French Stamps : Insight Into The Stamps Of France

French Stamps: Historical Background

The first postage stamp was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1840 by Rowland Hill and James Chalmers. This stamp, the penny black, had a face value of a penny and revolutionized the postal system in that it was now up to the sender to bear the cost of postage and not the recipient as had been the case until then. Because it was now so cheap to send letters, even by 1840 a penny was not a lot of money, the change prompted an almost instant increase in the amount of mail. Other countries took notice and reformed their own postal system, amongst which Brazil in 1843, the United States in 1847 and France in 1849.

While the same change was proposed as soon as 1837 in France, it took nine years for the postal administration to change, following the 1848 revolution and the impetus of Arago. The first French stamp featured Ceres, the Roman divinity for agriculture and had a face value of 20 centimes or cents. The drawing of Ceres is from Jean Jacques Barre. The Ceres stamp was enough to pay for an envelope up to 7.5 grams to be sent anywhere in France. Shortly after was released a 40 centimes stamp color orange for bigger envelopes and a vermilion red 1 Franc stamp. However, the color of the 1 Franc stamp was too similar to the 40 centimes stamp and people were confusing them. This lead to a change in color for the 1F stamp from vermilion red to deep carmine. Today, the vermilion red 40 centimes stamp is the rarest of French stamps.

French Stamps Today

Stamp collecting is the number one hobby in France with more than two million people practicing it. Exotic islands, botanic, birds, stamp sheets, specimens or air post stamps are popular themes amongst French stamps collectors. Like in other countries, the value of French stamps is often determined by some type of unusual feature some stamps are known to exhibit. This is true for old and new stamps alike. For example, the 1989 stamp commemorating the Revolution designed by Folon is worth less than a euro, but if the signature of Folon is lacking the value of the stamp jumps to 180 euros. Similarly, if the face value of the stamp issued in 2004 commemorating the entente cordiale between France and England is lacking, the stamp can be worth 300 euros and up.

How old a stamp is also plays a big role in its valuation. There are three main periods in the history of the French stamp: the classic period from 1840 to 1900 ; the semi modern period, from 1900 to 1939 and the modern period from 1939 onwards. Stamps from the classical period are highly valued, especially the vermilion red 1 franc featuring Ceres from 1849-1850, which costs 90 000 euros new and 20 000 euros used. A bloc of four of such stamps sold for 820 000 euros at auction because one of the stamps was "tête-bêche", printed upside down.

By: M.D.

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Date Stamp Scrapbook Tools

Making a scrapbook proves to be a great pastime for many. Nowadays there seems to be many innovative supplies available to help with the making of the scrapbook. One of them is the date stamp scrapbook tool. These tools help in enhancing the look of your scrapbook in more ways than one.

To get a date stamp scrapbook tool, all you have to do is to either visit your local stationer or surf the Internet. There are many online stores selling different brands of date stamp scrapbook tools. When you find the right date stamp scrapbook tools, you can get down to starting on your scrapbook. However, the more date stamp scrapbook tools there are, the more important it is for you to keep all your things organized. Otherwise, in the long run, you may end up spending more time finding out what you need, than in putting the scrapbook page layouts together.

Once you get your date stamp scrapbook tools, it is better to use storage boxes to store the tools. In fact, you can easily find a rolling hardware toolbox in some of the tool departments of local discount stores. Though these boxes may not look attractive, they serve their purpose of storing your date stamp scrapbook tools.

These day stamp scrapbook tools will help you make amazing layouts, handmade cards and creations to inspire you. These tools help you create your own date for embellishing photos. The date stamp scrapbook tool has a magnetic receptor that is attached to the magnetic stamp base. With the line on the base of the tool, you can achieve a straight line. However, if required, you can also scatter the stamps on the base to get a more funny and whimsical look to the stamp. Most of the date stamp scrapbook tools have the abbreviated month titles from JAN to DEC for the years 1980 to 2009, numbers from 1 through 31, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th, etc., are provided in these date stamp scrapbook tools.

