CEF Sheet Homage to Virgil France 200F stamp philately franked

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This commemorative sheet from the CEF (Courrier d’Entreprise à Faciale) series honors Virgil, the famous Latin poet, through a meticulously crafted presentation typical of French philately. The piece features a rectangular insert with golden edges, centered on a reproduction of an ancient mosaic illustrating a pastoral scene, directly related to Virgil's work. The sheet includes a French 200-franc stamp, engraved by Eugène Lacaque, visible in the upper left, as well as a perfectly legible First Day cancellation dated Paris.

The sheet is structured around several elements: at the top, the title “HOMMAGE À VIRGILE” (TRIBUTE TO VIRGIL) is printed in black capital letters. To the left and right, two columns of text recount Virgil's life and work, while the central part highlights a faithful reproduction of an ancient mosaic, surrounded by a Greek frieze motif. The black and white stamp features a detail from the mosaic, and the First Day cancellation also depicts an ancient scene with the inscription “HOMMAGE A VIRGILE 75017 PARIS.”

The upper left part of the sheet contains technical information about the CEF issue, such as the sheet number (No. 620 S from the CEF catalog), the limited edition of 33,200 copies, and the individual sheet number visible in the lower left (8576). The side margins feature perforations for insertion into a philatelic album, which is typical of this format.

The entire piece is presented on white, satin-finish paper, with an elegant and perfectly legible layout. No noticeable defects, missing parts, or signs of wear are observable on the visible side of the sheet; the surface appears in very good visual condition, without folds or apparent stains.

This sheet illustrates the French philatelic tradition of highlighting literary and artistic heritage through high-quality commemorative documents.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The visible side shows no notable defects.

Did you know? The stamp affixed to this sheet was engraved by Eugène Lacaque, a renowned master engraver who signed numerous prestigious French issues. CEF sheets are sought after for their printing quality and careful presentation, combining explanatory text, art reproduction, and a First Day cancelled stamp.

AFW Reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping with tracking. Professional seller, expertise and quality service.

Keywords: philatelic sheet France, First Day stamp, CEF Hommage à Virgile, franked, FDC, French philately, 200F stamp, Eugène Lacaque, philatelic document, commemorative sheet, stamp sheet France, illustrated first day sheet