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Europe/Other : 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

 

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JohnnyRockets
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16 Mar 2018
08:55:58am
Hi all,

Well as some of you know, I'm a major newbie to stamp collecting. I'm 50 years young and just discovered this hobby about a month ago. But I have dived in head first and have really been enjoying it.

Yesterday I delved into the arena of "world" stamps. I chose this very cool French stamp and researched it a bit.

I really liked it because the lady seemed to be hurling some kind of flame (more on that later).

Image Not Found

Well, from what I can gather, this is Marianne, a symbol of the French Republic, mainly associated with liberty and freedom. From what I read, Marianne is portrayed on many French stamps. (you probably all know this, sorry...). This is from a painting of the "sower", where Marianne is sowing "freedom" to the people.

Image Not Found

The stamp is from 1906 according to the coloring and a match on the StampWorld website.

It's cost was originally 25 "c", or "centimes" according to the internet.


The first picture is my stamp that I took a photo of and it shows the "flame".

Image Not Found


The second picture is my stamp from a stock internet photo. Notice the flame is missing.

Image Not Found

Well, turns out there is no flame! Surprise It was just a blemish on the stamp. But exciting nonetheless! Happy

Thankfully research paid off and painted a correct picture of the stamp, even if it would have been cooler if she was holding "fire"! Winking



JR


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Winedrinker
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16 Mar 2018
10:21:06am
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

The Sower is a great design.

But I believe Sower stamps (the images you depict) are different from Marianne stamps, which came out after WWII.

Both the Sower and Marianne wear the Phrygian cap of liberty. So its easy to get confused. The Marianne stamps I am familiar with are just "head" shots, not a depiction of a figure sowing.

Sower stamps made a comeback in 1960.

The December and the February Linn's Stamp News have good stories about these stamps. I am tempted to start collecting sowers, they are indeed lovely stamps.

Cheers!
Wine



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JohnnyRockets
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16 Mar 2018
10:31:01am
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi Wine,

Yes, upon further research I see my error! Thank you for pointing this out.

The sower is a cool stamp.

I'm going to put it in my stamp journal with a little write up I believe.

The Phrygian cap did throw me off for sure.

Side question: Do you subscribe to Linn's Stamp News and do you like it?


Thanks Wine, have a great weekend!


JR

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Winedrinker
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16 Mar 2018
10:56:21am
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Image Not Found

Some recent Mariannes.

I enjoy Linn's, it often has stories of interest, at least for me. So I keep subscribing.

Cheers!
Wine

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malcolm197

16 Mar 2018
01:11:36pm
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Even the French get confused with the "Mariannes".

The sower you show is in French philately parlance "Semeuse" which is a literal translation.However it is often thought of as a "Marianne" portrait. There is also a series which is known as "Liberte", which is also sometimes called a "Marianne". Most of the Mariannes are ID d by their designer e. g. Marianne de Gandon.

Marianne is the allegorical figure of the French Republic, rather like Britannia. I am sure that they all represent Marianne,in the abstract- however "Semeuse" and Liberte are descriptive of the pose rather than the person.

There are also "Sabine" and "France" allegories, which appear to be interchangeable with Marianne.

Malcolm

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JohnnyRockets
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16 Mar 2018
01:55:06pm
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Thanks guys!

Super interesting stuff.

I had never heard of Britannia either! Very neat.


JR

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phos45
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17 Mar 2018
02:05:08pm
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

http://www.phil-ouest.com/Series.php?Nom_serie=Marianne_Briat

nice images ...

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machinstudygroup.blogspot.ca
rrraphy
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Retired Consultant APS#186030

17 Mar 2018
02:08:55pm

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re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi JR
As you get deeper into classic designs, you will find more and more interesting variations and, plate flaws or changes.
FYI, the "Semeuse" (or sower) engraved by Mouchon comes in two major designs: the 1903 "Semeuse Lignée" or lined background and the full background "Semeuse Fond Plein" as of 1906.
They were issued into the 1930s, with many font variations as well as many plate variations, and I would highly recommend getting the corresponding pages from a Yvert & Tellier french catalog that will document the variations. Also, many color variations exist.
This was a fairly common design, with high volume production, so you should have no problem accumulating a bunch to study the numerous variations.
From my Y&T catalog, here are 2 pages to see what you may be looking for:
rrr...Image Not Found
Image Not Found


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"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
rrraphy
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Retired Consultant APS#186030

17 Mar 2018
04:11:17pm

Approvals
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

I should have mentioned the French CERES catalog which has good graphics and is a great source of information on Classic French stamps. The contributions of French experts such as Calves, Roumet etc...for stamps prior to 1900 makes it an invaluable reference.
Here are two pages relative to "Semeuse" stamps.
Now I do hope this is not too overwhelming, but you seem to be digging in a lot further than most newer collectors, so this ought to prepare you for the variations you will encounter!
Semeuses stamps are readily available, not expensive, so it is a good area to hone in some required skills.
rrr...

