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Telegraph stamps of the World Click here for a site-map.

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ALGERIA.

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
Background information on the two stamps listed below has proved elusive. Even their status is in some doubt since one major French
catalogue lists them as telegraph stamps while another includes them with the postage stamps without comment. It has been suggested that the
E.F.M. overprint stands for "Expédition Français Militaire" but this too requires confirmation.

The telegraph was first introduced to Algiers in 1842, initially for military use only until 1854 when there were 1500km of lines.
The telephone was introduced in 1882 by a private company, Société générale des téléphones, operating a network in Algiers and Oran for 7 years.
The PTT took over in 1889 and by 1900 it had an extent of 460km. By 1928 it had increased to 22,600km.
Source: Algeria.com citing 'Le Soir D'Algerie' an Algerian newspaper.
Further information would be welcome.

From 1868 to 1871 the French telegraph stamps (see below) were used for prepayment of telegrams, but these can only be distinguished by the postmarks and are worth a premium.
After 1871 cash was used for payment. Similarly the French Telephone stamps were also used in Algeria.

1943 Postage stamps of 1936 overprinted "E.F.M." and surcharged "30frs". Perf. 13¼
There are a surprising number of interpretations of exactly what these were used for and what the letters "E. F. M." actually stand for.
Since these were provided by the French, it seems reasonable to suppose that they stand for something in French. In that regard,
The suggestion of "Expédition Français Militaire" would thus sound reasonable.
The Scott catalog says that these were to pay cable tolls and for use by US and Canadian servicemen and that the letters stood for "Emergency Field Message".
John Barefoot says they were for a service "mainly using radio telegraphy, provided by the Free French for American forces",
the letters standing for "Expeditionary Force Message". Another suggestion is that it means "European Forces Mail".
H.M.S. Hannibal of the Mediterranean Fleet is also listed as based there from June 1943 to June 1944(at least).
The letters "E. F. M." also appeared on French Telegrams used there, so I'm inclined to believe that the "F" stood for "Français"
and that other opinions were offered to avoid giving offence to the badly needed foreign forces.

Algeria H1	Algeria H2

Sheets contain 10 rows of 5 stamps.

* Hiscocks lists this as 1F instead of 1F.75

Hiscocks added the following note:

FRANCE.

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
The use of telegraph stamps in France was proposed to the Government on 14 March 1866. Their adoption was agreed by the legislative assembly on
13 June 1886 but did not receive the Emperor's approval until 8 May 1867. The intention was to make it possible for people to leave prepaid
telegrams at the telegraph office at times when the office was not open. In practice the prepayment was often insufficient because people did
not know the correct rates and the authorities then had the difficult and expensive task of obtaining further payment or returning the cost of the
stamps to the sender. The experiment was thus not seen as a success. A later proposal to reintroduce telegraph stamps in 2F blocks of four (2 x 25c,
1 x 50c and 1 x 1F) together with a 10F stamp, all of designs similar to that issued, apparently came to nothing.

The stamps were designed and engraved by Oudiné whose name appears below the Imperial eagle.

1868 (1 January) Typographed on off-white wove paper, no watermark, imperf.

France H1   courtesy Patrice Robin	France H2	France H3	France H4	France H4a   courtesy Pierre Paquot

* Hiscocks lists only 'salmon' as a colour for the 1F. I have not yet seen 'salmon' ones, only the colour shown above.

Hiscocks added the following 2 notes:

f A note of mine: Fournier is known to have produced forgeries of the 25c and 2F at least





He also forged postmarks and telegraphic cancels:

 

MOLSHEIM and CAEN, both Juin 69.
Note that these stamps are overprinted 'FAUX' (False).
This was not done by François Fournier but by the Union Philatelique de Genève who bought the
remaining stocks in 1927 (10 years after the death of Fournier) and
prepared 480 albums for sale with stamps marked with the words Faux and/or Facsimile.
The stamps sold by François Fournier were not marked in any way to identify them.

Compare the letters of the word 'FRANCAIS' between genuine and Fournier,
particularly 'F', 'C' and 'S' which are more 'closed' on the original and 'open' on the Fourniers.
Fournier stamp illustrations courtesy of Andrew Higson.

Having verified that yours is not a Fournier forgery, there is still something you need to be careful about.
The perforated ones below are sometimes trimmed and passed off as imperforate stamps.
If they are clearly cancelled before 14 January 1868 you should be safe. If not, it may simply be late usage, but you might want to check the size of the stamp.
Look again at the stamps above, which ones would you check ?

1868 (14 January) As above, perf. 11½ x 12½, 12, 12½, 12½ x 12, 12 x 12½ (see note 3 below).
I think a lot of this is down to uneven pin-spacing.

France H5   Perf. 12.2 Blue cancel Courtesy of Andrew Higson.	France H6   Perf. 12.2 Seen on 2 x 50c, the other dated 28 Feb 71.	France H7a   Perf. 12.3 x 12.0 Seen on 2 x 1F, the other dated Dec 69.	France H8b   Perf. 12.7 Seen on 2 x 2F, the other dated 18 Nov 68.

