The mysterious French overprint (~1871)
One of the most enigmatic stamps of the French classic period is the Laureate Napoleon bister 10c (10 centimes) overprinted blue « 10 » (Y&T #34, Sc. #49).
Two questions: why this overprint and why, in the end, was this stamp not
issued?
1 - Presentation of the stamp
2 - Why this overprint?
3 - Why was it never sold in French post offices?
4 - Used on mail in the late 19th century
5 - The oldest evocations of this overprint
1. Presentation of this stamp
It is a type II 10c with the effigy of Napoleon III, bister color, on which there is « 10 » overprint blue. 200 million type II stamps (without overprint) were issued and principaly used for local letter rate.
Its printing is fine like the overprint which can be dark blue or light blue. The false overprints, and there are some, are often coarse with a thick foot for figure 1. Mine of my collection is light blue (see photo below).
The period of the printing of this overprint is estimated during the summer 1871, after the Franco-Prussian War (July 1870-May 1871).
The French Postal Museum holds a certain quantity, their existence is
indisputable. It is also referenced in the catalogs. Its Yvert and Tellier value
in 2022 is 3,000 euros ($3,400) and 1,300 euros ($1,500) without gum. This
stamp exists canceled as I show in chapter 4 but it isn’t listed in catalogues
due to its late use.
This question has been asked for more than a century because if the French postal administration is well kept, rigorous and precise, for this overprint, there isn’t official document. So we can only make assumptions.
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Dates of issue : stamps of this period with face value of 10c and 15c. |
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Y&T #36, Sc. #54 (1870-71) |
3. Why was it never sold in French post offices?
If no document exists on the reasons for this overprint, there isn’t
document explaining why this stamp wasn’t sold to the public. There is also no
document specifying the number with this overprint and the order to destroy
them.
Unless it was the effigy of Napoleon III, who had just fallen, which led to
the destruction of such perfect stamps. Perhaps France administration wanted to
turn the page on Napoleonic III governance and prevent the population from
seeing his effigy on all the letters.
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1893: cover from Paris with a pair of 10c Laureate overprinted. |
It is very difficult to say how many overprinted stamps have
survived. Anyway, "leaks" took place and several hundred stamps were
dispersed to stamp collectors. The beginnings of philately are estimated around
1860, a stamp market had already existed for many years for this type of curiosity.
5. The oldest evocations of this overprint
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1907: Arthur Maury's book. |
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Histoire du timbre-poste français - Louis Leroy (1891). |
1891: in a book written by Louis Leroy (former deputy
bureau chief at the central postal administration) and entitled "Histoire
du timbre-poste français", in chapter VII « Stamps not issued but prepared
», "the overprint was realized by the national printing office in August 1871
(editor's note: which contradicts the letter mentioned by Arthur Maury), when
the 15c bistre Cérès were produced. We wanted to keep this color for the local
rate which was going to be raised from 10 to 15c and we also wanted to use the
important stock of the 10c stamps with the imperial effigy. To distinguish
these stamps of different facial values and effigies, but of the same color, we
thought of overprinting; it was abandoned almost immediately and the
overprinted stamps were destroyed. »
To end this article: The color of a stamp helps the one who
checks the postage, so he can work quickly and well. When the color of stamps
with different face values is identical, this can lead to errors of
appreciation. This overprint would certainly have helped postal agents of the
1870s who worked by candlelight or kerosene lamp in conditions we can no longer
imagine.
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