The Case Of The Missing French Hex

This is my second 'find' of a hexagon shaped cancellation.
Two France stamps on a piece of wrapping paper cancelled with two hexagon cancels that are empty!



At least I know the rough time frame from the reception circular date stamp postmark. The last letter in the top name on the cancel is X and the lower letters seem to spell *ANDA, Canada? Halifax, Canada? On the 30th of some month in '49?, 1949? Perhaps.

Now I must check the issue dates of the French stamps at the library this week. Then I may know the rough time period to be looking for more of the hex cancels.

a hexagon cancel with a great looking airmail stamp! very nice

Both stamps have the name Gandon on them.

thanks Puzzler, but why would the artist place a medical emblem of staff with two entwined snakes on the left hand of the angel? there must be some message there from the artist?

Great stamps!

Good point Nic... and at first I thought the angel was female...

Taken from the Wikipedia article on Iris, messenger of Hera (Greek Mythology):

Iris is frequently mentioned as a divine messenger in the Iliad which is attributed to Homer, but does not appear in his Odyssey, where Hermes fills that role. Like Hermes, Iris carries a caduceus or winged staff.

From article on Caduceus:
This staff was first borne by Iris, the messenger of Hera. It was also called the wand of Hermes when he superseded Iris in much later myths.

So this must be Iris on the stamp I deduce, she that is bandying about the snake-enwrapped wand with sorceress intent no doubt. Probably an older version of the Star Trek communicator.

Gandon was the French designer who did the "Marianne" heads of France and other stamps.

You might want to check at:

http://www.abelard.org/france/marianne.php

for further information.

This site will give you more information on the "Marianne" heads etc.

Chimo

Bujutsu