Lot of various 19th and early 20th century French cancelled stamps - philately

AFW - Antique France Worldwide

Detailed description

This lot consists of an album page featuring a varied set of old French postage stamps, all cancelled, mainly from the 19th and early 20th centuries. The visible stamps show a remarkable diversity of colours and patterns, ranging from blue, green, brown, red to pink, characteristic of classic French issues.

At the top of the page, there is a series of blue stamps, several of which bear the inscription "RÉPUB. FRANC." and a female profile typical of the first Ceres or Napoleon III issues. Round or diamond-shaped cancellations are clearly visible on most of the stamps, testifying to their actual postal circulation.

The intermediate rows feature stamps in brown, green and orange hues, some of which bear faces or effigies, typical of classic French issues. Several examples show cancellation marks, including dotted or numbered cancellations, common on stamps from this period.

Further down, the page reveals stamps in shades of green, blue, pink and violet, some slightly overlapping. The mentions "POSTES" and face values are partially legible on several examples. The diversity of colours and face values suggests a broad representation of classic French postal issues.

The transparent protective strips reveal the overall condition of the stamps: most appear to show signs of wear, some stains or dirt are visible, as well as an old patina, without being able to precisely judge the individual condition of each stamp.

The album page itself shows signs of age, including halos, dirt and browned areas around the strips. The stamps are held under strips, which limits the visibility of certain details, particularly on the edges and corners.

Condition

Used item sold as is. Presence of signs of wear, dirt, halos and patina on the page and stamps. The stamps are cancelled and held under transparent strips; their individual condition may vary.

Did you know? Classic French stamps from the 19th century, particularly the Ceres and Napoleon III series, are among the first postal issues in France, appearing as early as 1849. Diamond-shaped or date-stamped cancellations were commonly used at that time to cancel stamps, with each office having its own specific number or stamp.

AFW Reassurance

Careful packaging and fast shipping guaranteed. Professional seller, experience and seriousness guaranteed in the processing of each order.

Keywords: old French stamps, cancelled stamps, philately lot, 19th century post, stamp album, Ceres, Napoleon III, classic French stamps, old French stamps, cancellations, philately France, stamp page, blue postage stamp