and proofs of the first stamps of France - 1862 reprints of the first stamps - Cancels on this issue - France overview

Note: on my website many of the pictures can not be seen! They are of course present in the catalogue;
contact me if you want to purchase it.

1852 Inscription 'Repub Franc', imperforated, 'non laurée'

  10 c brown
  25 c blue

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

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

The 25 c was first issued in September 1852 and was used for letters weighing less than 7 1/2 g send from one post office to another. It was still valid after France became an Empire.

Official reprints of these stamps exist (made in 1862). I've seen such a reprint with the upper right corner removed, to prevent illicit use. Click here for images of these 1862 reprints.

For forgeries of these stamps, click here.

1853 Inscription 'Empire Franc', 'non laurée'

Imperforated

  1 c olive on green
  5 c green
  10 c brown
  20 c blue
  25 c blue
  40 c orange
  80 c red
  1 F red

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

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

The 1 c was used for printed matter (under wrapper) and was issued 1st November 1860. The 5 c was for printed matter in unsealed wrappers or envelopes (issued 15th December 1854). The 10 c was intended to be used on local letters (including Paris) and was first issued in December 1853. The 20 c was used on letters less than 7 1/2 g from one post office to another. Specialists distinguish two types of the 20 c, (type I issued 1st July 1853 and type II November 1860) mainly differing in the hair of the Emperor. The 40 c was issued for letters with weight between 7 1/2 g and 15 g and also for letters up to 7 1/2 g to certain foreign countries (issued 8th September 1853). The 80 c was used for letters from 15 g to 22 1/2 g (issued December 1854).

The 25 c and 1 F were officially reprinted in 1862 (the value is considerably less than the original stamps). Click here for images of these 1862 reprints.

The 20 c, 80 c and 1 F exist in tete-beche. These tete-beche stamps have been forged, for example Fournier offered forged 1 F tete-beche pairs.

Cancels, examples:

Privately perforated stamps:

The above stamp was privately perforated. In France they are called 'Piquage Susse' (after the manufacturer of the perforation) or 'Piquage Cosne'. Another type of private perforation is called 'Piquage Clamecy' (perforation with triangles). This was done by Galimard, postmaster of Clamecy. The Piquage Clamecy stamps have the cancel '876' (small numbers from August 1861 to December 1862) or '1040' (large numbers). The Piquage Clamecy is always imperforate at one or two sides. See also: http://e.bonnafoux.free.fr/nd/clamecy.htm
These private perforations are quite rare, forgeries, or imitations, exist. Apparently, the Susse perforation machine was sold to the stamp dealer Arthur Maury, who perforated stamps brought in by collectors with this machine afterwards.
According to 'The Philatelic Record, Vol. XXIX 1907, pages 217-218, the later imitations have the edges cut (instead of torn). Also the horizontal holes are not perfectly aligned left and right (I presume the above stamp is such a later imitation). The genuine perforation should measure 18 1/2 mm x 22 mm.
Some real forgeries were made in Basel (perforation 6 instead of 7), according to the same source.

For forgeries of these stamps, click here.

1862 Inscription 'EMPIRE FRANC', perforated, 'non laurée'

  1 c green on green
  5 c green
  10 c brown
  20 c blue
  40 c orange
  80 c red

The 20 c and 80 c exist in tete-beche. A 5 c imperforated was issued for the french colonies. For forgeries of these stamps, click here. These stamps are perforated 14 x 13 1/2. The 5 c green also exists issued on greenish paper (the paper of the 1 c stamp, provisional issue).

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

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

1863 Head laureated ('laurée'), inscription 'Empire Francais'

Large value in the lower corners

Cancel 'PD'(Paid until destiny), red printed matter cancel and ordinary cancel

  1 c green
  2 c brown
  4 c grey

Value in small letters

  10 c brown
  20 c blue
  30 c brown
  40 c orange
  80 c red

Surcharged

  '10' (blue) on 10 c brown (non issued)

The 1 c, 30 c and 80 c exist imperforated and were used in the french colonies.

Large sized stamp

  5 F grey

These stamps are perforated 14 x 13 1/2. For forgeries of this stamp, click here.

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

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

A '10' (in blue) on 10 c brown was prepared, but was never issued (RR).

For cancels on these issues click here.

Essays, proofs etc.

Click here for essays and proofs of the first stamps of France.

Copyright by Evert Klaseboer