FRANCE
France seems to have used various forms of postal stationery, mainly folding message forms with adhesive flaps,
over most of the telegraph period but a very early (Napoleon III) use of a telegraphic adhesive seal is known and
two later seals were in use around 1880 to seal the flaps of postal stationery type telegrams.
These latter bear the word 'Déchirer', meaning tear or rip, as an instruction to the recipient as do some bilingual seals used in Turkey.
| Updates. The above was written by Steve Hiscocks. I have extended the date ranges, added items, and re-numbered. No pricing as yet. |
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| #1 circa 1858, 47mm. | #2 1878-80, 41.6mm. | #3 1882, 39mm. |
My single example of #2a (pink) was used at the Bourse, Paris on 20 November 1880. It may have been urgent as it was about fire insurance.
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| #4 1882-6, 39mm. |
| RH # | Type. | was | Description | Mint | Used | On telegram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH1 | 1 | #1 | circa 1858 Imperf. Black on white. | - | - | - |
| RH2 | 2 | #2 | 1878-80 Perf. 9. Black on white. | - | - | - |
| RH2a | - | 1880 Perf. 9½ Black on pink. | - | - | - | |
| RH3 | 3 | - | 1882-6 Perf. 13. Black on white. | - | - | - |
| RH4 | 4 | #3 | 1882-6 Perf. 13. Black on white. | - | - | - |
| RH4a | - | Perf. 12.6 (1886 or 1896) | - | - | - |
This type of telegram rendered separate seals obsolete for many decades. (Half scale image)
This has an imprint of January 1897 and was used May 1898. The gum on the flap was insufficiently wetted so that it was opened without breaking the seal.
An internal Westminster Hotel Telephone Message of 1939.
This one also has an intact seal.
Similar for The Royal Canadel del Mer.
It would seem that the built-in seal was not trusted. Image from RL.
Form No. 509 "Postes et Télécommunications / (Art. 70, 71, 72, IVe fasc. de l'Instruction générale)"
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| #5 Date? 58.6mm - Form No. 509 |
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| #6 1957, 45.7mm - Thin 'PAR POSTE', without serifs |
These read 'à distribuer' (to distribute) in the middle.
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| #7 1973, 63mm - Thick 'PAR POSTE', with serifs |
These are sometimes used as seals and sometimes as etiquettes with the Bureau number.
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| #7 1974-80, 64mm with serifs |
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| #8 1978-82 without serifs |
| RH # | Type. | was | Description | Mint | Used | On telegram |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH5 | 5 | - | Date? Imperf. Form No. 509 "Postes et Télécommunications". | - | - | - |
| RH6 | 6 | - | 1957 Imperf. sides, rouletted top + one side. Red on cream. Thin, No serifs. | - | - | - |
| RH7 | 7 | - | 1964-80 Imperf. sides, rouletted top + one side. Red on white. Serifs. | - | - | - |
| RH7a | 7 | - | 1974-80 Red on cream. Serifs. | - | - | - |
| RH8 | 8 | - | 1978-82 Imperf. sides, rouletted top + one side. Red on white. No serifs. | - | - | - |
The earliest I have seen (1957 Paris) was used as a seal on a telegram flap. The gum on the flap didn't hold, so the seals were unbroken.
On the next example (1964 Le Havre) the gum held and the seals were broken.
Later ones however (1974 onwards) are used on envelopes marked Télégramme as etiquettes with the 'Bureau' section hand-stamped and signed.
I have not yet seen any between 1964 and 1974. I have seen similar envelopes of 1985 and 1986 without these.
If anyone can provide scans to help with this, I am happy to give appropriate credit.
