CEF Bec Hellouin Abbey souvenir sheet postmark stamp

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated philatelic sheet presents a CEF (Centred d'Études Philatéliques) issue dedicated to the Bec Hellouin Abbey in Normandy. The visible side shows a careful composition, centered on a color photograph of the abbey and its rural surroundings, accompanied by detailed historical text in French. The title "BEC HELLOUIN" appears at the top right, above the main image.

On the left, a franked postage stamp is affixed, with a legible special cancellation: "ABBAYE NOTRE DAME DU BEC HELLOUIN - Eure". The stamp, with a face value of 1.10, depicts a motif related to the abbey and bears a vignette matching the subject of the sheet. The first-day cancellation is clear and legible, enhancing the philatelic interest of the whole.

The sheet features an elegant layout, framed by a golden fillet. The printed text provides a historical overview of the abbey and its influence, with references to its founders and its cultural and architectural importance. The printing is clear, on matte-finish paper, typical of CEF productions.

The left part of the sheet reveals the perforation system designed for binder filing, typical of CEF sheets. Also visible are the mentions "Catalogue CEF" and issue number "448", as well as a clearly indicated limited edition: 33,800 copies (of which 20,300 offset, 13,500 on silk). An individual number "6990" is visible at the bottom left.

The sheet is presented flat, with no folds or visible damage on the exposed side. The corners and edges appear clean; the photograph shows no chips or apparent stains. The whole is typical of French thematic philately, with an emphasis on presentation quality and rich documentation.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Visible side in very good condition, with no apparent major flaws. Any invisible details cannot be guaranteed.

Did you know? Bec Hellouin Abbey, founded in the 11th century, was one of the main religious and intellectual centers of medieval Normandy. It saw the passage of great names in European ecclesiastical history and today retains part of its original architectural heritage.

AFW Reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping ensured by a professional seller specializing in philately and historical objects.

Keywords: philatelic sheet, CEF, Bec Hellouin Abbey, cancelled stamp, first day, French philately, philatelic document, thematic sheet, limited edition, stamp binder, FDC France, French stamp sheet