These souvenir sheets were printed by the French "Imprimerie Nationale" in sheets of sixteen, which undoubtedly, if issued by the USPS, would have prompted the sale of uncut press sheets and the like gimmicks. The souvenir sheets were released November 29, 1937 to commemorate the participation of its colonies at the 1937 Paris World Exhibition. They were only sold in Paris at the philatelic sales counter for colonial issues in full sets of 24 souvenir sheets for all colonies and territories. Total quantity: 30,000 sets. Price per set was a stiff Francs 76.50. Sales must have been sluggish as from 1941 the sheets were also (and still) available in Vichy.
The souvenir sheets were never issued in the colonies, but were nevertheless valid postage. Accordingly, the only way to obtain a genuine cancelled sheet was for someone to privately send a sheet obtained in Paris to the respective colony. Not a common scenario, and yet less likely upon the beginning of WWII when in all colonies declaring for Free France only France Libre issues were valid for postage. So for those liking a challenge -- go assemble a used set, or better yet, on cover.
Support the Hobby -- Join the American Philatelic Society 09 Nov 2013 06:57:30am
re: French Colonies 1937 Exposition Internationale souvenir sheets
Nice card, Phil, but wrong exhibition. The earlier 1931 international colonial exhibition in Paris was commemorated in the colonies with this common design set:
re: French Colonies 1937 Exposition Internationale souvenir sheets
Try entering "exposition internationale de Paris blocs colonies francaise" on Google and you can often find all 24 miniature sheets for sale. Alternatively on delcampe.net you can usually find individual miniature sheets on offer. Just enter the name of the colony and add 'bloc' or 'bf'. * means mounted mint, ** means unmounted mint (MNH) and o means used. Good luck!!
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