France, Type Sage, 25c Ultramarine on Bluish

France · 1876 · 25c

This stamp features the Type Sage design, an allegory representing Peace and Commerce. The central figure, a seated woman, holds a tablet of law and an olive branch, symbolizing justice and peace, while a caduceus at her feet represents commerce. The design, created by Jules-Auguste Sage, was the definitive series for France for over two decades.

Issued during the French Third Republic, this series replaced the Cérès and Napoleon III issues, marking a period of stability and republican consolidation after the turmoil of the Franco-Prussian War and the Paris Commune.