{"product_id":"lettre-premier-jour-sainte-beuve-1969-fdc-enveloppe-philatelie-cachet-boulogne","title":"First day cover Sainte-Beuve 1969 FDC envelope philately postmark Boulogne","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAFW - Antique France Worldwide\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDescription\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis illustrated envelope is a \"First Day Cover\" (FDC) dedicated to Sainte-Beuve (1804-1869), a French literary figure. On the visible side, the envelope features a colorful illustration on a red and white background, depicting open books, a quill, and newspaper titles such as \"Le Temps\" and \"Le Moniteur\", with the name \"SAINTE-BEUVE\" highlighted. The inscription \"LES HOMMES CÉLÈBRES\" (FAMOUS MEN) appears at the top of the illustration. The graphic composition evokes the literary world of the 19th century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo round postmarks are clearly visible: they bear the inscription \"1804-SAINTE-BEUVE-1869\", \"PREMIER JOUR\" (FIRST DAY), \"PREMIÈRE ÉMISSION\" (FIRST ISSUE), \"BOULOGNE-SUR-MER\", and the date March 22, 1969. One of them also features a medallion portrait of Sainte-Beuve. A handwritten area with the inscription \"1 JT\" is visible at the bottom right.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall condition of the envelope, observed through a protective plastic sleeve, shows a clean surface, with no visible stains or tears on the front. The visual remains clear, with well-preserved colors and perfectly legible texts. The cancellation mark is clearly applied, without smudging.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis type of philatelic letter, also called a commemorative envelope or FDC (First Day Cover), highlights an event or a person on the occasion of the official release of a stamp. Here, the issue pays tribute to Sainte-Beuve, a renowned 19th-century critic, poet, and essayist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe meticulous presentation of this envelope, combined with the thematic illustration and the first-day postmark, makes it a representative piece of French philatelic issues from the late 1960s, ideal for archiving or framing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eCondition\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUsed item, sold as is. Clean visible front, clear illustration and postmarks, no major alteration observed on the visible area.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDid you know?\u003c\/b\u003e The principle of the \"first day of issue\" consists of postmarking a stamp on the very day of its official release, often in a city related to the subject of the stamp. Sainte-Beuve, originally from Boulogne-sur-Mer, is notably celebrated for his literary portraits and his influence on modern literary criticism.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAFW Reassurance\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCareful and protected packaging, fast shipping with tracking, professional expertise on every item offered.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eKeywords: first day cover, FDC Sainte-Beuve, France philatelic letter, Boulogne-sur-Mer postmark, 1969 issue, first day cover, commemorative letter, philately cover, Sainte-Beuve stamp, literary illustration, illustrated envelope, French philately\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AFW","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54323512443207,"sku":"51347-0f36bb69-b59e-43c2-8b3c-9b8b6ae2a4c9-PA0.15","price":1.39,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0989\/5152\/8775\/files\/s-l1600_1fcf4c30-abd1-457a-b428-5ebd1be37c8a.jpg?v=1783712847","url":"https:\/\/shop.antiquefranceworldwide.com\/en\/products\/lettre-premier-jour-sainte-beuve-1969-fdc-enveloppe-philatelie-cachet-boulogne","provider":"AFW","version":"1.0","type":"link"}