France, postage stamp issues between 1900 and 1940

1900/24. Type Blanc. Letterpress. Perforation 14:13½.

TYPES
1 c. gray
Types I and II:
France, type Blanc stamp, Type I and Type II: lines on the drapery
Types IA and IB:
France, type Blanc stamp, IA and IB		 Type I: only one line on the drapery below the letter “E” of “FRANÇAISE”

  • IA: white area below letters “ISE” in “FRANÇAISE”
  • IB: the wite area is straight

Type II: two lines
2 c. brown lilac
Types I and II
France, type Blanc stamp, Type I and Type I: a dot on the left of Justice's foot		 Type I: a dot on the left of Justice’s foot is crossing one line
Type II: a dot on the left of Justice’s foot is connecting two lines
3 c. orange
Types I and II
France, type Blanc stamp, Type I and Type I: letter c		 Type I: the letter “c” in indication of value is pointed
Type II: the letter “c” in indication of value ends in a vertical line
5 c. green
Types IA, IB, IIA and IIB:
France, type Blanc stamp, Type I A and B Type II A and B		 Type I: only one line on the drapery below the letter “E” of “FRANÇAISE”

  • IA: The upper feather of Justice’s left wing is rounded and not touching the frame
  • IB: The upper feather of Justice’s left wing is pointed and touches the frame

Type II: two lines on the drapery below the letter “E” of “FRANÇAISE”

  • IIA: the line below Justice’s right foot is straight
  • IIB: the line below Justice’s right foot is broken just in front of her toe

1900/01 Type Mouchon. Letterpress. Perforation: 14:13½.

TYPES
10 c., rose red
France, type Mouchon stamp, Type I on the left side, note the differences in numeral 1
Types I and II		 Type I: numerals impressed by the second operation
Type II: Stamp printed in one operation.
25 c., blue
France, type Mouchon, Type I on the left side, numerals not well centered
Types I and II		 Type I: numerals impressed by the second operation
Type II: Stamp printed in one operation.
Note: in case of Type I stamps the numerals are not always the same color as the rest of the stamp and often not well centered.

1903/39 Sower by Roty. Perforation 14:13½.

TYPES
A: WITH THE SUN AND LINES IN THE BACKGROUND
10 centimes
  • red, 1903, Types I, II and III

Types I, II and III:
France, type Roty stamp, Types I, II and III

 Type I:

  • the second leg of the letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE with a shade,
  • number 1 in denomination oval and curbed,
  • interior of letter c in denomination neatly curved.

Type II:

  • similar to Type I only letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE without the shade.

Type III:

  • numeral 1 in denomination curved on the right,
  • interior of the letter C irregular and letter R with a shade.
15 centimes
  • gray green, 1903, Types I, II, III, IV, V and VI

Types I, II and III:
France, type Roty stamp, Types I, II and III
Types IV, V and VI:
France, type Sower of Roty stamp, Types IV, V and VI
Note: on Grande Consommation, G.C. paper (poor quality,
grayish paper with bits of fiber) were printed types IV and V.

 Type I:

  • letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE with a shade,
  • line on the Sower’s back is broken,
  • letter M in MOUCHON is normal.

Type II:

  • similar to Type I, letters M and O in MOUCHON are damaged.

Type: III:

  • letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE with a shade,
  • line on the Sower’s back is complete,
  • letter H in MOUCHON with a dot on the inner side of the second leg.

Type IV (flat plate for sheets and rolls):

  • letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE with a shade,
  • line on the Sower’s back is complete,
  • letter H in MOUCHON is normal,
  • letter M in MOUCHON is asymmetrical.

Type V (booklets):

  • letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE without a shade,
  • line on the Sower’s back is complete,
  • the first letter O in O. ROTY in form of a heart.

Type VI (rotary press for rolls):

  • letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE without a shade,
  • height of the image: 22,5 mm,
  • four lines on left hand.
50 centimes
  • dark blue, 1921/22, Type I (all stamps are of this type)
  • olive green, January 1926, Types I, II and III*
  • red, September 1926, Types I, II, III, IV

Types I, II, III and IV:
France, type Sower of Roty stamp, Types I, II, III and IV
* Note: Although not listed in available literature,
olive green Type III was also found.

