daveg28
Member 
Posts: 1,015 
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Oct 7, 2019 14:31:34 GMT
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?
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Oct 7, 2019 14:58:28 GMT
Hi Dave
The period you wish to collect represents Scott 264 (Peace with Olive Branch issue) up to Scott 1718 (1980) = 961 stamps. I am lucky to have all of these in Albums etc. "Dups" also.
France is a very nice Country to have a collection. Why 1930 ? may I ask - just curious
You can send me a PM re: dups !
René
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angore
Member
Posts: 5,348
What I collect: WW, focus on British Empire
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Post by angore on Oct 7, 2019 15:25:34 GMT
It may or may not be s coincidence as I collect close to my era too. I chose it since this is when stamp designs started to get more diversified and easier to get in nice condition.
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Oct 8, 2019 13:22:27 GMT
It obviously depends on whether your are visualizing a 'complete' collection or a well-filled collection. The later is quite easy to achieve as most stamps of that period are rather easy to find and not expensive. However there are a few rather pricey semi postals and Air mails, blocks etc in that period that makes it a bit more of a struggle to achieve completion, if that is the goal. I salute the desire to collect France  In my opinion it's the most interesting country to collect. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone starting to collect France 1930-80 will also quite quickly get curious about their classics. Actually I will find it more of a surprise not to fall in love with the Ceres and Napoleon issues - I find those iconic stamps irresistible  C'est la vie! |
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Oct 8, 2019 14:10:52 GMT
It obviously depends on whether your are visualizing a 'complete' collection or a well-filled collection. The later is quite easy to achieve as most stamps of that period are rather easy to find and not expensive. However there are a few rather pricey semi postals and Air mails, blocks etc in that period that makes it a bit more of a struggle to achieve completion, if that is the goal. I salute the desire to collect France In my opinion it's the most interesting country to collect. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone starting to collect France 1930-80 will also quite quickly get curious about their classics. Actually I will find it more of a surprise not to fall in love with the Ceres and Napoleon issues - I find those iconic stamps irresistible C'est la vie! I don't know about the semi-postals yet. I've seen that they exist, and they have spaces on the Steiner pages I intend to use, but I do not know what they look like. Where can I see them? Frankly, I was going to not use those pages and just collect the regular issues. Same for the air mails. Which stamps are the Ceres and Napoleon issues? |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Oct 8, 2019 14:16:52 GMT
daveg28What catalog are you using ? You will have a chance to see (live) a few semi-postals in 7-10 days. I like semi-postals for FRANCE. René
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Oct 8, 2019 14:21:24 GMT
Guess you can see the Semi postals and Air mails issues in the catalog. Send me a PM and I can help you on just that 😊 The 'Ceres and Napoleons' refers to the first stamp issues of France. Most iconic stamps ever, masterpieces of early stamp production. Some are obviously hard to find (not least to pay for!), but most are within 'affordable' range for most of us. www.stampworld.com/en/stamps/France/ |
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Oct 8, 2019 14:28:06 GMT
Right now I'm just using stampworld.com to glance through the issues. I think they refer to the semi-postals as charity stamps? I do have a complete 2013 Scott set of catalogs in pdf form on my computer. And yes, I see the Ceres and Napoleons on there as well. Shoot, maybe I don't want to limit myself to 1930. I'm pretty sure the old collections I've accumulated have some of those. I gotta dig those out tonight!
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Oct 8, 2019 16:25:31 GMT
That's the spirit - go for it!!  |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Oct 8, 2019 17:04:36 GMT
Jon blaamand, I have discussed (PM) the value of a good french catalog with daveg28 and offered him a PDF from Y & T just to check the various nuances. Thanks, my mentor, for your involvement  René |
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Oct 8, 2019 17:27:01 GMT
Sure, we all like to assist when we can renden 😊 |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Oct 8, 2019 18:53:11 GMT
Jon blaamand How does one (english speaking person) like daveg28....go about with a "french" catalog  ? René |
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brightonpete
Departed
Rest in Peace
On a hike at Goodrich-Loomis
Posts: 5,110
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Post by brightonpete on Oct 8, 2019 18:59:10 GMT
Google Translate does a good job. My school French gets a bit done. Although there aren't many "lapin's" or "stylo's" when dealing with stamps. Although on closer inspection of the package Gavin ( feebletodix) sent me wasn't so lovingly cancelled! Someone's "stylo" had run out of ink, as there was a stylo nib streak across the three stamps. At least no ink was detected! |
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Oct 8, 2019 19:01:56 GMT
How does Google Translate work on a pdf? Or does it just translate bits of text at a time?
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blaamand
Member
Currently creating custom pages until 1940.
Posts: 1,459
What I collect: Worldwide - Stamps and Postmarks - not enough time...
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Post by blaamand on Oct 8, 2019 20:15:14 GMT
I have catalogs in dozens of different languages I do not speak or read. As already mentioned by brightonpete, Google translate is the way to go. I just type in the key text I need translated manually. Some pdf's allows to copy text, but most doesn't. My own experience after having been using all these different 'foreign' catalogs, is that it is a bit tough at start, but once one get familiar with the key philatelic words/phrases, it is not such a challenge anymore. Just takes a bit of patience at start and willingness to step out of one's own comfort zone, and acknowleding the fact that most specialized catalogs are not written in your own language Best of luck! ...or - if needing help with French translation - 'call a friend' (in NB)  |
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Post by rjan55 on Oct 8, 2019 20:21:15 GMT
I use Yvert & Tellier for my french Africa. I was sold years ago when they had color years before Scott;s. I have a working/reading knowledge of French. I found some of the translator programs on line are less than directly useful for philatelic sentences. They take a bit of tickling to get to the direct philatelic point.
