France, 1938 'Mercury' Type Sage

France · 1938 · 50c

This definitive stamp features the 'Mercury' design, an allegorical representation of commerce and communication. The Roman god Mercury, identifiable by his winged helmet (petasus), is depicted in profile. This design, originally created by Louis-Eugène Mouchon, was a modern reinterpretation of the classic 'Sage' type stamps from the late 19th century.

Issued in the late 1930s, this stamp was part of a long-running definitive series used for everyday postage in France during a period of political tension leading up to World War II.