Date Stamps provides detailed information on Date Stamps, Date Stamp Kits, Custom Date Stamps, Electronic Date Stamps and more. Date Stamps is affiliated with Email Stationery.

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Date Stamp Equipment

Date stamp equipment is now considered to be part and parcel of most organizations and companies. The date stamp equipment provides vital information to the organization on when any document or paper was received by the company or processed and forwarded by the company.

With the date stamp equipment, one can automatically imprint the date onto a document. The operation of the equipment is rather easy; all one has to do is to insert the document into the date stamp equipment wherein split-second stamping is triggered. Most of the date stamp equipment not only imprints the date; the time and any other additional information that may be required, like "paid", "received", or "authorized" by can be printed.

The date stamp equipment provides compact, space-saving footprint of dates. Most of the equipment has an open throat design that accommodates greater accessibility for documents of any size. Sometimes, there may be a need to stamp dates on multiple carbon and carbonless forms, so there is an adjustable stamp pressure to cater to this sort of printing. If you need to have a time display on the date stamp equipment, it can be bought at an additional cost. Similarly, removable upper die plates on date stamp equipment are available at extra costs.

Date stamp equipment helps in eliminating the hand stamping of all pieces of incoming mail, contracts, paid invoices, and bids of companies. This is the reason many federal, state, county, and city government offices turn to date stamp equipment for legal document control and validation for the multiple printing of dates on documents. It can imprint dates as many as 1000 or more times a day. Moreover, since date stamp equipment is built for heavy usage, it can print on various surfaces like onionskin paper, heavy card stock, and even multiple copy forms.

Date Stamps provides detailed information on Date Stamps, Date Stamp Kits, Custom Date Stamps, Electronic Date Stamps and more. Date Stamps is affiliated with Email Stationery.

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Grading Stamps

If you are a serious stamp collector you need to at least know how to grade a stamp. However, if you do not know how to, do no fret. You have come to the right place. Read on, and you will find out how to grade a stamp.

If you like to buy stamps online, it is essential that you know how to grade a stamp. Firstly, you have to know that the condition of a stamp should and usually does determine the grade of a stamp. Sometimes, it even determines the price asked and pain id you intend to sell or buy them. There are two straight forward objective parts and one difficult subjective part in determining a stamp's condition.

Firstly, you have to know that a stamp is sound, faulty or defective. A stamp which is sound is not faulty or defective. Faults are however, are minor imperfections. Minor imperfections in this context are such as a short perforation or a very tiny watermark or a light corner crease. Defects are major imperfection such as many short perforation, heavy creases, pin holes, stains, surface abrasions, and very heavy smeared cancellations on used stamps and badly disturbed glue on mint stamps or anything of such.

Secondly, to some people, the most important factor in stamp grading and pricing is the centering of the stamp design. There are six ways to classify them.

1) Superb (S)

A perfectly centered stamp should be listed as S.

2) Extra Fine (XF)

A stamp that is perfectly centered side to side but slightly off to the bottom or top is considered XF.

3) Very Fine (VF)

A stamp that is perfectly centered from top to bottom but is slightly off side to side is considered VF.

4) Fine- Very Fine (F- VF)

A stamp that is slightly off in two directions should be listed as F- VF.

5) Fine (F)

A stamp that is more than slightly off center to the point that the frame of the design almost touches the perforation holes should be listed as F.

6) Average (A)

Stamps are graded A when perforation cut into the stamp's design.

Lastly, the way to grade a stamp is by eye appeal. Eye appeal is up to personal preference. You can consider all the above when grading a stamp but you should only get a stamp that appeals to you.

Stamp grading is essential if you buy or sell used stamps. However, you need to get used and have more practice grading a stamp.

