Cancelled philatelic cover 1967 The Barber of Seville Vienna SCOTEM postmark

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated philatelic envelope features a commemorative postmark from Vienne-sur-le-Rhône, dated Saturday, June 24, 1967, for a performance of the opera "The Barber of Seville" at the Roman Theatre. The envelope bears a wine-red French stamp depicting Beaumarchais (0.30+0.10) in the upper right corner, with a clear and legible cancellation.

The postmark features the stylized structure of the ancient theatre of Vienne, with curved lines evoking the tiers, along with the inscriptions: "VIENNE sur le Rhône – THÉÂTRE ROMAIN – LE BARBIER DE SÉVILLE – samedi 24 juin 1967". The bottom part of the envelope includes the mention "SCOTEM, 5 rue Lamartine, PARIS-IXe", indicating the sender or publisher, typical of commemorative envelopes issued for major cultural events of the era.

The visible side shows a white surface with a glossy black border, protected by a transparent sleeve, indicating a concern for preservation. No other patterns or illustrations are visible on this side, maintaining a simple and elegant presentation, characteristic of French event philatelic issues of the 1960s.

The stamp features an engraved portrait of Beaumarchais, the famous playwright, with the mentions "1732-1799" and "BEAUMARCHAIS", as well as the face value. The circular cancellation, partially legible, repeats the location and date, confirming the authenticity of the postage at the time of the event.

The upper left corner of the envelope is perfectly clean, with no visible creases or tears in the photographed area. The glossiness of the surface suggests storage in plastic, minimizing the risk of alteration.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The envelope appears clean and well-preserved on the visible side, with no major apparent flaws.

Did you know? The issuance of commemorative envelopes with illustrated postmarks, known as "philatelic souvenirs," greatly expanded in France from the 1960s onwards to accompany major cultural, historical, or sporting events. The Ancient Theatre of Vienne hosts major performances every year, including open-air operas like "The Barber of Seville."

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Keywords: first day cover, FDC France, philatelic souvenir, commemorative postmark, Beaumarchais stamp, 1967 cancellation, philately France, envelope stamp, Barbier de Séville Vienne, SCOTEM Paris, Roman theatre Vienne, philately letter