Sower (Semeuse) Type I, Cameo, Lined Background

France · 1903 · 15c

This definitive stamp features the iconic 'Semeuse' or Sower, an allegorical figure of France sowing seeds of prosperity against a rising sun. Designed by Oscar Roty, this specific version is known as the 'cameo' or 'lined background' type, which distinguishes it from later printings with a solid background. The design became one of the most enduring symbols of the French Republic.

Issued during the French Third Republic, the Sower design symbolized the nation's agricultural roots and optimistic future at the turn of the 20th century. It remained a staple of French postage for decades.