Sheet CEF Sailing Ships Series The 5-Masted Ship France II canceled stamp philately

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This official philatelic sheet, from CEF editions (CEF Catalogue, registered design), showcases the sailing ship series with a presentation dedicated to the "5-masted" France II. On the visible side, the sheet offers a black and white photographic reproduction of a large five-masted sailing ship, identified in the text as the "Prussia," an emblematic vessel of this category. The graphic composition combines the ship's image, detailed explanatory text on the history of five-masted ships and their characteristics, as well as a French postage stamp illustrated with a sailing ship, franked with a round cancellation marked "5 mâts France II - La Rochelle" dated June 2nd, visible on the right.

The sheet adopts a sober and elegant layout, typical of CEF's thematic series. The inscriptions "SÉRIE DES VOILIERS" (SAILING SHIP SERIES) and "LE 5 MATS" (THE 5-MASTER), as well as the mention "FRANCE II," are clearly printed at the top right of the central part. The blue stamp, with a face value of 0.90, depicts a stylized five-masted sailing ship, reinforcing the link between illustration, text, and philatelic element. The special cancellation completes the collectible aspect of the item.

On the left margin are the sheet's technical details: "N° 241 du Catalogue CEF," "Modèle déposé" (Registered design), and the CEF logo. The individual print number, here "2811," is printed at the bottom left. Other information about the multilingual printing and official control is also visible, attesting to the official and limited nature of the edition.

The printed text, in French, details the history of five-masted sailing ships, the importance of the "France II" in the merchant navy, and the place of the "Prussia" among the world's largest sailing ships. The typography is fine and regular, facilitating reading and giving the whole a documentary aspect.

The visual condition of the sheet is good: the visible surface shows no stains, creases, or notable alterations. The stamp colors are well preserved, and the overall printing remains clear. The mounting is done on a white cardboard support, with margins and perforations visible on the left, typical of sheets to be filed.

Condition

Used item and sold as is. The visible side shows no apparent structural defects.

Did you know? The CEF sheet series, created in the 1960s, is recognized for its thematic editions that combine stamps, special cancellations, and explanatory texts. The "France II," highlighted here, was one of the largest five-masted sailing ships ever built in France, launched in 1911 in Gironde and primarily used to transport nickel from New Caledonia to Europe.

AFW Reassurance

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