France, postage stamps issued before 1900

1853-60. Napoleon III. Legend EMPIRE FRANC. Letterpress. Imperforate.

Types: 20 c., blue
TI, TII France, types of postage stamps, Napoleon III: Type 1 and Type 2, distinguishable by hairlines Types can be distinguished by three hairlines on the Emperor’s head:
Type I:

  • short and convex 3rd hairline on the right from the Emperor’s eye (1),
  • the 4th hairline above the Emperor’s ear helix ends exactly above the ear helix (2),
  • the hairline in the center of the Emperor’s head is short (3).
Constant varieties, 20 c., blue
I France, postage stamp error, Napoleon III, POSTFS instead of POSTES
  • POSTFS instead of POSTES,
  • the lower part of the zero of the left denomination is broken.

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in available literature)
20 c., blue
1 The thin horizontal line behind the emperor’s head. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Thin horizontal line behind emperor's head
2 Small dot connecting letter F in FRANC with inner white frame. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Small dot connecting letter F in FRANC with inner white frame
3 The second letter E in EMPIRE deformed, white spot below the dot between the letters EMPIRE and FRANC. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Second letter E in EMPIRE deformed, white spot below the dot between letters EMPIRE and FRANC
4 A white triangular spot below the dot between the letter S and numeral 2. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error White triangular spot below dot between letter S and numeral 2
5 The lowest horizontal stroke of the second letter E in EMPIRE is thick, letter R in FRANC is almost completely white. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error The lowest horizontal stroke of the second letter E in EMPIRE thick, letter R in FRANC almost completely white
6 The top outer frame is broken in several areas, medallion with the emperor’s portrait is connected with a lower white frame by a vertical line. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Top outer frame broken in several areas, medallion with emperor's portrait connected with lower white frame by vertical line
7 The second letter S in POSTES is deformed. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Second letter S in POSTES deformed
8 A blue dot on the second vertical line of the letter N in FRANC. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Blue dot on the second vertical line of letter N in FRANC
9 Multiple scratches on the top and bottom inscriptions. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Multiple scratches on top and bottom inscriptions
10 Letter R in FRANC is broken on top. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Letter R in FRANC broken on top

 

1862. Napoleon III. Legend EMPIRE FRANC. Letterpress. Perforation 14 x 13½.

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in available literature)
20 c., blue
1 The horizontal stroke of the left numeral 2 is missing. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Horizontal stroke of the left numeral 2 missing
2 The lower frame below the letters PO and S in POSTES is broken. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Lower frame below letters PO and S in POSTES broken
3 A blue dot above the letter M in EMPIRE, a small incision in the lower frame between the letter S and numeral 2. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Blue dot above letter M in EMPIRE, small incision in the lower frame between letter S and numeral 2
4 The left letter C of the denomination is broken at the bottom. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Left letter C of denomination broken at the bottom
5 The top frame above the letter M of EMPIRE is deformed. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Top frame above letter M of EMPIRE deformed
6 The white spot above the dot before the letter E of EMPIRE deforms the top frame. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error White spot above the dot before letter E of EMPIRE deforming top frame
6 Thin inscriptions, letters of top inscription damaged. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Thin inscriptions, letters of top inscription damaged
7 Thin inscriptions, letter F in FRANC damaged. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Thin inscriptions, letter F in FRANC damaged
8 A thin line between the letters N and C in FRANC touches the lower frame. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Thin line between letters N and C in FRANC touching the lower frame
9 White spot in the medallion in front of the emperor’s nose. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error White spot in the medallion in front of emperor's nose

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
Perforation errors
France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp shifted perforation France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error perforation shift
Probably foreign object on the printing plate
France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error spot behind emperor's head

 

1863-70. Napoleon III. Legend EMPIRE FRANC. Letterpress. Perforation 14 x 13½

Types of 10 c. and 20 c.
TI & TII France, types of postage stamps, Napoleon III: Small and large dots
France, types of postage stamps, Napoleon III: Small and large dots		 Small and large dots on the lower ribbon.

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in available literature)
20 c., blue
1 Multiple big white spots deforming the left frame. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Multiple big white spots deforming the left frame
2a Thin line connecting the letter C in FRANCAIS and the inner white frame. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Thin line connecting letter C in FRANCAIS and inner white frame
2b Thin line connecting the letter C in FRANCAIS and the inner white frame, the letter R in FRANCAIS is almost completely white. France Napoleon III 20 centimes postage stamp error Thin line connecting letter C in FRANCAIS and inner white frame, letter R in FRANCAIS almost completely white
3 White spot (smoke) in front of Napoleon’s nose.

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
Perforation shifts

 

1871-75. Ceres. Legend REPUB FRANC. Letterpress. Perforation 14 x 13½

Types of 10 c., 15 c., 30 c. and 80 c.
TI, TII France, postage stamp Ceres, types: Small and large numerals
France, postage stamp Ceres, types: Small and large numerals		 Small and large numerals on the lower ribbon.
Types of 25 c., blue
TI, TII, TIII France, postage stamp Ceres, types: Types 1, 2 and 3 There are three types of this stamp as it was printed on different plates:
Type I: stamp without the following indications.
Type II:

  • colored dot on the left side of the upper right rosette, exactly on the vertical line,
  • white dot under the lower left leaf of the lower right rosette.

Type III:

  • colored dot on the upper left leaf of the upper left rosette,
  • colored dots on both upper upper leaves of the upper right rosette.

 

POSSIBLE CONSTANT VARIETIES (not mentioned in available literature)
25 c., blue
1 Letter A in FRANC is damaged. France Ceres 25 centimes postage stamp error Letter A in FRANC damaged
2 The top outer frame above the letter U in REPUB is broken. France Ceres 25 centimes postage stamp error Top outer frame above letter U in REPUB broken
3 Dot before R of REPUB prolonged by a thin line. France Ceres 25 centimes postage stamp error Dot before R of REPUB prolonged by a thin line
4 The top frame above the inscription REPUB is damaged, upper right corner is broken. France Ceres 25 centimes postage stamp error Top frame above inscription REPUB damaged, upper right corner broken

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
Perforation errors
France Ceres 25 centimes postage stamp error shifed perforation France Ceres 25 centimes postage stamp error perforation shift

 

1876-78. Peace and Commerce (type Sage). Letterpress. Perforation 14 x 13½

Types of 2 c., 5 c., 10 c., 15 c., 25 c., 30 c., 75 c. and 1 f.
TI, TII France, postage stamp Sage, types: N under B and N under U
France, postage stamp Sage, types: N under B and N under U		 Type I: The letter “N” of the inscription “J A SAGE INV” is exactly under the letter “B” of “REPUBLIQUE”.
Type II: The letter “N” is under the letter “U” of “REPUBLIQUE”.

 

COINCIDENTAL VARIETIES
Perforation shifts
France Sage 5 centimes postage stamp error shifted perforation France Ceres 10 centimes postage stamp error perforation shift

1877-80. Peace and Commerce (type Sage). Letterpress. Perforation 14 x 13½

PERFORATION VARIETIES
Type 15 c., perforation 14:13 ¼

 

References

  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