France 1862/1876 - Set of 7 stamps: 5 of the Empire (Napoleon III) type and 2 of the Ceres type - Yvert & Tellier No 28Ac

Lot of 5 EMPIRE FRANC stamps, Napoléon III type, perforated, 5c, 10c, 20c, and 40c and 20c non-perforated
Lot of 2 stamps of Cérès type, France, Third Republic

The imperial effigy, without laurel crown (non-laureate type), accompanies the EMPIRE FRANC legend, in use since the proclamation of the Second Empire in 1852.

-1st Stamp, EMPIRE FRANC, Napoléon III type, perforated, 5c green
Cancelled: PARIS ST LAZARE
Yvert & Tellier No 20

-2nd Stamp, EMPIRE FRANC, Napoléon III type, perforated, 10c brown-ochre
Cancelled: large numeral 3987
Yvert & Tellier No 21

Issued on August 19, 1862, the 10 centimes brown-ochre of the Napoléon III – Empire non-laureate type is part, with the 20c blue, of the first officially perforated French stamps, following the introduction of the “dotting” perforation adopted that year to facilitate separation of stamps.

-3rd Stamp, EMPIRE FRANC, Napoléon III type, perforated, 20c blue
Cancelled: large numeral 396
Yvert & Tellier No 22

Issued on August 13, 1862, the 20 centimes blue Napoléon III – Empire non-laureate type is a foundational stamp in French postal history: it is officially the first perforated stamp of France. Its introduction marks the transition from the era of non-perforated stamps to the modern era of perforated issues, designed to facilitate separation of copies.

An essential piece for any collector, No. 22 marks a major technical milestone: the start of perforation in France.

-4th Stamp, EMPIRE FRANC, Napoléon III type, perforated, 40c orange
Cancelled: large numeral 249
Yvert & Tellier No 23
Napoléon III - Empire Franc, perforated. Replaced by a 40 centimes orange of the laurel type in July 1868

Issued on October 3, 1862, the 40 centimes orange of the Napoléon III – Empire non-laureate type is part of the first French series of perforated stamps, introduced in the same year. Its postal role is essential: it progressively replaces the 40c non-perforated of 1853 for heavy or combined franking, notably letters of the second class or certain foreign destinations.

As with all perforated values of 1862, the technique used is line perforation, called at the time “dotting.” This perforation is a simple mechanical operation added after printing: inks, papers, plates and engraving remain strictly identical to those used for non-perforated issues. This continuity explains why the administration does not distinguish in its inventories between perforated and non-perforated stamps: to them, it is the same stamp, simply with a technical improvement.

-5th Stamp, EMPIRE FRANC, Napoléon III type, non-perforated, 20c blue
Cancelled: diamond
Yvert & Tellier No 14
Napoléon III - Empire Franc, non-perforated, 1860

The 20 centimes blue, issued in November 1860, is the second major version of the standard stamp used to frank letters up to 7.5 g. It succeeds the Type I of 1854, while keeping exactly the same postal use: it remains the central value of domestic mail under the Second Empire. Differences between the two types are subtle but constant: retouching in certain strands of the hair, crisper outlines, adjusted shading details. These identifiable changes allow clear distinction between late 1860 prints and those made from 1854.

In circulation during a period of strong growth in postal exchanges, this second engraving of the 20 centimes accompanies the final years of the non-perforated issues of the Empire. Common cancellations remain the Diamond of Small Numerals and Paris’ mute star.
Thus, No. 14B is the last non-perforated state of the most used value of the imperial regime, just before the progressive introduction of perforated issues starting from 1862.

- 1st Stamp, Cérès type, France, Third Republic, perforated, 25c, dark blue, Type III
Yvert & Tellier No 60C - Cancelled

The 25 centimes blue Type III, No. 60C, appears in 1874 and completes the progressive evolution of the printing plates used for this essential Third Republic value. After Types I (1871) and II (1873), this new type represents a third drawing state, retouched to further improve the clarity of details and overall print quality.

No. 60C thus constitutes the ultimate perforated version of the 25c Cérès before the widespread adoption of the Sage type.

- 2nd Stamp, Cérès type, perforated, 5c, blue-green azure
Yvert & Tellier No 53 - Cancelled - Withdrawn 1876

Put on sale in June 1872, the 5 centimes blue-green on azure paper, No. 53, is part of the first perforated series in the Cérès type established after the 1871 postal reform. This supplementary value appears in many tariff adjustments, which explains its presence in combined franking of the years 1872–1876.

The use of slightly azure paper, unique to early prints, allows quick identification of this issue. This particular shade provides a marked contrast with the green-blue of the print, a feature valued by collectors and often sought for shade studies.

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