 Type I (sheets and the first flat plate booklets):

  • a dot on the cap,
  • eyelets of both R’s in country name are equal,
  • eyelets of both A’s in FRANÇAISE are normal,
  • eyelets of both A’s in FRANÇAISE are normal,
  • eyelets of letter B in RÉPUBLIQUE are almost equal.

Type II (rotary sheets, second booklets and second rotary booklets):

  • eyelet of R in RÉPUBLIQUE is larger than the eyelet of R in FRANÇAISE,
  • the lower eyelet of letter B in RÉPUBLIQUE is larger than the upper,
  • eyelets of letters A in FRANÇAISE are tiny.

Type: III (rolls):

  • similar to Type II, no shading below letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE.

Type IV (first rotary booklets):

  • letter R in RÉPUBLIQUE without a shade,
  • interior frame on the left is thick,
  • background behind RÉPUBLIQUE appears to be flat.
75 centimes
  • rose lilac, November, 10th 1926, Types I and II

Type I:
France, type Sower of Roty stamp, 75 centimes, Type I

 Type I:

  • single line between the Sower’s belt and letter c in denomination.

Type II:

  • two lines between the belt and the letter c,
  • letter c in denomination without a shade,
  • numeral 7 in denomination more cambered.
B: FLAT BACKGROUND, WITH GROUND UNDER FEET
10 centimes
  • red, April, 16th 1906, Types I and II

Types I and II:
France, type Roty, Types I and II

 Type I:

  • lines representing shades are thicker making the figure darker.

Type II:

  • shading is light, the figure appears to be lighter.
C: FLAT BACKGROUND, THIN INSCRIPTIONS
10 centimes
  • red, June, 28th 1926, Types I and II

Types I, II and III:
France, Sower by Roty stamp, 10 centimes, Types I, II and III

 Type I:

  • contour of Sower and sack very thin.

Type II:

  • the contour is thicker, the Sower and the sack are standing out.

Type III:

  • the last letter E in RÉPUBLIQUE touching the figure’s front hair.
D: FLAT BACKGROUND, THICK INSCRIPTIONS
5 centimes
  • green, Types I and IIA
  • orange, Types I, IIA and IIB

Types I and IIA:
France, Sower by Roty stamp, 5 centimes, Types I and IIA

 Type I:

  • the bottom of letter Q in RÉPUBLIQUE in form of a dot.

Type IIA:

  • the bottom of letter Q in form of a vertical line.
10 centimes
  • red (1907), Types IA, IC and II
  • green (1921/22), Types IA, IB, IC, III and IV

Types IA, IB and IC:
France, Sower by Roty stamp, Types IA, IB and IC
Types II and III:
France, Sower by Roty, Types II and III

 Type IA (sheets and rolls, flat plate):

  • the bottom of the letter Q in RÉPUBLIQUE in form of a vertical line,
  • middle horizontal line in letter B in RÉPUBLIQUE is straight,
  • hatching in the sowing hand normal.

Type IB:

  • the bottom of the letter Q in RÉPUBLIQUE in form of a dot,
  • middle horizontal line in letter B in RÉPUBLIQUE is straight,
  • hatching in the sowing hand normal.

Type IC (booklets of 20):

  • middle horizontal line in letter B is oblique,
  • the third hatching in the sowing hand is broken.

Type II (booklets of 30 and sheets of 144):

  • letter Q in RÉPUBLIQUE with a big dot and R in RÉPUBLIQUE with equally long legs.

Type III:

  • letter c in denomination rounded with the lower part shorter than the upper.

Type IV:

  • letter c in denomination rounded the lower part longer than the upper.
15 centimes
  • red brown, 1926, Types I and II

Types I and II:
France, Sower by Roty stamp, Types I and II

 Type I:

  • numeral 1 is thinner,
  • horizontal line on numeral 5 finishes with an inverted triangle.

