LA FRANCE EN
AMÉRIQUE DU NORD
Encyclopédie des îles Saint-Pierre & Miquelon
SPM
The Encyclopedia
 
Saint-Pierre & Miquelon
Philatelic Journal

Editor : James (Jim) Taylor 
2335 Paliswood Road SW, 
Calgary, AB
james-taylor@wave.home.com

President : David Allen 
2159 W 47th Avenue,
Vancouver BC
Canada V6M 2M6
Fax : 1-604-263-3141
dallen@axionet.com

Mr David Salovey 
Founder 
P.O. Box 464
New-York, N.Y. 10014-0464
USA

Site fondé en 1993.

Philatelic articles by David Allen

David Allen is a Vancouver philatelist specialized in the study of stamps from Saint-Pierre et Miquelon. Mr Allen contributes regularly to the Saint-Pierre et Miquelon journal. You can write to him at: dallen@axionet.com. 

A. De Luxe Proofs of St. Pierre and Miquelon

The information for this document was provided in French by J.J.Tillard , who is President of the St. Pierre and Miquelon Philatelic Society. I asked his permission to translate the document and he readily agreed to this.

A Deluxe Proof is a sheet in the centre of which the postage stamp is printed in its final colours. Since 1941( Yv.# 210) all stamps issued exist in De Luxe Proofs, except for those surcharged "France Libre". They have been printed by private enterprises or by the French State Printing Works.The quantity of issues was variable until 1960 when they were limited to about 230 copies.

Until 1957 the format differed and each proof is certified as being a dry print under the control of the Printing Works ( except for the year 1947 ( # 325/343, PA 18/20 and Taxe 67/76, which also exist without this imprint).

From 1949 to 1965 ( except for # 345,346,359 and PA 28) all Deluxe Proofs have control perforations at the base of the sheet.

Deluxe Proofs, which are not available at the Post Office, are offered to Ministers and Government members.

(Catalogue numbers are from Yvert and Tellier)

B. Series Deluxe Proofs of St. Pierre and Miquelon

When several stamps are issued in the same series or on the same theme on closely related dates, they are printed on a sheet to form a Series Proof.

For St. Pierre and Miquelon the first of these series are known to have been issued in 1957 and they continued until 1965, a control perforation of the Printing Works being at the foot of the sheet. These sheets are generally on a thicker paper than those of a De Luxe Proof.

Until 1993 Series proofs were only issued for engraved stamps.

From 1957 to 1993, 49 different Series Proofs are known. With an issue of 21 copies, the Series Deluxe Proofs are the keystone to a collection.

C. Imperforate Issues of St. Pierre and Miquelon

Whilst the stamps are being printed, some sheets are put aside and are not perforated. For St. Pierre and Miquelon, and this is since 1945, 1,000 stamps approximately are issued unperforated and are offered to Ministers and to Government members. As well it is possible to find, from 1909 onwards, some issues printed unperforated in limited quantities but this situation is not in general use for all stamps. They can be collected as individual items, in pairs or blocks of four. There are some very rare pieces which increase the value of a collection. Unperforated issues are no longer issued after 1986.

D. Colour Trials

Since the 1950s, most French stamps and former colonies' issues are printed in three colours. These trials are made in order that the Postal Administration may choose from several colour combinations. The Colour Trials are printed in unperforated sheets. For a stamp printed in sheets of 25 copies, the distribution is as follows - :
  • The first three rows are monochrome and of a different dye.
  • One of these colours is repeated in the fourth row.
  • The fifth row shows different colour combinations.
As a consequence many philatelists prefer to collect these trials in bands of five representing a trial from each row. The ink colour is generally indicated in the margin by means of a code written in pencil. These trials exist only for engraved stamps. Some 20 sheets are issued and distributed to Ministers and Government members.

As far as St. Pierre and Miquelon is concerned, and this is from 1956 until 1976, not more than 101 stamps were the subject of Colour Trials. Of these 28 were Airmail Post issues and one was a Postage Due issue . A complete Colour Trial sheet is a collection " gem".

Courtesy : J.J.Tillard - President of the Philatelic Society of St. Pierre and Miquelon.

Philatelic articles by David Allen D. Allen


 

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