France Ceres 1 franc vermilion tête-bêche pair
France · 1849 · 1 franc
This legendary pair features two 1 franc stamps from France's first issue, one printed upside-down in relation to the other. The design depicts Ceres, the Roman goddess of agriculture, wearing a garland of wheat and grapes, symbolizing the agricultural wealth of the French Republic. The vibrant vermilion color is a key characteristic of this issue.
Issued in 1849 during the Second Republic of France, the Ceres series were the first postage stamps of the country. Tête-bêche pairs are printing errors that occurred when a cliché was inverted in the printing plate, making them exceptionally scarce.
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View on Wikimedia CommonsEstimated Values by Condition
Perfectly centered, fresh, no faults
Well centered, fresh colors
Nicely centered, minor flaws
Average centering, acceptable
Off-center or visible wear
Prices are approximate market estimates for educational purposes. Actual values depend on specific factors including cancel type, margins, and provenance.
