CEF Stamp Souvenir Sheet The Badger First Day 1988 illustration Claude Haley

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This CEF (Courrier d'Entreprise à Faciale) sheet is dedicated to the badger, an emblematic animal of European wildlife. It is an illustrated philatelic sheet, published for the "Natural History" series with the mention "Le Blaireau" (The Badger) at the top of the page. On the left side, two French Republic stamps, with a face value of 5.00 francs each, are affixed. Both stamps bear the "Premier Jour" (First Day) postmark dated June 8, 1988, in Paris and Montbard, attesting to their issuance on the official first day.

The central illustration, in color, depicts a badger lying in a lush natural setting. The drawing, signed by Claude Haley, stands out for its precise and realistic details, highlighting the animal's grey-brown fur and characteristic white stripes on its head. A fine frame emphasizes this animal illustration.

The sheet also features a long printed text, in French, on the biology and characteristics of the badger (Meles meles), with information on its behavior, habitat, and specificities. The typography is simple and legible, in black on an off-white background.

On the left side of the sheet, the CEF catalog references are clearly visible, as well as the number 7165 inscribed at the bottom left. The overall presentation is neat, with a brown border framing the entire sheet.

This First Day sheet is a thematic philatelic item appreciated for the quality of its illustration, the clarity of the postmarks, and the richness of the descriptive text. It is aimed at collectors of animal stamps and illustrated philatelic documents.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The visual condition is good: the sheet shows no apparent creases or stains on the visible side. The prints and postmarks are clear.

Did you know? The European badger (Meles meles) is a mammal of the weasel family, known for its complex underground tunnels, called setts. In France, the badger benefits from partial protection depending on the region, due to its important ecological role in soil regulation and forest biodiversity.

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Keywords: first day cover, CEF philately, Le Blaireau stamp, Claude Haley, FDC France, natural history stamp, animal stamp, Meles meles, French stamp, illustrated cover, philatelic sheet, European wildlife stamp