France History CEF Stamp Sheet 1971 Revolution Bastille Valmy

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated sheet from CEF (Éditions CEF) features a carefully designed layout dedicated to the History of France, focusing on the French Revolution. On the visible side, three French postage stamps are integrated into the sheet: each is cancelled with a "First Day" postmark. The stamps respectively depict the Estates General (0.45 F), the Battle of Valmy (0.45 F), and the Storming of the Bastille (0.65 F), all dated 1971. The central color illustrations depict major events of the Revolution, with period costumes, historical scenes, and emblematic settings (including the Bastille and a battlefield with cannons and soldiers).

The sheet is framed with a gold fillet and embellished with printed texts on each side. On the left, a text presents the Estates General, while on the right, another details the Storming of the Bastille. At the bottom, a blue frieze frames three illustrations captioned "History of France", "the Estates General", "the Battle of Valmy", and "the Storming of the Bastille".

The meticulous presentation and printing quality typical of CEF editions are clearly visible. The sheet bears the edition number (16137) printed at the bottom left, attesting to a limited print run. The mention "Modèle déposé" (Registered Design) and "Éditions CEF" appear on the side strip, along with information on international distribution.

The main colors are beige, brown, blue, and touches of red and black in the illustrations. The stamps are well-centered and the "First Day" cancellations are clear, with the captions "Marseille", "Paris", and "Valmy".

This type of sheet is sought after for its documentary value and philatelic interest, combining historical illustration, explanatory text, and commemorative stamps.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The image shows a sheet in good overall condition: no visible creases or tears, clean corners, well-preserved prints and colors. Some slight traces of wear or superficial marks may be present, typical of a handled item.

Did you know? CEF First Day sheets have been published in France since the 1950s. They combine new stamps cancelled with the official postmark of the issue day with an illustrated and textual support, making them sought-after documents for their historical and philatelic aspects. The French Revolution, illustrated here, has been the subject of numerous commemorative issues by La Poste, particularly during bicentennials and major anniversaries.

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Keywords: First Day sheet, CEF, France Revolution stamp, Bastille, Valmy, History of France, First Day cancellation, philatelic document, limited edition, commemorative stamp, philately France, French stamp sheet