Arc-et-Senans Royal Saltworks First Day Cover Philately FDC

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated envelope is a First Day Cover (FDC) dedicated to the Arc-et-Senans site, specifically the "Salines Royales" (Royal Saltworks). The front features a colorful illustration depicting the distinctive facade of the Royal Saltworks building, accompanied by the local coat of arms in the upper left. The title "ARC ET SENANS" is clearly printed above the image, while the caption "Les Salines Royales" appears below, reinforcing the identity of the represented site.

The envelope bears two round postmarks, both legible and indicating "PREMIER JOUR D’ÉMISSION" (First Day of Issue) along with the date "25-6-1970" and the location "ARC-ET-SENANS (DOUBS)". The postmark design also includes a stylized representation of the Chaux Saltworks, confirming the commemorative theme of this mail item.

The bilingual text "PREMIER JOUR D’ÉMISSION / FIRST DAY COVER" appears in red at the bottom right of the illustration, attesting that this is indeed a philatelic cover issued on the occasion of the official release of the stamp concerned. A rectangular space shows a handwritten label "10F", likely an old price or an internal reference.

The surface of the envelope shows a transparent plastic protection, visible across the entire front, which has helped preserve the overall condition of the item. No major defects are apparent on this side: the visual remains clear, the colors vibrant, and the inscriptions perfectly legible. The visible borders and corners appear to be in good condition, without any notable folds or signs of wear in these areas.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Visible front very well preserved under plastic protection, with no apparent damage. Only the front side is described here.

Did you know? The Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were built in the 18th century by the architect Claude-Nicolas Ledoux. They represented an innovative industrial complex for salt extraction and processing, and are today recognized as a masterpiece of industrial and utopian architecture.

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Keywords: first day cover, FDC, Arc-et-Senans, Salines Royales, France stamp, commemorative postmark, philately, First Day Cover, postal cover, illustrated envelope, UNESCO heritage, thematic envelope