The surtaxed or "semi-postal" pictorial French stamps of this period were
intended to raise money for national events and public charities.
Many of these charity stamp issues are for the "Secours National" or "National Relief". This national fund provided food and clothing for the poor and for needy children.
The four surtaxed French stamps shown above (Y&T #568-571, Sc. #B149-B152) were issued on February 8, 1943. The surtax benefited the Secours National.
The two designs feature portraits of Marshal Petain.
These charity stamps were printed in horizontal se-tenant strips with a central label, as shown above (Y&T #571A, Sc. #B152a).
The five surtaxed French stamps shown above (Y&T #577-580, Sc. #B153-B157) were issued on June 7, 1943 to celebrate the 87th Birthday of Marshal Petain. The surtax benefited the Secours National.
The five designs, in the order that they appear above, are as follows:
These charity stamps were printed in horizontal se-tenant strips, as shown above (Y&T #580A, Sc. #B157a).
The three surtaxed French stamps shown above (Y&T #584-586, Sc. #B158-B160) were issued on August 23, 1943 to honor civilian victims of Allied bombings and on September 27, 1943 to honor the families of French prisoners of war. The surtaxes benefited the Secours National and families of French prisoners of war.
The three designs, in the order that they appear above, are as follows:
The six surtaxed pictorial French stamps shown above (Y&T #587-592, Sc. #B161-B166), were issued on October 3, 1943, featuring Famous Frenchmen of the 16th Century. The surtax benefited the Secours National.
The six designs, in the order that they appear above, are as follows:
The six surtaxed pictorial French stamps shown above (Y&T #593-598, Sc. #B167-B172), were issued on December 27, 1943, featuring 18th Century Regional Costumes (Headdresses). The surtax benefited the Secours National.
The six designs, in the order that they appear above, are as follows:
The surtaxed French stamp shown above, at the left (Y&T #600, Sc. #B173), was issued on February 21, 1944 to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of the Birth of Admiral Tourville.
Anne-Hilarion de Costentin, Comte de Tourville (1642-1701) was a French naval commander during the reign of King Louis XIV.
The surtaxed French stamp shown above, in the middle (Y&T #601, Sc. #B174), was issued on March 27, 1944 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Death of Charles Gounod.
Charles-François Gounod (1818-1893) was a French composer, best known for his operas.
The surtaxed French stamp shown above, at the right (Y&T #618, Sc. #B178), was issued on August 14, 1944 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Paris-Rouen and Paris-Orleans Railroads.
The design features a modern stream-liner and a 19th Century train.
The three surtaxed pictorial French stamps shown above (Y&T #606-608, Sc. #B175-B177) were issued on April 24, 1944 to celebrate the 88th Birthday of Marshal Petain.
The three designs, as they appear above, are as follows:
The six surtaxed pictorial French stamps shown above (Y&T #612-617, Sc. #B179-B184), were issued on July 31, 1944, featuring Famous Frenchmen of the 17th Century. The surtax benefited the Secours National.
The six designs, in the order that they appear above, are as follows:
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Charity Stamps of 1943-1944