Type II:

  • numeral 1 is thicker,
  • horizontal line on numeral 5 finishes with a vertical line.
20 centimes
  • violet brown, December, 18 1907, Types I, III and IV
  • lilac, July, 20 1926, Types III, IV, V and VI

Types I, III, IV and V:
France, Sower by Roty, Types I, III, IV and V

 Type I (all stamps on paper GC):

  • image dimensions: 18×22 mm.

Type III:

  • image dimensions: 18½ x 22½,
  • a line and a dot on sower’s belt.

Type IV:

  • similar to Type III but without a line and a dot on the belt.

Type V:

  • lower left part of numeral 2 long and thin, almost touching the frame.

Type VI:

  • similar to Type IV, the stamp is larger.

Note: Type II doesn’t exist.
25 centimes
  • blue: June, 19 1907, Types IA, IB, II, IIIA, IIIB, IIIC and IV
  • brown orange: June 1927, Types IIIB and IIIC

Types I, II and IIIA:
France, Sower by Roty stamp, Types I, II and IIIA
Types IIIB, IIIC and IV: France, Sower by Roty stamp, Types IIIB, IIIC and IV

 Type I:

  • the upper part of letter c in denomination almost horizontal,
  • head of numeral 2 less bent,
  • horizontal line of numeral 2 thin and curvy.

Type II (booklets):

  • letter c in denomination barred,
  • head of numeral 2 more bent,
  • horizontal line of numeral 2 thicker and less curvy.

Type IIIA:

  • left internal frame thick and irregular,
  • letter c in denomination not barred,
  • head of numeral 2 more bent,
  • horizontal line in numeral 2 thick but well curvy.

Type IIIB:

  • like IIIA but the frame is thin and the image higher.

Type IIIC (rolls):

  • like IIIB, vertical and sloping lines in letter R in FRANÇAISE forming acute angle.

Type IV (booklets):

  • letter c in denomination like in Type I,
  • head of numeral 2 more bent,
  • horizontal line of numeral 2 thicker than Type I but more curvy.
30 centimes
  • orange: May, 25th 1907, Type I
  • red: January 1922, Type I
  • blue: July 1925, Types IIA, IIB and IIC
  • cerise: January 6th, 1925, Types I, IIA and IIB
  • copper red: November 17th, 1937, Types IIA and III

Types I, IIA and IIB:
France, Sower by Roty stamp, Types I, IIA and IIB
Types IIA and III:
France, Sower by Roty, Types IIA and III

 Type I:

  • horizontal line of numeral 3 short, measuring 1¾ mm.

Type IIA:

  • horizontal line of numeral 3 long, measuring 2¼ mm,
  • letter S in FRANÇAISE short.

Type IIB:

  • similar to Type IIA, letter S in FRANÇAISE longer.

Type III:

  • numeral 3 in denomination thinner, its loop is closed,
  • zero in denomination thin.
40 centimes
  • olive brown: August 1925, Types I and II
  • vermilion: May 25th, 1926, Types I and II
  • violet: September 1927, Type II
  • ultramarine: December 1928, Type II

Types I and II:
France, Sower by Roty stamp, 40 centimes, Types I and II

 Type I:

  • two extremities of letter c in denomination on the same vertical,
  • the left sloping line of numeral 4 is convex.

Type II:

  • the lower extremity of letter c in denomination is longer,
  • the left sloping line of numeral 4 is straight.
UNLISTED VARIETIES
20 centimes, brown
France, Sower by Roty stamp, Damaged letter O in POSTES (PCSTES) Damaged letter O in POSTES (PCSTES)
25 centimes, blue
Incomplete inner Frame line and background field with heavy line through missing background.
Deformed P in POSTES.
Long lower stroke on S in POSTES.
COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES

A: WITH THE SUN AND LINES IN THE BACKGROUND

France Sower 15 centimes postage stamp France Sower 15 centimes postage stamp offset error

D: FLAT BACKGROUND, THICK INSCRIPTIONS

France, Sower by Roty stamp, Offset: front Offset: back

 Offset.

