Switzerland (Helvetia) Hermann Hesse

SWITZERLAND (HELVETIA) in 1979  issued a set of first day cover stamps honouring Paul Klee, Rainer Maria  Rilke, Hermann  Hesse and Thomas Mann. This block set is based on a portrait of Herman Hesse on his later years, whereas the postmark cancellation originated from Berne.

The postcard is a silhouette of Hermann Hesse sitting at his desk writing. The painting is actually a watercolour by him. And the mountains in the Swiss town of Collina d'Oro where he lived frames the picture.

Hermann Karl Hesse (1877 –  1962) was a German-Swiss poet, novelist, and painter. His best-known works include "Demian", "Steppenwolf", "Siddhartha", and "The Glass Bead Game", each of which explores an individual's search for authenticity, self-knowledge and spirituality. In 1946, he received the Nobel Prize in Literature.

La Poste France Cover

LA POSTE FRANCE stamp cover from a philatelist in France. Note, he placed postage stamps on both sides of the envelope. 

FRONT SIDE OF ENVELOPE:

- EUROPA series: Featuring a castle and fountain, with a value of 1,40 Francs.

- "Rattachement de Valenciennes et Maubeuge" series (1678-1978): Commemorating the 300th anniversary of the cities' attachment to France, with a value of 1,20 Francs.

- "Basse-Normandie" series: Depicting a Viking longship, with a value of 1,70 Francs.

- Marianne series: Featuring the profile of Marianne,  national symbol of France, with values of 1,30 and 1,60 Francs.

REVERSE SIDE OF  ENVELOPE:

- "Lorraine" stamps,  featuring a stylised red and yellow design and  valued at 2.30 francs each.

- "La Lutherie" stamps depict stringed instruments like a violin and a guitar, and are valued at 1.00 franc each.

- "Télécom 79" stamps, with values of 1.10 francs and a design related to telecommunications.

- "République Française" stamps show a colourful, abstract design and are valued at 2.00 francs.

Other stamps include architectural designs, portraits, and other themes, such as a 3.00-franc stamp featuring the Panthéon in Paris.

La Poste France Cover

LA POSTE FRANCE Cover of stamps from a stamp seller in France:

• - The stamps with the "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité" inscription and the image of Marianne are a common theme on French stamps, representing the national motto and the personification of the French Republic. 
• - The stamps with the "@" symbol and the text "Meilleurs Vœux" ("Best Wishes") are likely from a special issue related to the internet or digital communication. 
• - The stamps with the heart shape and the text "Cacharel" are part of a Valentine's Day or love-themed series, in collaboration with the fashion brand Cacharel. 
• - The large panoramic stamp depicts two hands reaching out to each other across a landscape.

La Poste "Les Postiers Autour du Monde"

This is a philatelic souvenir from LA POSTE in France which was issued on 29 September 1993, from Cherbourg, France.

 It commemorated "Les Postiers Autour du Monde" (The Postmen Around the World), which likely was a sailing event related to the Whitbread Round the World Race to Southampton, UK.

The souvenir postcard was created by the French stamp printing office in Périgueux and was offered to post office branch managers.

La Poste France 200th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the French Republic

A commemorative philatelic document from France, celebrating the 200th anniversary of the proclamation of the French Republic in 1792. 

The document features a special stamp and a cancellation mark dated 26 September 1992, from Paris. 

The design includes two allegorical figures, likely representing Liberty and the Republic, holding a torch and a wreath. 

The triangular emblem with "1792" and the text "L'An premier de la République" (The first year of the Republic) refers to the establishment of the First French Republic. 

The stamp itself shows a profile of Marianne, a national symbol of France.

Postes Republique Française 800th death anniversary of Richard I

POSTES REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE  on 1999 issued a First Day Cover stamp commemorating the 800th death anniversary of  Richard I, also known as Richard the Lionheart,  King of England who reigned from 1189 to 1199. Affixed to this card in are French postage stamps showing an image of Richard. The stamp was part of the "Famous people" series from France. It carried a face value of 3.00 French francs. 

The FDC circular postmark included the dates 1197-1199, which corresponds to the end of Richard I's reign. The postmark also contained the name "CHALVS," which refers to Châlus, the location where Richard I was fatally wounded. 

