The first stamps of France

French Ceres 1849 stamps

The Ceres 1849 stamps are the first postage stamps of France, put into use on 1 January 1849. Engraved by Jacques-Jean Barre, they show the head of Ceres, the Roman goddess of the harvest, and were issued imperforate in values from 10 centimes to 1 franc. Highly sought after by collectors of classic France, they are among the most coveted pieces of French philately.

Buy a Ceres 1849 stamp in Paris

We currently offer 316 Ceres 1849 lots at fixed prices in our online shop, with no fees or commission for the buyer. Each lot is described, photographed and guaranteed by our experts.

See all the Ceres 1849 lots Free appraisal

Lot no. 110c bistre-jaune, fraîcheur postale. SUPERBE. R. (signé/certificat)€2,800 Lot no. 110c bistre-jaune, fraîcheur postale. SUPERBE. R. (signé Brun/certifica...€2,500 Lot no. 210c bistre en bloc de quatre, frais. TTB. R.R. (signé Calves/certifica...€3,400 Lot no. 210c bistre-brun, bloc de quatre oblitération gros points, très jolie p...€3,300 Lot no. 310c bistre-jaune, bord de feuille latéral. SUP (signé Calves/certifica...€1,000 Lot no. 310c bistre en bande de trois horizontale, oblitération gros points, TB...€380 Lot no. 410c bistre-jaune obl pc, bord de feuille. TTB (signé Scheller/Brun/cer...€170 Lot no. 510c bistre-jaune obl grille, quatre belles marges. TTB (certificat)€110 Lot no. 610c bistre-brun, bloc de quatre oblitération gros points, très jolie p...€2,800 Lot no. 610c bistre-brun, bloc de quatre oblitération gros points, très jolie p...€3,200 Lot no. 610c bistre-jaune obl grille, un voisin. TTB (signé Calves/certificat)€80 Lot no. 710c bistre-jaune obl pc 874, grandes marges avec 2 voisins. TTB (certi...€250

How to choose a Ceres 1849

• The margins: the stamps are imperforate, so complete margins all around the design are essential.
• The shade and freshness of the colour, which vary from one printing to another.
• The postmark: a clear, well-placed cancellation (grid, date stamp) is preferable to a heavy or smudged one. Mint stamps with original gum are rare.
• Absence of defects: thins, creases, tears, repairs or retouching greatly reduce the value.
• A certificate from a recognised expert for the more important values.

Expert certificates: Calves, Brun, Roumet, Behr

Forgeries, repairs and retouched stamps exist, so a certificate from a recognised expert is strongly recommended for the more important Ceres 1849. Many of the lots in our shop come with certificates (Calves, Brun, Roumet, Behr, Scheller…), mentioned in the description, for example “signed Calves/Roumet/certificates”.

Sell a Ceres 1849

La Postale Philatélie buys and sells Ceres 1849 stamps and covers, as well as complete collections and inheritances. The appraisal is free, confidential and without obligation: at the shop, remotely from a few photos, or at your home depending on the size of the collection. We then offer a direct purchase or a sale in our mail auction (illustrated catalogue sent to collectors).

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Questions about Ceres 1849 stamps