France – Scott # 1170

Description

Issued in 1966, France Scott #1170 depicts the Rance Tidal Power Plant (Usine marémotrice de la Rance), the world’s first large-scale tidal power station. Located on the Rance estuary near Saint-Malo in Brittany, the facility represented a major technological achievement in renewable energy and civil engineering.

The engraved design shows the long barrage spanning the estuary, with tidal waters, islands, and sailing boats emphasizing the interaction between natural forces and human innovation. Rendered in cool blue and green tones, the composition conveys scale, motion, and environmental integration, hallmarks of mid-1960s French industrial-themed stamps.

Denominated 0.60 francs, the stamp bears the inscription “Usine marémotrice de la Rance” beneath “République Française.” It is a key topical issue for collectors of energy, engineering, and environmental history.

This example is offered mint never hinged, with full original gum, clean margins, sharp perforations, and fresh, unfaded color.

• Country: France

• Year of Issue: 1966

• Scott Number: 1170

• Denomination: 0.60 francs

• Condition: Mint Never Hinged (MNH)