CEF Marianne Sabine 1979 philately stamps France illustrated sheet

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated CEF sheet features a neat layout dedicated to French philately, centered on the famous "Marianne" and "Sabine" stamp issues. The composition highlights, on a light blue background, a large stylized reproduction of the "Sabine" type Marianne stamp, 0.70 franc, in vibrant blue, accompanied by the mention "FRANCE" and the legible face value in the upper right corner.

The upper part of the sheet displays a gallery of 10 "Marianne" stamps from different issues between 1944 and 1976, each identified by the name of its engraver or artist (Dulac, Decaris, Gandon, Muller, Cocteau, la NEF, Cheffer, Béquet) and its year of issue. These vignettes are printed in various colors: yellow, pink, green, blue, purple, gray, etc.

In the lower part, two genuine "Sabine" stamps from 1979 are affixed to the sheet, canceled with a round "PHILATELIQUE 1ER JOUR PARIS 13.1.79" postmark. The design of these stamps represents the head of the Republic, inspired by Jacques-Louis David's work, typical of the Sabine issues style.

The sheet includes an explanatory box in the lower right, printed in black, detailing the purpose of this special edition. The entire piece is inserted into a transparent three-hole punched sleeve, with the mention "N° 510 Spécial de catalogue CEF" and the individual numbering "5465" on the left. The print run is limited to 20,000 copies, with a specified breakdown (11,000 offset, 9,000 silk), information visible on the side margin.

The overall appearance is clean, with fresh colors, crisp printing, and a professional presentation typical of CEF artistic sheets intended for thematic philately enthusiasts. The stamps are well-centered, the cancellations visible and clear, adding a historical and aesthetic dimension to the whole.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The sheet visible in the photo is in good condition, with no apparent signs of wear on the visible side. The inscriptions are legible and the stamps are well-affixed.

Did you know? CEF (Courrier d’Entreprises de France) sheets are renowned for their illustration quality and limited print runs. The "Sabine" series, engraved by Pierre Gandon after David's work, was introduced in 1977 to replace the Marianne de Béquet, and marked French philately with its classic aesthetic and longevity in postal use.

AFW Reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping ensured by a professional seller specializing in philately and postal collectibles.

Keywords: French philatelic sheet, CEF Marianne, Sabine type 1979, first day stamp, Paris cancellation, illustrated stamp sheet, Philately France, French stamp sheet, limited issue, Gandon engraving, postal franking, thematic sheet