Cilicia – Scott # 123, used

Description

Cilicia (French Occupation) — Overprinted Sower Issue 0.20 on 15c (Scott 123)

This historically layered used stamp from Cilicia, cataloged as Scott 123, reflects the complex political transitions of the post–World War I Near East under French administration. The issue consists of a French Sower definitive overprinted “O.M.F. Cilicie” and “Piastres”, adapting metropolitan French postage for use in the occupied Cilician territory.

The underlying design features the iconic Sower figure, a symbol of renewal and republican identity, here rendered in muted green tones. The bold black overprint revalues the stamp in local currency and asserts administrative authority, creating a visually striking contrast against the finely engraved original design.

Offered in used condition, the stamp bears a clear period cancellation consistent with genuine postal use. The overprint remains legible, the central design is well defined, and perforations are intact. This issue is particularly appealing to collectors of French colonial material, occupation overprints, and early 20th-century Middle Eastern postal history.

A compact but significant example of postal adaptation during a moment of political realignment.