The Green Turtle Omnibus Issue

La Poste, the Mauritius Post, La Poste Comores, the Seychelles Postal Services, Paositra Malagasy and the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF) jointly issued on 9 October 2014 an omnibus stamp on the Green Turtle. It is the first ever joint issue between countries of the south west Indian Ocean and was branded as a France - Indian Ocean joint issue.

The green turtle (Chelonia mydas, Tortue verte or Tortue franche in French) is found in the tropical marine waters of the south west Indian Ocean which shelter important nesting and feeding sites for this protected species.

The green turtle is a great migrant that can weigh over two hundred kilograms and measure over a metre long. Fully grown, it is essentially herbivorous and reproduces on the beaches of tropical islands of the Indian Ocean as well as on Malagasy shores and on East African coasts.

The green turtle is undergoing several study and conservation programmes in the countries of the region.

The Mauritian FDC

'Marine turtles of the Indian Ocean: a common heritage to protect.'

The six stamps were officially launched at the head office of the TAAF in Saint-Leu, Réunion, where the 6e Rencontres Philatéliques de l'Océan Indien (6th Indian Ocean Philatelic Meetings, 9-11 October 2014) were being held.

Unofficial FDC hand stamped at the Philatelic Bureau, Port Louis
and featuring the World Post Day 2014 Special Cachet.

The Indian Ocean Philatelic Meetings, RPOI, are organised by the Association Philatélique de l'Océan Indien, APOI (Indian Ocean Philatelic Association, based in Réunion, founded in 1958) and held on a almost-yearly basis.

Alternative links in French to blogs of the APOI:

- http://apoi.over-blog.com/

- http://philateliereunion.blogspot.com/ (last updated in June 2011)

Mauritius last hosted the RPOI, the 4th, in 2012 (6-9 September, Cybercity Tower 1, Ebène), in the context of the 240 years of postal services in Mauritius.

Note that Réunion actually represents France
and that the French stamp was released in mainland France too.

In Mauritius the official launching was done at the new Trianon Post Office.

Technical details:

Release date: 9 October 2014

Stamp denomination, country and print run: 

 0,98 € - France - 1,000,000

 1500 Ar - Madagascar - 100,000 

 150 Kmf - Comoros - 11,000

 R 50 - Seychelles - 100,000

 1,05 € - TAAF - 1,000

 Rs14 - Mauritius - missing figure
(Source for print runs: http://apoi.over-blog.com/actions-realisees.html)
Designer: Claude Perchat

Size:  40.85 x 30 mm

Printer: Phil@poste, France

Process: Offset

Number per sheet: 42 stamps

Stamp sheet format: 240 x 286 mm

Watermark: None

The presentation pack, issued by La Poste:

Illustrations by A. d'Aunay
Graphic conception by S. Ghinéa

The stamps on covers:

From France:

Special thanks to Eric for sending me this very nice cover from the 68e Salon Philatélique d'Automne (68th Autumn Philatelic Exhibition, Paris, 6-9 November 2014) and signed by Claude Perchat, the designer of these stamps.

From Tromelin, TAAF:

This cover too is from Eric. Besides being a nesting site for green turtles and boobies, the island of Tromelin is also an occasional amateur radio station. 2014 marked 60 years since the first amateur radio signal was sent from there; more information about the miniature sheet affixed on this cover and cancelled on the first day of issue (6 November 2014) on Eric's always-interesting blog: http://timbredujura.blogspot.com/2015/02/60-years-of-amateur-radio-liaisons-from.html

Illustrated link to the Tromelin 2014 FT4TA Expedition: http://www.tromelin2014.com/en/

Special cachet hand stamped at the back of the cover
depicting from left to right a booby, Tromelin and a marine turtle.

A vaguemestre in French is a military in charge of the delivery of mail.

From Mauritius:

The following cover was sent from Port Louis Centre Post Office on 16 October 2014.

The Green Turtle on Coat of Arms

British Indian Ocean Territory

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_of_arms_of_the_British_Indian_Ocean_Territory

Paris and its marvels...

Paris is known the world around as the most romantic city. Well, it is also one of the most charming!  This nice postcard shows, from left to right and from top to bottom : The Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Eiffel Tower, The Sacré-Coeur Basilica and the Champs Elysées.

Original customised stamps were used to frank this card.  Thank you Li Sien! :D

Mailing date: 08 December 2011

Delivery date: 15 December 2011

Les Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris

The Battalion of Paris firefighters was founded on 18 September 1811 by Emperor Napoleon I, following a devastating fire at the Austrian Embassy, where a ball was being held, which killed a hundred people.  The Battalion is now known as the Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (acronym: BSSP/ English: Paris Fire Brigade).  The mission of the BSSP ranges from containing fires in Paris to dispensing first aid following accidents.

To commemorate the bicentenary of the BSSP and the remarkable work accomplished by its, La Poste released for general sale on September 19, 2011, a souvenir sheet consisting of 10 €0,60 stamps. Part of this S/S was used to frank the mail above. The stamps represent a firefighter holding a water cannon (left) and two others embarking an injured person in one of their emergency vehicles (right).

