France – Scott # 1016

Description

Issued in 1963, France Scott #1016 reproduces The Card Players (Les Joueurs de cartes) by Paul Cézanne, one of the foundational figures of Post-Impressionism. The stamp adapts Cézanne’s iconic scene of two Provençal peasants absorbed in a quiet card game, emphasizing structure, volume, and muted color harmony.

Printed in rich, painterly tones unusual for earlier French issues, the design preserves the weight and stillness of the original composition while fitting it within a restrained postal frame. The 0.85-franc denomination appears at upper left, with the artist’s name printed below the image, underscoring the cultural rather than commemorative focus of the issue.

This example is offered mint never hinged, with full original gum, clean margins, sharp perforations, and strong, unfaded color. A key French art stamp appealing to collectors of fine art, Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, and museum-themed philately.

• Country: France

• Year of Issue: 1963

• Scott Number: 1016

• Denomination: 0.85 franc

• Condition: Mint Never Hinged (MNH)