Richard I was born in 1157 and died in 1199, as indicated on the card. He was also the Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine, and Gascony, among other titles. 

He earned the nickname "Lionheart" (Cœur de Lion in French) due to his reputation as a great military leader and warrior. 

Richard I spent only about six months of his ten-year reign in England, as he was primarily focused on military campaigns, particularly the Third Crusade. 

La Poste France Cover

 

LA POSTE FRANCE cover  postage from a stamp collector in France.

- The first stamp on the left, valued at 0.80 francs, depicts an allegorical figure of the Republic, which is part of the "Ceres series" of French stamps.

- The two middle stamps, valued at 1.75 and 1.31 francs respectively, are from the "Affranchissements Postes" series.

- The stamp on the far right is a commemorative stamp for Saint-Barthélemy, a French overseas collectivity. It depicts a detail from the "Retable de Saint-Barthélemy" (St. Bartholomew Altarpiece).

Postes Republique Française 800th Death Anniversary of Aliénor d'Aquitaine

POSTES REPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE on 28 February 2004 issued  a First Day Cover stamp marking the 800th death anniversary of Aliénor d'Aquitaine, also known as Eleanor of Aquitaine. The engraver was Martin Mörck and printed by ITVF, France. It carried a face value of 0.50€. The  historical source for the illustration is likely from a stained glass window or manuscript illumination.

Eleanor of Aquitaine (c. 1122–1204) was a powerful and wealthy medieval figure who was queen consort of both France and England. She was Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right, and she was known for her active role in government and her influence on courtly culture. She was also a patron of the arts, particularly with the troubadours.

Eleanor of Aquitaine had 8 children with her second husband, Henry II of England: William, Henry the Young King, Richard I, Geoffrey, Eleanor, Joan, and John. She also had two daughters, Marie and Alix, with her first husband, Louis VII of France. Many of her children played significant roles in the politics of medieval Europe, with three of her sons becoming kings.

China Post "Xilinguole Grassland"

CHINA POST cover stamps of "Xilinguole Grasslands"  initially were issued on 24 July 1998. This region is located in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of China. The stamps carried a face value of 800 fen (8 yuan).

Polynesie Française "Peintres en Polynésie"

FRENCH POLYNESIA (POLYNESIE FRANCAISE) issued on 12 December 1984 a series First Day Cover stamps called "Peintres en Polynésie" (Painters in Polynesia), including this one entitled "Tahitiennes sur la plage" (Tahitian women on the beach) by artist P. Heyman. It carried a face value of 85 French Pacific Francs (85F).

La POSTE France Cover Stamps

LA POSTE FRANCE cover with four postage stamps was received from a French stamp dealer.

- The first stamp, with a value of 0.50€, depicts a beach scene with people on vacation ("vacances" in French).

- The second stamp, also valued at 0.50€, features a robin on a snow-covered branch with holly. 

- The third stamp shows the Galileo satellite programme and is valued at 0.55€.

- The fourth stamp, valued at 1€, features the Euro currency symbol and a map of the European Union.

Guernsey Post Moulin Huet

GUERNSEY POST on 15 November 1980 issued a First Day  stamp and postcard set from the Bailiwick of Guernsey. It had a face value of 10 pence. 

The stamp featured a painting of Moulin Huet from circa 1850, a bay on the island of Guernsey. The painting is part of the "Le Lievre Paintings" series. 

Moulin Huet bay was the inspiration for Impressionist painter Pierre-Auguste Renoir, who painted 15 views of the area during a visit in 1883.

La Poste France "Héros d'aventures" - Cyrano

LA POSTE, the French postal service, issued in 1997 a series of stamps entitled "Héros d'aventures" (Adventure Heroes). The stamps depicted characters from classic French literature and folklore, including Cyrano, Le Capitaine Fracasse, Pardaillan, D'Artagnan, Le Bossu, and Lancelot. 

This First Day Cover featured Cyrano de Bergerac, a fictional character from the play of the same name by Edmond Rostand.

The illustration shows a portrait of Cyrano de Bergerac with a large nose, a sword, and a crescent moon in the background.