Thank you Daniel for your great cover and for these cards too! :)  The above one features a stamp issued by La Poste to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse or High Speed Rail in English), with First Day Cancellation (27 September 2011).

Postcard showing how the Truffade - an Auvergne speciality - is cooked.

Mailing date: 05.12.2011

Delivery date: 09.12.2011

Mechanical Lacework from France

La Poste issued on October 8, 2011 an innovative series of four souvenir sheets which include pieces of real mechanical lace...  The piece of lace was hot-glued on a paper that, after having been cut, was stuck on each stamp of the four sheets with a denomination of €2,50.

Merci beaucoup Daniel for this nice FDC from the commune of Le-Puy-en-Velay, in the Haute-Loire department, south-central France.  The Bobbin lace teaching centre is located there.

Postcard showing ladies waving lace.

Description on the back of the card.

The bobbin lace from Le-Puy-en-Velay is primarily made from linen and consists of geometric patterns (such as the partitioned diamonds on the stamp above).

Three other souvenir sheets, each depicting another type of mechanical lacework, were issued besides this one, 

Mailing date: 08 OCT 2011

Delivery date: 18 OCT 2011

Europa 2010 & Astérix from France

The 2010 Europa theme was Children Books and so Phil@poste issued on May 9, 2010 a single stamp (0.70 €).  The stamp illustrates a girl engrossed in reading a book and sitting on a pile of books, and surrounded by famous children characters: The Beauty & the Beast and Cinderella.

The 0,56 € stamps depicts the renowned comic book character Astérix.  This stamp, issued on December 3, 2009 with a very nice souvenir sheet, commemorates the 50th anniversary of this very much-appreciated children character.  Designed by Albert Uderzo, the plot shows how Astérix, along with his friend Obélix, the latter's pet Dogmatix and the rest of their Gaul village, resist Roman occupation.

On the occasion of the 84th Congress of the Fédération Française des Associations Philatéliques (10-13 June 2011, Metz), La Poste issued the 0,58 € stamp, with a vignette, on the top right of the envelope.  Three landmarks are illustrated on the stamp and the vignette:  the Saint-Stephen Cathedral and the Protestant Temple Neuf (stamp) and the Medieval City gate - or Porte des Allemands (vignette).

Lastly, we have a stamp designed by Pierre Albuisson which portrays the ruins of the Gaul temple of  Janus and two statues from the Saint-Lazare cathedral which can be seen in the background.  The commune of Autun, in the Saône-et-Loire department, in eastern France, is home to all of these iconic figures.

Thank you very much Eric! :D

Mailing date: 27 September 2011

Delivery date: 03 October 2011

New Cover from France

Here's a cover sent from Lyon and franked with interesting stamps (as usual) pertaining to various topics.  Big thank you to Eric! =)

France had the honour to assume the Presidency of the G-20 in 2011 with the summit held from 3-4 November last in Cannes.  The town of Deauville on the other hand hosted the G-8 Summit earlier this year in May.  La Poste issued on July 11, 2011 a special 0,89€ stamp to mark these unique events.  The motto "Nouveau monde, nouvelles idées" (New World, New Ideas) and the logo of this 6th meeting of the G-20/ 8 are present on the stamp.  The G-20 represents 85% of the global economy and two third of the world population.  Its principle is based on a system of annual rotating presidency.  

La Poste also issued a commemorative stamp on June 23, 2011 to celebrate the birth centenary of former President - from 1962 to 1968 - Georges Pompidou (1911-1974).  The stamp was designed by Yves Beaujard, also the designer of the Marianne stamps, from a photograph taken at the reception by President Pompidou of British Prime Minister Edward Heath, with in the background the Georges Pompidou Centre, designed by Renzo Piano and Richard Rogers.

 
The Railways of Provence are made ​​up of three rail networks among which the Alps network with the line between Nice and Digne-les-Bains, completed in 1911, being among its lines.  Today under the authority of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, it is the only railway line still in operation and carries more than 400,000 passengers per year.  The line will soon have one new and more modern rail car.  The 0,58€ stamp, designed by Claude Perchat and released on June 27, 2011 illustrates the 'Train des Pignes'.

Mailing date: August 8, 2011

Delivery date: August 16, 2011

Gorges du Tarn Postcard in France

Daniel sent me this colourful postcard showing The Gorges du Tarn, a touristic canyon formed by the Tarn River between the Causse Méjean and the Causse de Sauveterre, in southern France.  The canyon, mainly located in the Lozère department, and partially in the Aveyron department, is about 53 km long.

Daniel affixed a beautiful stamp issued on May 5, 2011 about Reims Cathedral, a cathedral of the thirteenth century.  Major achievement of Gothic art in France, it is a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1991.  In spring 2011, the cathedral will celebrate its 800th anniversary.  As such, La Poste  issued a block of two round-shaped stamps showcasing the colourful and beautiful stained glasses of the Cathedral.  The 2 other stamps on this card are Beaujeard's Marianne definitive.

