Souvenir sheet CEF Tours silk N°504 cathedral illustration canceled

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This CEF philatelic sheet highlights the city of Tours, with a central illustration depicting the famous facade of Saint-Gatien Cathedral, a work by Claude Andreotto. The scene is printed on a silky-looking insert, surrounded by a golden border, offering a refined presentation typical of CEF editions. The central image, in vibrant colors dominated by blue and ochre, showcases the Gothic architecture of the two iconic towers of the building.

On the right side of the sheet, there is a matching postage stamp, also illustrating Tours Cathedral, with a clear first-day cancellation. The mention "2.10" on the stamp indicates the postage value. Beside the stamp, a round postmark reproduces the silhouette of the cathedral, reinforcing the commemorative nature of the issue.

The sheet is completed by a detailed historical text about the city of Tours, printed in black on a white background, offering a cultural and heritage context to the issue. The layout is elegant, with regular margins, and the whole features three perforations on the left edge for binder storage, typical of CEF sheets.

In the lower left margin, we observe the mentions "N°504 (silk)", "33,800 copies" and "13,500 on silk", confirming the limited nature of this edition on a silk medium. The reference "N°773 S from the CEF catalog" also appears at the top left, specifying the authenticity of the sheet.

The illustration and typography evoke a careful production from the 1980s to 1990s, characteristic of CEF souvenir sheets, highly prized for their printing quality and silk finish.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The visible side has a clean appearance, with no apparent stains or creases. The colors are vibrant, the text and illustrations are clearly legible. The left edge shows the original perforations for a binder. Visible copy number: 147.

Did you know? CEF (Centrale d’Editions Philatéliques) souvenir sheets have been published since 1948 and constitute a French tradition of thematic philately. The more luxurious silk edition is printed in limited numbers and sought after for the fineness of its impressions and the quality of the silk, often associated with renowned artists such as Claude Andreotto.

AFW Reassurance

Fast shipping and careful packaging ensured by a professional seller specializing in philately and old documents.

Keywords: philatelic sheet, CEF, Tours, silk, first day stamp, philatelic souvenir, limited edition, Claude Andreotto, cancellation, Saint-Gatien Cathedral, France stamp, philately, first day on silk, commemorative sheet, N°504 CEF