A: WITH THE SUN AND LINES IN THE BACKGROUND

France Sower 10 centimes perforation shift France Sower 15 centimes perforation shift

 Perforation shifts.

D: FLAT BACKGROUND, THICK INSCRIPTIONS

France Sower postage stamp error

 Foreign objects on printing plates.

D: FLAT BACKGROUND, THICK INSCRIPTIONS

 A stutter (doble impression, best visible on inscription POSTES.

1907/20. Type Merson. Letterpress. Perforation 14:13½.

CONSTANT VARIETIES
2 fr, orange and green blue
I France, type Merson stamp, Broken shield Broken line of the shield bearing indication of value
UNLISTED VARIETIES
2 fr, orange and green blue
1 Part of the design missing.

1919/26. Type Blanc. Letterpress. Perforation 14:13½.

TYPES OF OVERPRINTS
½ c on 1 c. gray
France, type Blanc stamp, Type I on the left
Types I and II		 Type I overprint: precise, clear straight lines, height 14½ mm
Type II overprint: not precise, height 15 mm

1923/26. Pasteur. Letterpress. Perforation 14 x 13½.

UNLISTED VARIETIES
30 c., green
1 Letter P in REPVBLIQVE white. France Pasteur postage stamp error Letter P in REPVBLIQVE white
COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
30 c., green
1 Color spill: green color on letter R of REPVBLIQVE. France Pasteur postage stamp error green color on letter R of REPVBLIQVE
75 c., blue
1 Spot below letters P and V of REPVBLIQVE: probably a foreign object on printing plate. France Pasteur postage stamp error Spot below letters P and V of REPVBLIQVE

1926/27. Provisional issue, stamps from 1906/26 surcharged with new value.

UNLISTED VARIETIES
25 c. on 30 c., blue
I France, Sower with overprint, Black spot between numerals 2 and 5 - front Black spot between numerals 2 and 5 - back Black spot between numerals 2 and 5.

1929. Joanne d’Arc (500 years from the relief of Orleans). Letterpress. Perforation 14:13½.

TYPES
50 c. blue
France, Joanne d'Arc postage stamp, Type I on the left
Types I and II		 Type I: lines uneven and broken.
Type II: more precise printing, the lines are neat.

1929/31. Monuments and sites. Intaglio. Perforation 13.

TYPES
3 fr, slate (Reims Cathedral)
Type I:

  • number “3” and letter “F” in indication of value attached,
  • the rectangle, bearing the indication of value, separated from outer frame in the lower corners,
  • without dots on the porch in front of the central entrance,
  • ogive above the central entrance broken on the left side.

Type II:

  • number “3” and letter “F” in indication of value attached,
  • the rectangle, bearing the indication of value is in the lower corners connected to the outer frame by horizontal lines,
  • without dots on the porch in front of the central entrance,
  • ogive above the central entrance broken on the left side.

Type III:

  • Number “3” and letter “F” in indication of value separated by vertical line,
  • the rectangle, bearing the indication of value, is in the lower corners connected to the outer frame by horizontal lines,
  • without dots on the porch in front of the central entrance,
  • ogive above the central entrance broken on the left side.

Type IV:

  • Number “3” and letter “F” in indication of value separated by vertical line,
  • the rectangle, bearing the indication of value, is in the lower corners connected to the outer frame by horizontal lines,
  • dots (shading) on the porch in front of the central entrance,
  • The upper line of the ogive unbroken.
Type I Type II
Type III Type IV
5 fr, brown (Mont-Saint-Michel)
Type I: Spike on top of the tower complete.
Type II: Spike on top of the tower brokem.
Type I Type II
10 fr, blue (Port de la Rochelle)
Type I:

  • Letter “E” of “POSTES” with serif on top horizontal line.

Type II:

  • Letter “E” of “POSTES” without serif on top horizontal line,
  • numeral “0” in “10” not enclosed at bottom.

