France – Scott # B79, hinged

Description

This France semi-postal stamp, Scott #B79, issued in 1939, was produced to support assistance programs for the blind through radio technology. The issue reflects the growing recognition of radio as a tool for accessibility and social inclusion in the years immediately preceding World War II.

The design features a young man listening intently, his hand raised toward his ear, symbolizing attentive hearing and the importance of sound for those with visual impairments. Behind him, a radio receiver with visible dials and speaker elements reinforces the theme of broadcast communication. The composition is rendered in finely engraved line work, balancing realism with symbolic clarity.

Printed in a muted violet-brown tone, the stamp conveys a serious and purposeful mood. The inscriptions clearly identify both the postal value and the surtax, with the additional charge designated to fund aid for the blind. The vertical “RF POSTES” marking anchors the stamp within the French postal system while maintaining a clean, modern layout.

Issued with a 90 centime postal value plus a 25 centime surtax, the stamp was intended for regular postal use while contributing to charitable efforts. This example is offered unused with original gum and a hinge mark. Hinged copies remain desirable to collectors of French semi-postals, social welfare issues, and interwar-era humanitarian themes.

Scott Catalog Number: B79
Denomination: 90c + 25c surtax
Year of Issue: 1939
Condition: Unused, hinged
Country: France