New Interest In France

I've recently come to a new appreciation for the French stamps I have, meager as that accumulation may be. I have a handful from the 1960's and 1970's, and I love the multi-color printings and the engraving. After looking through catalogs, I'm starting to want to collect France from, maybe, 1930 to 1980, Mainly going after the commemoratives. After 1980, they seem to get away from the engraved stamps, and they start to lose me. This could be the first time I go after a country and actually limit the years I want to collect. I have a few stamps from French possessions from the same time period, and they are equally beautiful. I think those will be on my radar as well. I'm also considering a similar attack on USSR stamps, but that'll be a different discussion.


So, will such a French collection be easy to fill out? What can I expect to have trouble getting in that 1930-1980 time frame?

French stamps from that period are, in the main, plentiful and cheap. Most auctions will have a string of collections. Even the more expensive stamps aren't scarce. Enjoy.

Nothing easier France 1930-1980 (cheap USED).Mint;it can get expensive.Most collectors in this time frame only go for mint stamps.Blocks,special issues,stamps with selvage ..ect.
For instance you can find on e bay complete sets all mint (1938) for 140$,or (1939) for 85$,(1944) 25$.or (1947) 5$ So it all adds up... Airmails; some are expensive..
Depending on the condition,prices vary also. Some years are costly.
You also have some of the florescent paper stamps which are expensive mint.
This retailer will give you an idea:He's expensive though.
https://www.philatelie72.com/timbre...3-a-450-sc92

As I mentioned, most auctions will have a wide range of collections - here's an example

https://www.warwickandwarwick.com/a...ns/catalogue

I'd work on roughly 10% of Gibbons or Yvert CV for most material - Scott's CVs are probably lower.

I'd start at the 1924 Olympics rather than 1930. If you're only collecting mint commemoratives then you'll avoid the high face value definitives and the 1936 airmails. If you're collecting used then the airmails are achievable.

I have just started organizing my French accumulation as well, and think I'll probably shoot for 1933 to around 1950 -- that's the time range for most of my European collection. One question for the experts. For Germany and related things Michel's catalog has served me better than Scott. Is this the case with France too? i.e. Is it worth getting a Yvert et Tellier catalog?

Well-centered small-size commemoratives can be tough, like Scott #294. There are a number of souvenir sheets that are expensive and if you opt for the singles from them, those can be hard to find in the US. Stepping outside the commemoratives, some of the booklets or booklet panes can be very hard to find.

poofo - if you're getting a French catalogue, you should buy Maury (now published by Spink), rather than Yvert. It will give you more detailed information, and is excellent value.

If you want free pages for the entire French area, with catalogue numbers, you can find them here

http://www.album.france-timbres.net/

Bobby De La Rue: Ok, I like that idea, starting with the 1924 Olympics. And I do intend to collect used.

Thank you GeoffHa! I just pre-ordered the Maury catalog coming out in November -- they have it on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Catalogue-Ti.../1912667142/

Free, online Stamps of France
http://stampsmarter.com/features/FranceHome.html

Don

I have several country collections, some of which I have not done much with recently. I began collecting France a decade or so ago,like the OP on here I was drawn to the attractive engraved issues. For the past couple years I have been using Yvert albums and these display well in those. I love the 'Art' issues and have a sub collection of those. French colonies are very nice to collect; much more interesting than British, colorful and more affordable.

So I started looking around in my Scott Catalog at French Colonies, and I think I'll add them to my collection as I start adding France. A couple days ago I stumbled across a used copy of the Stanly Gibbons French Colonies catalogue, and it's nice to have everything in one book! My only complaint so far is that not everything is illustrated -- for example the Vichy issues. Still well worth the price if you can find one used. Here is a link:

https://www.stanleygibbons.com/prod...st-edition-3

I have a soft spot for the 19th century issues of France.

It can't be just me but as I've aged I find definitive stamps far more interesting than when I was younger.

poofo - expanding fast! I have an old black/white Gibbons France and Colonies catalogue, which I find useful. There's an Yvert catalogue for the Colonies (which is often less precise than Gibbons, eg on issue dates) and another for Monaco, Andorra and the overseas departments. I also have Maury's catalogues for Europe/Asia and Africa. These are the best references, and they illustrate all stamps, but are more expensive, when you can actually find them. Enjoy yourself!