CEF Philatelic Sheet The Council of Europe Strasbourg cancelled stamps

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated philatelic sheet, published by CEF, honours the Council of Europe in Strasbourg. The visible side features a colourful graphic composition blending a view of Strasbourg Cathedral, a stylised representation of the Council of Europe building, and a map of Europe in the background, all in predominantly purple, grey, and black tones. The whole is enhanced by three French postage stamps arranged at the top left and right, all cancelled with the postmark "Conseil de l'Europe 1er Jour Strasbourg 15 Nov. 1984".

The sheet presents detailed informative text on the history, mission, and composition of the Council of Europe, printed in black on a white background. The left part features two green and blue stamps depicting architectural views, while the red stamp on the right offers a distinct motif. The "First Day" cancellations are clear and well-centred, making it an attractive piece for collectors of thematic philately or specialists in European institutions.

In the left margin, there is the mention "Émission CEF – Modèle Déposé", as well as a numbering (9822) at the bottom, probably indicating the item number. The illustration of the sheet is signed by Eugène Lacaque, a renowned artist in the philatelic field. The sheet is preserved in a perforated plastic sleeve, suitable for album format, typical of CEF presentations.

The general composition of the sheet highlights both the historical, architectural, and institutional aspects of the Council of Europe, with a careful layout typical of CEF editions. No major defects are visible on the photographed side; the sheet appears to be in good presentation condition, without apparent stains or creases.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The visible side shows no major defects. The colours are fresh, the texts and illustrations are clear, and the cancellations are well-marked. The plastic sleeve shows slight normal handling marks for this type of item.

Did you know? The Council of Europe, founded in 1949 in Strasbourg, is the oldest intergovernmental European organization. It has played a key role in promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law on the continent. CEF (Courrier d’Entreprise à la Française) sheets are particularly sought after for their illustration quality and official commemorative issues.

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Keywords: first day sheet, Strasbourg stamp, Council of Europe, CEF philately, FDC envelope, cancelled stamp, philately Europe, commemorative issue, Eugène Lacaque illustration, thematic philately, France Europe stamp, Strasbourg stamp