Type III:

  • Letter “E” of “POSTES” without serif on top horizontal line,
  • numeral “0” in “10” is fully enclosed.
Type I Type II
Type III
20 fr, red brown (Pont du Gard)
Type I: Shading in the first complete arch on the left made of horizontal lines (stamps with line perforation 11).
Type IIA: Three vertical lines in the shading of the first complete arch on the left made of horizontal lines.
Type IIB: As Type II, additionally, the inner right frame broken.
Type I Type IIA
Type IIB
UNLISTED VARIETIES
5 fr, brown (Mont-Saint-Michel)
1 Dot after SC missing.
COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
5 fr, brown (Mont-Saint-Michel)
1 Thin, vertical line over the letter P in POSTES and in numeral 5.

1930. Centenary of the French Algeria. Letterpress. Perforation 13½:14.

UNLISTED VARIETIES
1 Color varieties (dark blue and rose red). France, centenary of Algeria stamp, color variety on the right

1930-31. International colonial exhibition. Letterpress. Perforation 14:13½.

TYPES
50 c., red
France, Colonial Exposition stamps: Types I and II
Types I and II		 Type I: Three hairlines on girl’s front visible
Type II: Hairlines not visible.
UNLISTED VARIETIES
50 c.
1
  • The letter “C” in front of the number 50 changes like the letter “P”.
  • The letter “I” of INTERNATIONALE is connected to the frame, it should be separated by the base color.
  • The inside of the second curve of the number “3” from 1931 forms a corner.

1932/39. Peace with olive branch. Letterpress. Perforation 14:13½.

TYPES
40 c., bright violet
France, type Peace stamp: Types I and II
Types I and II		 Type I: Horizontal line in letter R in FRANÇAISE is thin
Type II: Letter R is normal (rolls)
50 c., rose red
France, type Peace stamp: Types I and II
Types I-IV		 Type I: Small letter C in denomination and no lines below the belt buckle
Type IIA: Large letter C (with a circle) in denomination and no lines below the belt buckle
Type IIB: like IIA but the bottom frame is thicker between the names (rolls)
Type III: small letter c in denomination, one vertical line below the buckle and the line on the right is broken
Type IV: like Type III but the line on the right is not broken
Note: on types I and II the belt is darker around the buckle due to shading; on types III and IV it appears to be lighter as the shading is not present.
65 c., ultramarine
France, type Peace stamp: Types I and II
Types I and II		 Type I: Two small blue dots on the robe in the vertical of the letter Q in RÉPUBLIQUE
Type II: Only one dot in that area (booklets)
90 c., ultramarine
France, type Peace stamp: Types I and II
Types I and II		 Type I: Letters L and A in LAURENS connected (sheets and booklets)
Type II: The letters L and A separated (rolls)
1 f., orange
France, type Peace stamp: Types I and II
Types I and II		 Type I: The belt is orange due to shading
Type II: No shading, vertical lines on the belt
COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
50 c., rose red
France, Peace stamp error: Printing shift Stutter (image appears to be double).

11 April 1933. The Sower of Roty overprinted with new value. Perforation comb 14:12½. Stamp printed in letterpress.

TYPES OF OVERPRINTS
½ c. on 1 c., bistre olive and bistre brown
France, Sower of Roty, Faulty overprint on the right stamp Almost the whole circulation of overprint on bistre brown stamp was faulty as the overprint appears to be double.

1937. The 3rd centenary from publishing Discours de la Méthode by René Descartes. Line engraving. Perforation 13.

TYPES
90 c., brick red
France, René Descartes postage stamp: Types I and II Type I: inscription DISCOURS SUR LA MÉTHODE (not correct).
Type II: inscription DISCOURS DE LA MÉTHODE.

1937. Type Peace overprinted with new value. Letterpress. Perforation 14:13½.

TYPES OF OVERPRINTS
1 f., orange
France type Paix postage stamps: Types I and II and Type I: Lines covering the old value are thicker and closer together (1¼ mm).
Type II: the lines are thinner and wider apart (1½ mm).

 

References

Bibliography

  1. Yvert & Tellier 2006, Tome 1, Timbres de France, ISBN 2-86814-149-8
  2. Michel West- und Mitteleuropa 2005/2006, Schwaneberger Verlag GmbH, ISBN 3-87858-681-7

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