CERES:
Image Not Found

Image Not Found

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"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
JohnnyRockets
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17 Mar 2018
05:45:45pm
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi rrr,

Wow! Again, Wow! I never knew there was so much to study with that one design.

I really like delving into each design that catches my eye.

Man, stamp collecting can be so incredibly deep! It blows my mind!

If I delved into each stamp I already have even this little bit, I wouldn't have enough lifespan left to see them all! LOL!

I'm sure a specialty area of interest will emerge.

Right now, I'm researching each stamp that I'm interested in right about to this level and then going to the next one, but I'm putting them in my own little custom book with a little write up about them, so that one day when Grandkids arrive (maybe?) I'll be able to show them some cool stamp examples with back stories. Also it will help me to show some varied "points of interest" to my immediate family in the hope that they may take an interest as well.

Thanks for the great sharing of knowledge. Very impressive and very cool!


JR Happy

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JohnnyRockets
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17 Mar 2018
05:57:38pm
re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi all,

Another note.

This "Sower" stamp has REALLY gotten me interested in stamps from other countries.

I have already forced three of my children to listen to the backstory of the stamp and to look at it through a magnifying glass. Ha, Ha!

Looking at/researching World stamps is kind of like virtually traveling there. It's very interesting to me.

If nothing else, it teaches me things that I then teach family and friends and helps me decide where to take my next vacation! Winking


Just some personal observations from a VERY new stamp guy.



JR

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Author/Postings
Members Picture
JohnnyRockets

16 Mar 2018
08:55:58am

Hi all,

Well as some of you know, I'm a major newbie to stamp collecting. I'm 50 years young and just discovered this hobby about a month ago. But I have dived in head first and have really been enjoying it.

Yesterday I delved into the arena of "world" stamps. I chose this very cool French stamp and researched it a bit.

I really liked it because the lady seemed to be hurling some kind of flame (more on that later).

Image Not Found

Well, from what I can gather, this is Marianne, a symbol of the French Republic, mainly associated with liberty and freedom. From what I read, Marianne is portrayed on many French stamps. (you probably all know this, sorry...). This is from a painting of the "sower", where Marianne is sowing "freedom" to the people.

Image Not Found

The stamp is from 1906 according to the coloring and a match on the StampWorld website.

It's cost was originally 25 "c", or "centimes" according to the internet.


The first picture is my stamp that I took a photo of and it shows the "flame".

Image Not Found


The second picture is my stamp from a stock internet photo. Notice the flame is missing.

Image Not Found

Well, turns out there is no flame! Surprise It was just a blemish on the stamp. But exciting nonetheless! Happy

Thankfully research paid off and painted a correct picture of the stamp, even if it would have been cooler if she was holding "fire"! Winking



JR


Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Winedrinker

16 Mar 2018
10:21:06am

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

The Sower is a great design.

But I believe Sower stamps (the images you depict) are different from Marianne stamps, which came out after WWII.

Both the Sower and Marianne wear the Phrygian cap of liberty. So its easy to get confused. The Marianne stamps I am familiar with are just "head" shots, not a depiction of a figure sowing.

Sower stamps made a comeback in 1960.

The December and the February Linn's Stamp News have good stories about these stamps. I am tempted to start collecting sowers, they are indeed lovely stamps.

Cheers!
Wine



Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
JohnnyRockets

16 Mar 2018
10:31:01am

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi Wine,

Yes, upon further research I see my error! Thank you for pointing this out.

The sower is a cool stamp.

I'm going to put it in my stamp journal with a little write up I believe.

The Phrygian cap did throw me off for sure.

Side question: Do you subscribe to Linn's Stamp News and do you like it?


Thanks Wine, have a great weekend!


JR

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
Winedrinker

16 Mar 2018
10:56:21am

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Image Not Found

Some recent Mariannes.

