Start collection of France with 1947 airmail set

Stamp Market Tips by Henry Gitner and Rick Miller

There are many appealing reasons to collect the stamps of France: They generally have high design and production qualities. Many of them are beautiful. The design subjects are usually germane to France’s history and culture.

There are multiple catalogs and extensive literature available for collectors interested in the stamps of France.

A possible drawback for some collectors is that France has established a prolific stamp-issuing policy from the 1990s to the present, including many souvenir sheets.

From 1850 to 1990, the first 140 years of its stamp-issuing history, France issued about 2,200 postage stamps. In the 34 years since 1990, France has issued more than 4,200 postage stamps.

France has also been a prolific issuer of semipostal stamps, producing more than 800.

Still, no rule says that you have to collect a country’s entire stamp production. If you are interested in France but find the modern proliferation off-putting, you can end your collection at 1990 or any other period you choose.

The market for France’s stamps is mature. That means that there aren’t many new entry-level collectors looking for the basic inexpensive stamps.

And in our experience, the stamps are overvalued in the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue, often significantly so. But that can be good news if you want to start or continue a collection of France.

Take the set of five airmail stamps (Scott C23-27) showing aerial views of Lille, Bordeaux, Lyon, Marseille and Paris issued May 7, 1947. The engraved stamps are beautifully designed and printed.

The stamps were issued during a period of post-World War II inflation, and the 1,000-franc Paris stamp (Scott C27) is one of the highest denominated stamps that France ever issued.

The Scott Standard catalog values the set in mint, never-hinged condition at $212.70. The set is a good buy in mint, never-hinged condition at around $100.

A set in unused, hinged condition is a good buy at around $50. An attractively canceled used set is a good buy at $15 to $20, against a Scott catalog value of $38.90.

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