Un grand merci à Daniel! ><

Mailing date:  29.07.2011

Delivery date: 13.08.2011

The 2010 World Fencing Championships in France

The 2010 World Fencing Championships were held at the Grand Palais in Paris from 4 to 13 November.  It was the fourth time that the City of Paris was hosting the World Championships.  A record number of 950 athletes from 110 countries took part in this competition.  

La Poste issued on October 25, 2010 a set of 2 gutter pairs stamps to mark this event.  The 0, 58€ stamp (left)  portrays a disabled athlete in a wheelchair while the 0,87€ stamp illustrates two bodied athletes fighting.  The impressive glass vault of the Grand Palais is illustrated on the gutter.

The postage was completed with the 0,75€ Europa stamp issued by France, the Europa theme this year being the International Year of Forestry.  Note that this cover was missent to Malaysia.

Thank you Eric! -_-

Mailing date: 21 June 2011

Delivery date: 7 July 2011

Velocipedes in France

La Poste issued on June 20, 2011 an interesting miniature sheet on the velocipedes, from the origins to present.  The 6 stamps on that miniature sheet each portray a distinct type of velocipede (or bicycle if you prefer).  Two of these stamps are affixed on that cover sent by Daniel from Paris with first day cancellation.

Paris and its world-famous Eiffel Tower and La Seine

The "draisienne" (or dandy horse) was created by the German Karl Drais in 1817 and is considered as the forerunner of the bicycle.  This two-wheeled vehicle did not have pedals and was propelled by the rider pushing along the ground with the feet as in regular walking or running (!)

Then were created the "michaudines", by Pierre Michaux in 1861, which were the first pedal bicycles ever manufactured!  However the front wheel of such velocipedes then became larger than the rear wheels. (can you notice it on the stamp on the right?)

Nonetheless, more was to come with the "Grand Bi" (Penny-farthing).  Its front wheel was so high and exaggerated and the rear wheel so small that this type of bicycle was and is still very unsafe.  It is for that specific reason that the Penny-farthing was condemned later on. (I still wonder how can people ride such bicycles... 0.o)

Merci beaucoup Daniel! :)

Mailing Date: 17 June 2011

Delivery Date: 4 July 2011

Cover from Marvejols, France

Marvejols is a commune in the Lozère department in Southern France.  This charming cover sent on May 28 last features a special heart-shaped postmark which reads: Languedoc-Roussillon comme j'aime (Languedoc-Roussillon how I like).  The customised stamp on the far right represents the Citadelle de Mont-Louis (Citadel of Mont-Louis) which is situated in the Pyrénées-Orientales department and the Languedoc-Roussillon region.

Festivals and Traditions of Our Regions - Blessing of the Sea

Soubeyran, the south gate

Stamp Festival 2011 in France

La Poste issued stamps and a miniature sheet for Stamp Festival (Fête du Timbre) 2011. The first stamp issued is one repeating the design of the very famous Marianne de Beaujeard. On the left side of the stamp is written “Let’s protect the Earth” and a hand planting a plant is portrayed. In France, the Stamp Festival is held every year since 1938. Since December 1944, La Poste has been issuing postage stamps on this occasion. In 2010, the theme chosen for the traditional Stamp Festival was water; the theme of this year is devoted to the Earth.

Thank you very much Eric for this wonderful cover sent from Lyon.  It took 18 days to reach its destination.

Magic Winter in France

Daniel sent me this wonderful postcard picturing the magic of winter.  It was posted from Mende, the capital of the Lozère department on February 4th, 2011 and reached P/Louis 10 days later.

Daniel also chose a splendid stamp to frank his postcard; it porteays the Green Hairsteak (Callophrys rubi), known as Thêcla de la ronce in French.  Thank you very much Daniel! (:

"Primavera" by Sandro Botticelli and Notre Dame Cathedral in France

La Poste issued this souvenir sheet of two stamps, devoted to Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510), one of the greatest painters of the Italian Quattrocento, on November 4, 2010.  The issue coincides with the 500th anniversary of the painter's death in Florence in 1510.  It's his work entitled "Primavera", painted around 1482, which is reproduced here. This painting is without doubt one of his greatest masterpieces.  

La Poste also issued a fantastic souvenir sheet on Paris.  This issue forms part of the now annual French series on European capitals.  As in previous years, this souvenir sheet of four stamps devoted to the French capital was issued in preview sale during the Autumn Stamp Exhibition held in Paris from November 4 to 7, 2010.  Four famous landmarks are depicted on the various stamps: the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Opera Garnier.  Daniel kindly sent me this maxicard on Notre Dame cathedral, with the interesting First Day cancellation featuring the Eiffel Tower...

Millau Viaduct

Vraiment merci Daniel pour ce très beau courrier et cette splendide carte!  :)