CFF leaflet The Engraving 1984 illustration woman postmarked stamp philately

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated CEF sheet features a philatelic theme dedicated to "Engraving". On the visible side, the document highlights a color illustration depicting a red-haired woman in bust, wearing a yellow dress adorned with a feathered green collar, holding an engraving tool on a plate. The style of the illustration evokes the late 18th or early 19th century, with a modern artistic touch in the treatment of colors and contours.

In the bottom left of the sheet is a matching stamp, with a face value of 2.00 francs, on which a stylized portrait of a woman is featured, consistent with the main subject of the sheet. Right next to it, a "First Day" cancellation dated June 23, 1984, in Versailles, with the inscription "LA GRAVURE PREMIER JOUR" (ENGRAVING FIRST DAY) and a female profile, completes the set, attesting to the philatelic nature of the document.

The text printed on the right, under the title "LA GRAVURE", details the history and techniques of engraving in the West, from its medieval origins to its modern artistic and industrial uses. It specifically mentions the contribution of Albert Decaris, a member of the Institut, who signed the stamp and the illustration of this sheet.

The sheet is inserted into a translucent plastic sleeve with three perforations, typical of CEF presentations for preservation and archiving. On the left edge, the inscription "CEF" as well as information about the print run and catalog number ("N° 726 du catalogue CEF") are visible, confirming the authenticity of the product. The number 8134 appears at the bottom of the sleeve.

The overall presentation is neat, with a clear layout, a wide white margin, and sharp printing. No major visual defects are visible on the presented side; the sleeve effectively protects the sheet from marks and dust.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The sheet and its sleeve appear clean and well-preserved on the visible side.

Did you know? CEF (Courrier d’Entreprise à Faciale) is known for its "First Day" illustrated sheets, which accompany the official release of new French stamps. Albert Decaris, mentioned here, was one of the greatest French engravers of the 20th century, having created more than 500 stamps for the French Post Office.

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Keywords: illustrated sheet, CEF, First Day, cancelled stamp, French philately, Engraving, Decaris, philatelic document, FDC, 3-hole sleeve, 1984 issue, French stamp, artistic engraving