I enjoy Linn's, it often has stories of interest, at least for me. So I keep subscribing.

Cheers!
Wine

Like 
1 Member
likes this post.
Login to Like.
malcolm197

16 Mar 2018
01:11:36pm

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Even the French get confused with the "Mariannes".

The sower you show is in French philately parlance "Semeuse" which is a literal translation.However it is often thought of as a "Marianne" portrait. There is also a series which is known as "Liberte", which is also sometimes called a "Marianne". Most of the Mariannes are ID d by their designer e. g. Marianne de Gandon.

Marianne is the allegorical figure of the French Republic, rather like Britannia. I am sure that they all represent Marianne,in the abstract- however "Semeuse" and Liberte are descriptive of the pose rather than the person.

There are also "Sabine" and "France" allegories, which appear to be interchangeable with Marianne.

Malcolm

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
JohnnyRockets

16 Mar 2018
01:55:06pm

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Thanks guys!

Super interesting stuff.

I had never heard of Britannia either! Very neat.


JR

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this post
Members Picture
phos45

17 Mar 2018
02:05:08pm

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

http://www.phil-ouest.com/Series.php?Nom_serie=Marianne_Briat

nice images ...

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machinstudygroup.blo ...
Members Picture
rrraphy

Retired Consultant APS#186030
17 Mar 2018
02:08:55pm

Approvals

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi JR
As you get deeper into classic designs, you will find more and more interesting variations and, plate flaws or changes.
FYI, the "Semeuse" (or sower) engraved by Mouchon comes in two major designs: the 1903 "Semeuse Lignée" or lined background and the full background "Semeuse Fond Plein" as of 1906.
They were issued into the 1930s, with many font variations as well as many plate variations, and I would highly recommend getting the corresponding pages from a Yvert & Tellier french catalog that will document the variations. Also, many color variations exist.
This was a fairly common design, with high volume production, so you should have no problem accumulating a bunch to study the numerous variations.
From my Y&T catalog, here are 2 pages to see what you may be looking for:
rrr...Image Not Found
Image Not Found


Like
Login to Like
this post

"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
Members Picture
rrraphy

Retired Consultant APS#186030
17 Mar 2018
04:11:17pm

Approvals

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

I should have mentioned the French CERES catalog which has good graphics and is a great source of information on Classic French stamps. The contributions of French experts such as Calves, Roumet etc...for stamps prior to 1900 makes it an invaluable reference.
Here are two pages relative to "Semeuse" stamps.
Now I do hope this is not too overwhelming, but you seem to be digging in a lot further than most newer collectors, so this ought to prepare you for the variations you will encounter!
Semeuses stamps are readily available, not expensive, so it is a good area to hone in some required skills.
rrr...

CERES:
Image Not Found

Image Not Found

Like
Login to Like
this post

"E. Rutherford: All science is either physics or stamp collecting."
Members Picture
JohnnyRockets

17 Mar 2018
05:45:45pm

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi rrr,

Wow! Again, Wow! I never knew there was so much to study with that one design.

I really like delving into each design that catches my eye.

Man, stamp collecting can be so incredibly deep! It blows my mind!

If I delved into each stamp I already have even this little bit, I wouldn't have enough lifespan left to see them all! LOL!

I'm sure a specialty area of interest will emerge.

Right now, I'm researching each stamp that I'm interested in right about to this level and then going to the next one, but I'm putting them in my own little custom book with a little write up about them, so that one day when Grandkids arrive (maybe?) I'll be able to show them some cool stamp examples with back stories. Also it will help me to show some varied "points of interest" to my immediate family in the hope that they may take an interest as well.

Thanks for the great sharing of knowledge. Very impressive and very cool!


JR Happy

Like
Login to Like
this post
Members Picture
JohnnyRockets

17 Mar 2018
05:57:38pm

re: 1906 French Marianne stamp - observations

Hi all,

Another note.

This "Sower" stamp has REALLY gotten me interested in stamps from other countries.

I have already forced three of my children to listen to the backstory of the stamp and to look at it through a magnifying glass. Ha, Ha!

Looking at/researching World stamps is kind of like virtually traveling there. It's very interesting to me.

If nothing else, it teaches me things that I then teach family and friends and helps me decide where to take my next vacation! Winking


Just some personal observations from a VERY new stamp guy.



JR

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1 Member
likes this post.
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