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French Stamps

Issues of 1900-1929

Three new types of definitive French stamps were issued between 1900 and 1929.  The types are known to French philatelists by their designers' names, instead of the design names, and they will each be presented below.

Type:  Blanc

These new definitive French stamps were issued between 1900 and 1929.  The design depicts an allegorical representation of "Liberty-Equality-Fraternity", the very well known motto of the French Republic.  The designer was Paul Joseph Blanc, and this series is known to French philatelists as Type Blanc.

• 01 C.  (1900 - Y&T #107, Sc. #109) - Gray.
• 02 C.  (1900 - Y&T #108, Sc. #110) - Violet Brown.
• 03 C.  (1900 - Y&T #109, Sc. #111) - Orange, Red.
• 04 C.  (1900 - Y&T #110, Sc. #112) - Yellow Brown.
• 05 C.  (1925 - Y&T #111, Sc. #113) - Green.
• 07 1/2 C.  (1926 - Y&T PREO #42 , Sc. #114) - Lilac.
• 10 C.  (1929 - Y&T #233, Sc. #115) - Lilac.
  
  

Type:  Mouchon

These new definitive French stamps were issued in 1900.  The design depicts an allegorical representation of "France", holding a tablet inscribed "DROITS DE L'HOMME"  (English: The Rights of Man). 

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, passed in August 1789, is one of the fundamental documents of the French Revolution and of the history of Human Rights.

The designer of this stamp was Louis-Eugène Mouchon, the noted French painter, graphic artist, medalist, engraver, and sculptor.  This series is known by French philatelists as Type Mouchon.

• 10 C.  (1900 - Y&T #112, #116, Sc. #116, #116a) - Carmine.
• 15 C.  (1900 - Y&T #117, Sc. #117) - Orange.
• 20 C.  (1900 - Y&T #113, Sc. #118) - Brown Violet.
• 25 C.  (1900 - Y&T #114, #118, Sc. #119, #119a) - Blue.
• 30 C.  (1900 - Y&T #115, Sc. #120) - Violet.
  
  
  

Redrawn versions of the Type Mouchon stamps were issued in 1902.  The most obvious difference between these stamps and the original engravings of 1900 is that the denomination tablet at the upper right is in the shape of a shield, instead of a rectangular box with the word "POSTES" at the top of the stamp.

• 10 C.  (1902 - Y&T #124, Sc. #133) - Rose Red.
• 15 C.  (1902 - Y&T #125, Sc. #134) - Pale Red.
• 20 C.  (1902 - Y&T #126, Sc. #135) - Brown Violet.
• 25 C.  (1902 - Y&T #127, Sc. #136) - Blue.
• 30 C.  (1902 - Y&T #128, Sc. #137) - Lilac.
  
  

Type:  Merson

The twelve magnificent looking major-type higher-denomination French stamps shown above were issued between 1900 and 1927.  They are "officially" called the Liberty and Peace Issues.  The common design features an allegorical representation of "France", in a reclining or resting posture.

The designer of this stamp was Nicolas Luc-Olivier Merson, the French academic painter and illustrator noted for his postage stamp and currency designs.  This series is known by French philatelists as Type Merson.

• 40 C.  (1900 - Y&T #119, Sc. #121) - Red & Pale Blue.
• 50 C.  (1900 - Y&T #120, Sc. #123) - Bister Brown & Lavender.
• 01 F.  (1900 - Y&T #121, Sc. #125) - Claret & Olive Green.
• 02 F.  (1900 - Y&T #122, Sc. #126) - Violet & Yellow.
• 05 F.  (1900 - Y&T #123, Sc. #130) - Dark Blue & Buff.
  

• 45 C.  (1906 - Y&T #143, Sc. #122) - Green & Blue.
• 60 C.  (1920 - Y&T #144, Sc. #124) - Violet & Ultramarine.
• 02 F.  (1920 - Y&T #145, Sc. #127 - Orange & Pale Blue.
  

• 03 F.  (1925 - Y&T #206, Sc. #128) - Violet & Blue.
• 10 F.  (1926 - Y&T #207, Sc. #131) - Green & Red.
• 20 F.  (1926 - Y&T #208, Sc. #132) - Magenta & Green.
  

• 03 F.  (1927 - Y&T #240, Sc. #129) - Bright Violet & Rose.
  
  
  
  

ALL of the Type Blanc, Mouchon, and Merson postage stamp issues exist in many different formats and varieties.  For details on specialization, please refer to the Yvert-Tellier catalog.  Here is a link to the France catalog on Yvert-Tellier's website.

Timbres de France

Return to French Stamps from
Issues of 1900-1929

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