France 1926 Pasteur Type Sower 25c Blue

France · 1926 · 25c

This definitive stamp features the iconic 'Sower' (La Semeuse) design by Oscar Roty, a powerful allegory of France sowing the seeds of its future. The design is set against a rising sun. This specific version is known as the 'Pasteur' type due to the inclusion of 'PASTEUR' in micro-lettering in the ground line, a security measure to honor Louis Pasteur and deter counterfeiting.

Issued during the French Third Republic, the Sower design was a long-running and beloved national symbol, appearing on coins and stamps for decades. The 'Pasteur' type was a short-lived security feature introduced in the mid-1920s.