Philatelic sheet CEF Saint Francis of Assisi illustration Goffin

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This illustrated CEF philatelic sheet honors Saint Francis of Assisi. It features a carefully crafted composition, dominated by an artistic color illustration depicting the famous scene of the encounter with the wolf, against a backdrop of stylized Gothic architecture. To the left, a detailed biographical text traces the life of Saint Francis, accompanied by a gold-bordered frame that enhances the overall presentation.

In the upper left part of the sheet, there is a franked postage stamp featuring Saint Francis of Assisi, complemented by a "First Day" commemorative cancellation (round postmark, bearing "12-10 PARIS"). This specific postmark attests to the philatelic validity of the sheet, highly sought after for this type of issue.

The central illustration, signed by Marie-Noëlle Goffin (artist engraver), stands out for its precise engraving work: the drawing highlights Saint Francis, surrounded by several figures, in a scene imbued with religious symbolism. The dominant colors are black, brick red, touches of blue and beige, with a play of lines and flat tints that reinforces the depth of the scene.

The sheet is presented in a perforated transparent sleeve, suitable for preservation and display in a philatelic album. On the side border, several technical mentions are visible, including the CEF reference and the issue number. An individual copy number (6418) appears at the bottom left, confirming the limited series of this edition.

The main inscriptions are clear and legible: "Saint François d’Assise" at the top right, biographical text, illustrator's mention, and technical details on the margin. The whole is printed on smooth white paper, with a neat finish typical of CEF sheets.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The sheet shown in the photo does not show any major apparent defects on the exposed side: the print, stamp, and postmark are clear, and the colors are well preserved. Transparent sleeve shows slight handling marks, typical of storage in an album.

Did you know? CEF (Courrier d’Entreprise à la Française) philatelic sheets have been published in France since the 1960s, often in limited editions, to celebrate major personalities or events. Illustrator Marie-Noëlle Goffin is renowned for her engravings on stamps and philatelic documents, contributing to the promotion of French postal art.

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Keywords: first day sheet, Saint Francis of Assisi stamp, CEF philately, philatelic document, first day cancellation, Goffin illustration, FDC France, illustrated envelope, commemorative sheet, philatelic cover, French stamp, numbered sheet