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gmot
Member
Posts: 205
What I collect: Canada & French Morocco
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Post by gmot on Oct 8, 2019 21:54:28 GMT
I use both the Yvert & Maury catalogues for my French African collection, find them so much better than Scott. And my French is very rough indeed, forgotten most since high school days, but it is quick to learn enough for philatelic purposes... Maury in particular is full of great detail, and Yvert is more of a quick resource (I find it easier to quickly look up a stamp as compared to Maury). As mentioned, many of the French philatelic terms aren't handled well by Google translate and its ilk, so I used a list like this until grew to remember them - Philatelic terms. |
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Oct 8, 2019 22:20:30 GMT
rjan55 and gmot - after reading your pertinent observations as new members of TSF........was just wondering why you do not use a nice stamp of your choice for your Avatar ? Thanks and welcome again to this Forum
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gmot
Member
Posts: 205
What I collect: Canada & French Morocco
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Post by gmot on Oct 9, 2019 0:54:29 GMT
Done - thanks for reminding me!
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Post by nbstamper on Oct 14, 2019 13:18:48 GMT
This is a lively thread which is good to see. While it is not my main interest, I collect France and some French colonials because of the beauty of the engraving. I've been using Stanley Gibbons catalogues. I started by buying several collections online and then tried filling in gaps and replacing damaged stamps. The collections I've seen online for sale, in my experience, are usually missing most of the semi-postal issues. However, they can be purchased on eBay and other auction sites. Some are inexpensive and they enhance the look of your collection. I don't have many of the early France issues but have recently been working on the 1876 Peace and Commerce series and have completed a basic set (mostly used) of the Type I issue; have most of the Type IIs but still missing a few.
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Oct 14, 2019 13:24:22 GMT
I've discovered that I do have a few of the semi-postals from the old collections I've accumulated. When I get the chance to really start organizing what I have so far, I'll have to look them up and see what I have. I love starting a new collection.
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stainlessb
Member
qaStaHvIS yIn 'ej chep
Posts: 4,642
What I collect: currently focused on most of western Europe, much of which is spent on France, Belgium, Germany and Great Britain Queen Victoria
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Post by stainlessb on Oct 14, 2019 18:09:48 GMT
How does Google Translate work on a pdf? Or does it just translate bits of text at a time? daveg28 usually you can copy and paste a section into Google Translate. If you have Adobe DC (pro?) you can make the PDF (in most cases) editable which makes it even easier to copy & paste... and I have even pasted the translation back into the PDF (you will have to "Save as")
It doesn't take long before you realize your French is improving! |
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vikingeck
Member
Posts: 3,266
What I collect: Samoa, Tobacco theme, Mail in Wartime, anything odd and unusual!
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Post by vikingeck on Oct 14, 2019 19:57:51 GMT
Without the obvious specialised detail of Yvert , Michel , and other “home country “ catalogues,and the language problems, I endorse the Stanley Gibbons range of sectional catalogues for any more generalist English speaker. The French volume is very good with a lot of detail and much used in the UK
Scott has its merits especially for US but organising regular issues separate from airmails and semi-postals, I find confusing.
Gibbons includes these categories chronologically amongst regular issues as they were released. Incidentally as semi postals are regular stamps with a premium for a charity over this side that is what we call them “charity stamps”:
Just a wee question of semantics,
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Nov 24, 2019 23:51:11 GMT
We rapidly loose interest in such interesting threads - I decided to find something "general" discussed on FRANCE stamps and had to go through 4 pages of stuff before re-reading this one. It looked promising but like many subjects, gets loss in the rapidly going subject "lists" in threads.
I had promised to show some France Semi-Postal stamps a while ago.......forgot or got interested in another subject. Tomorrow I will put up some nice Semi-Postal stamps.....promise !!
René
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daveg28
Member
Posts: 1,015
What I collect: U.S., Canada, Great Britain & Commonwealth, France (esp. 1950-80), DDR, USSR
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Post by daveg28 on Nov 25, 2019 14:04:10 GMT
I look forward to seeing some of those semi-postals. While digging through what I have so far from France (which isn't much yet), I actually have one or two of them myself. I'm sure they are nothing terribly valuable, but I love the engraving.
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renden
Member
Posts: 8,711
What I collect: World W collector with ++ interests in BNA (Canada etc) and USA
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Post by renden on Nov 25, 2019 15:22:56 GMT
Here are some nice France semi-postals (dups) from the 1939-42 era: Scott #s B87A B88A B89A 1939-40 B114 B129 B131 1941-42 B132 B133 B134 B147 B148 B107 (1940) The B87A has a CV (MH) of $5.06; the B88A, $5.29 (MH); the B89A, $7.05 (MH).....as an example  |
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In my opinion it's the most interesting country to collect. I wouldn't be surprised if anyone starting to collect France 1930-80 will also quite quickly get curious about their classics. Actually I will find it more of a surprise not to fall in love with the Ceres and Napoleon issues - I find those iconic stamps irresistible 
?
