First day cover Sainte-Beuve 1969 FDC envelope philately postmark Boulogne

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Description

This 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.

Two 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.

The 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.

This 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.

The 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.

Condition

Used item, sold as is. Clean visible front, clear illustration and postmarks, no major alteration observed on the visible area.

Did you know? 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.

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Keywords: 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