First Day Cover Henri Fabre illustrated by Quillivic stamp

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated philatelic sheet, published by CEF, honors Henri Fabre, aviation pioneer and inventor of the first seaplane. The visible side features a color portrait of Henri Fabre, created by René Quillivic, Grand Prix de Rome winner and designer of numerous issued stamps. The drawing, in an engraved style enhanced with watercolor touches, occupies the left part, accompanied at the bottom by the inscription "LES HOMMES CÉLÈBRES Henri FABRE" (FAMOUS MEN Henri FABRE).

To the right of the portrait, a detailed biographical text recounts Henri Fabre's life and achievements, particularly his work on the seaplane and his contributions to aeronautics. This text is printed in black on a white background, within a sober frame, ensuring clear and sharp readability.

A blue 1.80 franc postage stamp, bearing Henri Fabre's likeness, is affixed to the right side of the sheet. A "Premier Jour 22 FEV 1982" (First Day 22 FEB 1982) postmark is stamped over the stamp, attesting to the philatelic and commemorative nature of the document. Next to the stamp, a circular vignette reproduces the stylized portrait of the pioneer and the inscription "1982 HENRI FABRE".

The sheet is presented inserted in a transparent plastic sleeve, allowing its surface and details to be clearly observed without seeing the back. The edges are clean, with no apparent defects, and the visible surface shows no folds or noticeable stains. The reference "N° 884 du catalogue CEF" (No. 884 of the CEF catalog) and the individual number "11786" are indicated on the left edge.

This sheet is a CEF (Cercle des Éditions Philatéliques Françaises) production, known for its limited edition illustrated philatelic documents, often sought after for their print quality and the renown of their artist-engravers.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The visible side is clean and well-preserved, with no major observable defects.

Did you know? On March 28, 1910, Henri Fabre made the world's very first seaplane flight over the Étang de Berre near Marseille. This historic flight paved the way for aviation on water, and his aircraft, the "Canard" (Duck), remained a reference for many aeronautical engineers thereafter.

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Keywords: philatelic sheet, CEF, Henri Fabre, first day cover, Les Hommes Célèbres, Quillivic, aviation, seaplane, philatelic document France, FDC, illustrated stamp sheet, philately France, commemorative stamp, aeronautical pioneer