Precancels on french stamps
To continue with last weeks theme with France, I’ll be talking about precancels – or préoblitérés as French say – on French postage stamps. In short, a precancelled stamp is a stamp that has been cancelled before being affixed to mail. Precancels are typically used by mass mailers like newspapers and advertisers. The postal administration will typically offer an incentive in the form of a reduced price for precancelled stamps in volume.
According to Michel stamp catalogue, France has issued 3 different precancellation types. The official era of French precancels began 1.10.1920. Before this date, various issues of definitive and newspaper stamps had been precancelled by newspaper text.Until 1954 the precancellation was applied to selected values from a range of definitive issues, and only rarely was a new value added.
The first two types of precancels were overprinted using letter press with 2-line inscription “Postes Paris” or “Postes France” with year number below. Unfortunately I don’t have an example to show with these.
The third precancel type changed overprint to semicircle inscribed “AFFRANCHts POSTES”.
France - used precancelled postage stamps with semicircle inscribed “Affranches Postal. Stamp details are: on top Michel#238 and #379, on below #141,#184 and #215.
From 1954 precancels are interspersed with regular issues of France. Since 1975 a new precancelled issue of stamps has been released annually.
More recent used precancelled stamps from France. Michel numbers #1476,1558 and 1761 - notice that the last stamp has been cancelled with normal postmark also.
An interesting piece of additional information relating to French precancels is, that French departments, such as Algeria and Tunisia used precancels identical to those in France. In Algeria similar precancels were used between 1924 and 1963. In Tunisia similar precancels were used between 1924 and 1947 with only 8 stamp types/values being precancelled. In Monaco similar precancels are used since 1943, and separate issues of stamps have been produced annually from 1975 to the present day.
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Right, there are a few mistakes in your text….
First, you’ve misread the text on the stamp: it’s ‘AFFRANCHTS’, not affranchés, and Affranchts means AFFRANCHissemenTS.
Secondly, from my Maury catalogue, there’s not a new issue every year, it’s more every two years (but it does not seem to be very regular). And now, it’s written ‘Oblitéré’ on the stamp (which means cancelled).
Third, you’re saying that precancelled started in 1920 in France. The model you’re showing started in 1922. From 1920 to 1922, it was another model that was used: ‘POSTES PARIS 1920′ on the Semeuse stamps. However, the “official” start of the Préoblitérés is 1893, it was the ‘Sage’ series (or Paix et Commerce as officially titled). Before 1893, you can say it was only trials, and anyway pre-cancelled stamps were very very rare.
Fourth, you’re talking about Algeria, Tunisia and Monaco as French provinces. If it’s true that Algeria has been, until 1962, a French department, and Tunisia has been a kind of territory, it’s wrong to assume that Monaco has been, in the recent history, French. Monaco has always been, and still remains an independent country. There is a big cooperation between Monaco and France, but speaking about philately, Monaco has its own stamps, and its own philatelic program.
Hello again ADA,
I can only thank and bow in front your knowledge about french stamps. These corrections and additions are very valuable pieces of information…
I have edited the post on some parts to fix “the worst erratas”, and hope that people will read your comment for the rest.
I’m blushing
I’d like to send you some pictures (about stamps!!!) through email. But I can’t find your address.
Hi AdA,
There are two good reason for that – spam and privacy… The best way to get in touch me is to leave a comment saying you want to be in touch with me. After that I will take contact if I’m interested… And when you read this, you should have received email message from me.
-keijo-
Keijo – I have many stamps from all countries that I had been given. I am wondering if there would be an opportunity to work directly with you online .
I would prefer to have somebody knowledgable enough doing this with me rather than doing it myself .
If you do not do this could you suggest a reputable company for me to be in touch with.?
Thank You.
Hi Lin,
as stamps are nothing more than a hobby to me, I have very limited resources (= time) to assist personally and indepth.
I’d recommend you to get in touch with your local (national) philatelic federation / society – they have a good knowhow of local collectors, dealers etc. who might be able to assist You in person.
Or if you live in an isolated area (like me), then online communities like StampBoards, Virtual Stamp Club, StampCommunity, Philaforum etc. are your friends. They have lots of knowledgeable, friendly collectors who are willing to give You a helping hand (especially if you can share pictures of what you have/problems).
best,
-keijo-
Nice article.
I always liked articles on B-O-B issues
Kindest regards
Larry M
Thanks Larry
I have been collecting precancels from around the world, for about 40 years, and worked on the publication “PSS Catalog of Precancels of France, Algeria, Tunisia & Monaco” in 1983.
I will agree with ADA 1893 is the beginning of France precancels, except other stamps were used as precancels on newspapers as early as 1870. The stamp was affixed to the blank paper and then printed. This would prepay the delivery of the paper and cancel the stamp.
I do believe this book is still available from PSS.
Regards, Bill Symes.
Hi I’ve just found what may be another type of precancel in my collection. They are three or four squigly lines, running from top to bottom on some mint stamps. Namely SG418 and SG398 ie from the 1920’s.
Kindest regards, Ian
@Ian… A picture would help notably
Catalogs / sources don’t list such precancel type for French stamps, so I’m pretty sure it’s not a precancel. As far as I know (or remember; it’s nearly midnight in Finland
) squiggly line precancels were were used only in Canada, and that was in late 19th centrury and they were horizontal (not vertical)… Possibly Your items are training stamps with dummy cancels (similar to UK training stamps). But this is just a guess – they could be pretty much anything.