France – Scott #s 1626-29

Description

Issued in 1979, this complete mint never hinged set (Scott #1626–1629) highlights France’s long engagement with the visual arts, spanning classical sculpture, post-Impressionist painting, modern figurative art, and contemporary abstraction.

The set includes:
• Diane au bain (2.00f), depicting the Renaissance relief Diana at the Bath from the Château d’Écouen, emphasizing classical form and mythological tradition
• Vincent van Gogh (2.00f), reproducing L’Église d’Auvers-sur-Oise, one of the artist’s late works painted shortly before his death in France
• Jean Chapelin-Midy (3.00f), featuring a stylized dancer whose fragmented form reflects mid-20th-century explorations of movement and the human body
• André Bloc (3.00f), presenting a bold abstract composition representative of postwar modernist experimentation

Printed in varied palettes and styles, the quartet forms a compact survey of artistic evolution, from classical heritage through avant-garde modernism. Together, they reflect France’s role as both steward of tradition and incubator of innovation in the arts.

All four stamps are offered mint never hinged, with full original gum, clean margins, sharp perforations, and fresh, unfaded color throughout.

• Country: France

• Year of Issue: 1979

• Scott Numbers: 1626–1629

• Condition: Mint Never Hinged (MNH)

• Set Size: 4 stamps