FDC First Day Cover 1970 World Games for the Disabled Philately Saint-Étienne

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

Illustrated First Day Cover (FDC) philatelic letter, issued for the 1970 World Games for the Physically Disabled in Saint-Étienne. The front of the envelope features a color photograph showing a wheelchair basketball game in a gymnasium, with several players in action, all wearing red and white striped jerseys. Two basketball hoops are visible in the background, as well as a typical parquet floor of a sports hall.

In the upper right, the official stamp related to the event is canceled with a round "PREMIER JOUR 25 JUIN 1970" (FIRST DAY JUNE 25, 1970) postmark explicitly mentioning "JEUX MONDIAUX 1970 DES HANDICAPÉS PHYSIQUES - SAINT-ÉTIENNE" (WORLD GAMES 1970 FOR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED - SAINT-ÉTIENNE). The inscription "PREMIER JOUR D’ÉMISSION F.D.C. N° 729 HISTORIQUE" (FIRST DAY OF ISSUE F.D.C. N° 729 HISTORICAL) is printed at the top of the envelope, reinforcing its philatelic value.

On the lower left, the title "JEUX MONDIAUX DES HANDICAPÉS PHYSIQUES" (WORLD GAMES FOR THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED) is printed, while a specific red "Premier Jour" (First Day) stamp appears near the corner. The envelope is protected by a transparent plastic film, which preserves the visual condition of the front. A handwritten label with the number "108" is visible in the lower right corner.

The visual, typography, and aesthetics of the envelope, as well as the sporting and humanitarian theme, attest to a typical French philatelic creation from the 1970s, intended to commemorate a major international event in the field of adapted sports.

The inscriptions are clear and legible, with a careful layout that highlights both the sports image and the philatelic elements (stamp, postmarks, official mentions). The whole conforms to the standards of First Day Covers used for thematic philately.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. The envelope is preserved under protective plastic film. The visible elements (front, stamp, postmarks, illustration) appear in good general condition, with no apparent major defects on the displayed side. No details can be given about the back or the interior.

Did you know? The term "Premier Jour d’Émission" (First Day of Issue) refers to the very first official sale date of a stamp or a philatelic series. FDC (First Day Cover) envelopes are specially created to be canceled on that day, making them sought-after pieces for tracing postal history and the significant events commemorated by the stamps.

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Keywords: first day cover, FDC France, philatelic letter, 1970 World Games, Saint-Étienne, disabled stamp, First Day Cover, adapted sport, wheelchair basketball, canceled postmark, philately France, special issue