I started collecting France recently, and quickly became disenchanted with the Scott Catalogue. So, purchased Volume 1 of the Yvert & Tellier catalogue, which has turned out to be a joy, though it has forced me to expand on my High School French - not a bad thing. The catalogue, along with a USB scope (pictured) reveals Y 135a Type IIa, distinguished partly by a small gap between the E of Republique and the Sower's hair, making the letter look like an F. I could not make out the gap with normal magnyfying glass. Im oldish.
The Phrygian cap has a storied history for France, symbolizing Liberty. In Roman times the cap was worn by freed slaves.
The 2020 Yvert catalog was purchased on Amazon for a scant $38 US dollars. By far the most reasonably priced catalogue I own. Though the purchase of Collins leRobert French Dictionary, to decipher the Yvert, was a few dollars more. Money well spent I think, if you collect France.
I am a recent convert to France, and enjoying the experience immensely.
re: Yvert & Tellier and a USB microscope reveal France Yvert 135a Type IIa
That is an incredible site! Looks like I am going to have to brush up on my French. Hmm, 45 years since I last had a reason to pursue it. Dr. Brown would have been so pleased to see this day come.
re: Yvert & Tellier and a USB microscope reveal France Yvert 135a Type IIa
Bien sur, mes amis,
quand on apprend une langue etrangere, tout ca revient comme un apprend a faire du velo: ca c'est vrai. Et si vous avez de problems on a un ami tres intelligent que peut vous aider: Google TRanslate. Il n'est pas parfait, mais il peut vous eviter des ennuis.
J'ai appris mon francais au lycee, il y a une cinquaintaine d'ans.
Enjoy the site, which is like a huge postage stamp catalog, with a great index.
re: Yvert & Tellier and a USB microscope reveal France Yvert 135a Type IIa
Google translate, Il n'est pas parfait, indeed. Most translation programs struggle with technical subjects, of which philately more than qualifies. I have been regularly purchasing the Yvert Tome 2 Colonies and overseas possessions since I first discovered their beauty and greater detail than general Scott catalogs.
re: Yvert & Tellier and a USB microscope reveal France Yvert 135a Type IIa
Musee de la Poste: Part 2 Some clarifications:
The address museedelaposte.fr takes you directly to the Official French Postal Museum's website where you'll see options unrelated to specific France postage stamps. (At least I did not see anything related to stamp images by year, etc.) There are options such as: Christmas story telling, Visit different workshops--for children and for adults, Coming events, etc.
After more research, the address below is apparently a private French postage stamp cataloguing web site NOT ASSOCIATED with the official Musee de la Poste of France.
This website is like a giant French postage stamp catalog, with dates of first day of issue, image of stamps, first day of issue postmarks, commentary, descriptions, Y-T catalog numbers, Face value of stamps, etc., etc., etc.
http://www.philateliefrancaise.fr/index.php
On the website also: The Love-Hate relationship of the French with regards to the USA is thrown on its head when you discover how many French postage stamp items issued by the French Postal Authority feature American subject matter.
I calculated USA related items are featured on 185+ postal items: postage stamps, minisheets, etc. Italy follows with over 110 items. China with about 98 items. Haiti, a former colony, has only 8 items. Australia has only 8 items. Russia (and USSR) has only 34 items. Yet, tiny Switzerland has 50 items.
This is very telling, as postage stamps are official documents indicating interests of the country issuing the stamps. Do not believe for a second that the French do not like/love Les Americains.