Item Description Up for sale is a highly collectible classical rarity from France, issued in 1867 during the Second French Empire under Napoleon III. This is the famous 5 Francs grey-violet high-value stamp, commonly known as the Empire Lauré issue. It is listed in the prestigious French Yvert et Tellier catalogue as number 33. Cancellation and Historical Significance This stamp features a clear and highly desirable historical postal cancellation. It is struck with the famous Gros Chiffres 2502 mute diamond grid cancel, which corresponds to the post office of Oran in French Algeria. This specific colonial destination cancellation adds great historical appeal and interest for specialized collectors of classic French maritime and colonial postal history. Condition Report and Note on Flaws The face of the stamp shows very good visual appearance with well-defined perforations for this early issues. As visible in the scan and in line with the original purchase description, the stamp has a thin spot (aminci) on the reverse side. The paper structure is slightly thinned from previous hinge removal, which is very common for this high-value classical stamp.Due to the reverse thinning, this premium space-filler is being offered at a very competitive fraction of its full catalogue value, which stands at 1200 EUR for a sound copy. It is an excellent opportunity to add a major classic French high-value key stamp to your collection without paying the premium price.