France

LES SEMEUSES (B.62)
"Essai sur les Semeuses" by Louis Barrier. The Sower stamps were the longest running design of middle period France, and offer a wealth of material for the technically minded collector - types, shades, papers, perfs, booklets, specimens, precancels, postal forgeries etc. This detailed study, published 1951 by the Bulletin Philatélique du Midi in Montpellier, was the classic work on the subject, 231 pages, paper bound, and author signed (one of only 15 signed examples).

ENCYCLOPEDIE DE TIMBRES-POSTE DE FRANCE (B.142)
Volume I (1849-1853) covers in great detail the birth of the first stamp issue (Ceres) in 1849, postal tariffs and postal organisation, postal conventions with foreign countries and overseas rates. Volume II lays out the tariffs and agreements in detail, largely quoting Acts in entirety and full post office lists from the 1830s to 1850s. A classic work of research and valuable tool for the postal historian. About 1400 pages bound in two volumes (weight over 5 kilos), published 1968 by the Académire de Philatélie. The two volumes can be mailed together as one packet in the UK. But in view of the weight, must be mailed by DHL etc if sent outside the UK - - please check before ordering on costs for sending outside the UK .

Originally published 1917 by A.D. Smith, as a doctoral thesis at the London School of Economics, this is the 1980 abridged (63 pages) version. It looks primarily at the historical application of postal rates in France as a means of influencing demand for postal services, or as a means of promoting socially desirable services such as the distribution of printed matter and newspapers, or trade samples.

Postal history and postal markings of Le Nord (57) department for the period 1689-1876. Published 1947, 90 pages.

HISTOIRE POSTALE DE LA SEINE (B.108)
Postal history and postmark catalogue for the approximately 100 owns and villages of the Seine (department 60) - essentially the area immediately surrounding the city of Paris. By René Allard and James Legendre, privately published 1966, 227 pages, illus, in French.

Catalogue of the official paid mail or frank cachets of governmental departments, from first days of the Post through to 1879. Arranged in administrative periods, but a useful index by cachet name in alphabetical order allows the quick finding of all cachets. By James Legendre, in French, 1970, 333 pages

GILL-BURRUS AUCTION 1967 (B.149)
The four catalogues of the Gill-Burrus collection offered for sale by Robson Lowe/Jacques Robineau/Urs Peter Kaufmann/Bernard Behr/Van Dieten, in January, March, May and November 1967. Total 1265 lots, many illustrated in black/white or in colour, important reference work for provenance from a celebrated collector.

LES BLEUS DE FRANCE (B.150)
by André Suarnet. Classic work on the "blue" basic rate stamps 1849-1871 which formed the basis for traditional philately of France : varieties, plating, postmarks. Very detailed, and with prices (of the epoch). Signed by the author, published 1933, 330 pages, cover damaged but text fine.

TYPE MERSON (B.158)
The first complete account of the 'Merson' stamps of France with birth of the design and essays, dies, postal background, use, varieties, the "Forbin" forgeries, commemorative overprints, and use of the design for Social insurance revenue stamps. Published by The Royal Philatelic Society,A4 size hardback, 198 pages, illus. bilingual text in French & English, 1990. Currently sold out. May get a 2nd hand example from time to time, please enquire.

THE PARIS COLLECTION (WARWICK) (B.180)
Warwick & Warwick auction catalogue of the "Paris" collection, mainly Mouchon, Merson and up to 1930s mint positional blocks, or panes, imperfs, proofs, and a few other similar to 1950s. Illus in full colour, 945 lots, 48 pages, June 2017. Useful reference record for this semi-modern material.

GARTNER AUCTION 2009 FRANCE (B.193)
Fat auction catalogue of 9th September 2009 auction, all of France or French territories, 184 pages with about 3000 lots, illus on colour, mine of information for all aspects of French stamps

MAURY HISTOIRE DES TIMBRES-POSTE (B.256)
Classic book issed for the centenary of French stamps in 1949, covering the period 1849-c1910, mainly on stamps, some postal history, much detail on topics not found elsewhere, 374 pages, in French, rebound by previous owner who added various pages of illustrations