Stamp collecting is a great hobby and it suitable for kids an adults alike. Grading stamp is one of the nice skil that you should have too. Visit us now and find out more information about stamp collecting NOW ==> http://www.stampcollectinghobby.net

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Stamp Collecting Books

Stamp collecting books is one of the best ways to read up more about stamps and learn more about it. You can learn about the history about the stamp and also find the minute details about the stamps.

Reading books about stamp collecting is one of the best ways to find new things about the stamps that you have in your album. This is something that keeps the stamp collector going. The stamp collector would want to find out more about the stamp and if he is lucky, he may find something new about the stamp by reading the stamp collecting books.

Most stamp collecting books can be found in the library. You can borrow them from the library. However, some books can be bought at a bookstore. It would be easier to find these books in a big bookstore and online. If you do not know the title of the book, you do not need to worry.

Firstly, all you have to do is to go on the internet. You can go to Google and type in 'stamp collecting books'. The search results should tell you what kind of books they offer and if you are interested, you can even purchase them online. It is very simple. You can have a list of your favorite books in no time.

Sometimes, you may have trouble finding stamp collecting books. Another alternative is to find stamp collecting encyclopedia. Most libraries have a large range of stamp collecting encyclopedias. It would be very easy to find one. If you are trying to locate a particular title, you should approach the librarian.

Most stamp collecting books will tell you the history of a stamp. Sometimes, they include information about rare stamps. Getting more knowledge of these stamps will further make stamp collectors appreciate the stamps and learn the value of the stamp.

If you are a serious stamp collector, you should be reading up books on stamps collecting. If you need to read up and find out more about the stamps you have collected, head down to the library or simply get on the internet to find out more about the books that are available.

Learn more about stamp collecting today! It is a great hobby that will appeal to both adults and kids. Find out more about stamp collecting by visiting our website NOW ==> http://www.stampcollectinghobby.net

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A Stamp in the Hand Rubber Stamp Company: Artistically Designed Rubber Stamps

Are you looking for A Stamp in the Hand Rubber Stamp Company? Then you will find it easily online at Astampinthehand.com. A Stamp in the Hand Company, a rubber stamp specialty shop, is located online for your convenience in finding rubber stamps for all purposes. This company has expertise in rubber stamp art, and they can fix you up with rubber stamps for practically anything that you utilize a stamp for. Founded in 1982, the company has been in business for over 26 years, and they distribute only the finest quality red rubber and hardwood maple stamps.

Located in Carson, California, A Stamp in the Hand Company hosts many stamp conventions and shows annually throughout the country. The company touts their avant-garde collage designs and the "unusual use of watercolor brush markers." A Stamp in the Hand rubber stamp company offers a free virtual postcard service at their website, as well, to help you surprise your friends and relatives. So, take a chance, let the creative juices flow with your elegantly-designed red rubber or hardwood maple stamps from A Stamp in the Hand Company. Visit the website for contact information.

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How To Emboss With Rubber Stamps

If you like to use rubber stamps to personalize cards and letters then you will love to emboss using rubber stamps. This technique adds extra elegance to your cards, letters, and artwork.

It’s not difficult to learn how to emboss with rubber stamps. The materials that you need to start are simple and inexpensive to obtain. But the results are astounding. You obviously need rubber stamps, but also an embossing ink stamp pad, embossing powder, an embossing heat gun, and of course something to stamp on.

The first thing you do is stamp your design onto the material you are using with a slow drying pigment ink pad. Make sure that the entire stamp is covered with ink. Don’t rock the stamp when you place it onto your paper since this may blur the lines. You need to press down all over the stamp to ensure that the design is completely transferred and you get the perfect image.

Once the image has been transferred sprinkle embossing powder onto the image and then gently tap off the excess and remove any stray flecks from the paper with a dry paintbrush. This embossing powder comes from ultra fine to tinsel as well as in a variety of colors as does the pigment ink. The powder also comes in different compositions such as metallic powder in gold, silver, or bronze, and glitter powder. This adds a rich color to your artwork and looks really effective. For these metallic powders to really stand out, you can use them with clear ink, or if you use colored ink you can produce effects such as tinted copper.

