CEF Tautavel Man souvenir sheet cancelled prehistoric illustration

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This philatelic sheet features an illustration dedicated to "Tautavel Man," an emblematic figure of European prehistory. On the visible side, the sheet is adorned with an artistic composition combining a prehistoric skull, animals (elephant, rhinoceros, lion), and graphic elements evoking archaeological discovery. The illustration was created by Marie-Noëlle Goffin, as indicated on the document.

In the upper left section, there is a French postage stamp with a face value of 1.40 francs, illustrated with a sunset against a prehistoric landscape. This stamp is postmarked with a legible first-day cancellation, marked "TAUTAVEL" and accompanied by a skull motif. The entire sheet is printed on a white background, with a discreet black frame and a meticulous layout typical of CEF (Covers Événementielles France) issues.

The text, in French, recounts the major archaeological discovery in the Arago Cave in Tautavel in 1971, under the direction of Professor Henri de Lumley. It details the analysis of bone fragments, the prehistoric environment, and the place of Tautavel Man among European hominids. The text is printed in black, in two columns, with perfect legibility on the visible side.

The sheet bears the limited edition number "5595" in the bottom left, confirming its belonging to a numbered series. On the side margin, the inscription "Émission CEF," the catalog mention, and the reference to the Fédération Française des Sociétés Philatéliques are visible, attesting to the official edition and the care taken in its manufacture.

The observed overall condition is very good: the sheet shows clean edges, with no folds or apparent stains on the visible side. The colors are fresh, and the print quality conforms to CEF philatelic standards. No major defects are visible on the photographed part.

Condition

Used item, sold as-is as shown in the photo. Presence of a postmarked stamp and a limited edition numbering. Very good visual condition on the observed side.

Did you know? Tautavel Man, discovered in 1971 in the Arago Cave, is one of the oldest representatives of the genus Homo found in Western Europe. The remains date back approximately 450,000 years and are fundamental for the study of human prehistory. The Tautavel site is now a major center for paleoanthropological research.

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Keywords: philatelic sheet, CEF, first day, Tautavel, prehistory, France stamp, cancellation, prehistoric man, fossil skull, philately, French stamp, Marie-Noëlle Goffin illustration, limited edition, philatelic document