The final step to produce thermal embossed art is to use your heat tool to direct hot air onto the embossing powder, which will melt and produce the thermal embossed effect in the shape of the image that you stamped. The best way to do this is to use a heat gun as this creates the most even, glossy effect. Around the home you can try to use a toaster or oven but you will have to be careful not to scorch the material you are using. It is therefore worth investing in a proper heat gun, especially if you plan to emboss a lot.

Since there are so many different colors and compositions of ink and embossing powder to use, you are able to personalize each piece of artwork. For example, if you wish to celebrate a friend’s wedding or the christening of a child you might want to use pearlescent powder, which produces a beautiful pastel effect. However, a card for a child’s birthday may need to be bright and colorful so you may wish to use metallic and glitter effect embossing powders to produce a dramatic but fun result.

The more you emboss using rubber stamps the more you will create a unique style with the colors of ink and type of embossing powder that you use. After all, the fun part of crafting is not being afraid to experiment so that you create your own unique artwork!

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How Rubber Stamps Are Made

The best way to create high quality rubber stamps is to use a laser engraver. Although these cost thousands of dollars, they produce stamps of very high quality and can have really intricate designs and small lettering engraved into them. The advantage in using a laser engraver is that it can produce a lot of rubber stamps quickly, with little waste.

They are programmed to engrave stamps so that a lot can be done at once therefore decreasing the labor involved. Also, the laser engraver cuts so deep no cutting is needed when the engraving is complete. You just push the item that has been etched and this saves a lot of time.

When the etching is complete you soak the stamps in some water so that the rubber dust can be cleaned off. If this isn’t done, then the quality of the stamp may be impaired. Following the cleaning and drying of the stamp, it can be mounted onto a piece of wood enabling you to stamp with ease!

Of course, this is not very practical for someone wishing to make his or her own stamps at home. This type of technique is only practical for big companies manufacturing a lot of stamps to sell in shops around the country.

To make stamps in your own home there is a chemical and non-chemical process to be used on rubber erasers. The non-chemical process begins with you tracing or drawing the design that you want onto a piece of rubber. This is then cut with a sharp knife until the only thing remaining is the raised image that you want to stamp.

The chemical process uses a black and white photocopy of the image, which is wet using acetone. This is an irritant and is highly flammable so should be done in a ventilated area and wearing gloves to prevent contact. The black image is then pressed down onto the piece of rubber you are using, and the black ink will then be transferred to the rubber. Then you use a sharp knife to cut away the rubber to leave a raised image. This method is more accurate since it copies the design you want directly instead of you having to draw the design onto the rubber eraser.

Once you have carved the design onto rubber it must be mounted so it can be used easily and prevent the stamp being damaged.

You may think that it is cost efficient to make your own stamps however, they are very time consuming. Rubber stamps are now available in shops at about $4.00 so it may be to your need advantage just to buy rubber stamps when you need them.

The third way to create rubber stamps is a method called photoengraving stamp making. To start making stamps this way requires an initial investment and involves a lot of work.

To start you need a negative of the image you are going to use, which is a black graphic on white background. You also need a metal plate, which is engraved with the stamp’s image. Once engraved, it is put into a machine with a matrix board and the matrix board is made is made into a mold using heat and pressure. This is called vulcanization. The rubber that you are using is then cut to the mold size and is vulcanized to produce the rubber stamp. One of the disadvantages to this technique is that due to the intense pressure and heat that the mold is under, it may only produce about 50 stamps. The stamp is then mounted using mounting foam and a wooden block and it is ready to be used.

This method is best used by companies that want to produce a number of stamps of the same design in a short period of time. However, it is not good for companies that are asked to make custom made stamps since the molds are only used once before being discarded making it less cost effective.

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