A tall 25c	A tall 50c	A questionable 2F. Imperf ? Could it have been trimmed ?   Check it.

Some of the stamps are taller than others, but the width seems to be fairly constant.
Could the 2 Franc be a trimmed perforated stamp ?

These were withdrawn in 1871. The latest cancel I have seen being 23 March.

Hiscocks added the following 3 notes:

Essay ?

Considering the failure of the previous issue, it is unlikely that there would be essays for another attempt.
This essay must be 1870 or later, since it is inscribed 'RF', Republic of France, rather than Empire of France as the first issue.
It may be an essay for the later Telephone stamps or Pneumatic Post however.
Any information on this would be welcome.

Telephone Stamps.

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
These stamps were issued without gum and their exact means of use remains something of a mystery. Examination of the backs of some 30 used
copies shows that a few were attached to paper with a dab of glue while others were apparently pinned to paper. Most however seem not to have
been attached in any way and a few of these are also cancelled on the back either with a pen scribble or with the same circular date stamp (cds) as was
used on the face. I have not seen used copies on piece.

All used copies I have seen have been cancelled with neat and usually legible cds. They are also found undifferentiated with various Algerian date
stamps and French dealers tend to charge more for these. Dates up to November 1910 seem quite common on the 1906 issues used in Algeria
but I have not seen any dated in 1911 or beyond. The use of telephone stamps in France was discontinued on 1 January 1910.

One also finds quite commonly, cut-outs of the 'Chaplain' design for 50c and other values, bearing the woed 'TELEGRAPHE' as on the earlier
telephone stamps, in black on blue paper, etc. They are often perforated 10½ top and right hand side, have no outer frame line and are cancelled
with typical telegraph cancellations in red, blue, or black. The status of these is unclear but, since they usually have partial writing on the reverse
they would seem to derive from some sort of telegraph or telephone form.

My note:
Sometimes cancelled by pen, cut-off corners or punch-holes (sometimes in combination).

1880 - Typographed on thin manila paper. No watermark or gum.
Imperf all round but perforated between label and counterfoil. Control numbers in black.

This illustration is of Type 1, taken from Hiscocks book, page 115.





The bottom pair shows the 25c and 50c courtesy of Patrice Robin.
The 50c numbered 364 is courtesy of Spink and Son.

The variations of these images suggest that these were printed in vertical strips with wording between the main part and the reciept.
The wording would seem to contain MINISTÉRE DE TÉLÉGRAPHES, TÉLÉPHONES at least with a pattern.

1885 - 1887 - Lithographed on thick stiff paper having the 'words'
....MINISTEREDESPOSTESETÉLÉGRAPHESTÉLÉPHONES ... continuously in white on pale colour (in brackets below).
No watermark or gum. Perf. 13½.

This shows the 25c (H3) with an unusual 'ANNULE' cancel.

H5 - 1Fr


H6 - 3Fr

Note: The back of the 25c is green, the backs of the 1F and 3F are white.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1888 - 1896 - As above but security background wording altered to
....POSTESETTÉLÉGRAPHESTÉLÉPHONES ... continuously and
the upper wording on the tab altered from "Ministere des Postes et des Télégraphes" to
"Postes et Télégraphes-Téléphones, etc.


H7 - 25c


H9 - 1Fr


H10 - 3Fr


*This shows an imperf 50c courtesy of Patrice Robin.   (proof ? Added as H8d)

* H8a to H8c are added due to entries in the Yvert et Tellier catalogue.

Note: The back of the 25c is green, the back of the 50c has a 'granite' effect with blue fibres. The backs of the 1F and 3F are white.

Hiscocks added the following 2 notes:

1888 - 1896 - As above but inscribed "SERVICE TÉLÉPHONIQUE DE NUIT INTERURBAIN"
in places of "TELEPHONES".


Type 3   -   H11 - 30c

1888 - 1896 - As above (types 2 and 3) but overprinted as shown.

H13 courtesy of Patrice Robin.


H14 courtesy of Patrice Robin.


H15 - 25c on 50c.

1896 - As No. 14 but "BULLETIN de CONVERSATION" in upper case.

H16 courtesy of Frigga19.

1897 - Similar to above but "TELEPHONES" substituted for "TELEGRAPHE" in the
tablet below the seated figure and omitted from the left hand section.
"Conversation" changed to "Communication", etc. Security background unchanged. Perf. 13½.


Type 5   -   H17 - 25c   - used in Boifarick (now Boufarik ?), Algeria


Type 5   -   H18 - 30c   - used in Mascara, Algeria


Type 5   -   H19 - 50c


Type 5   -   H20 - 1F


Type 5   -   H21 - 3F

* H21a is added due to an entry in the Yvert et Tellier catalogue.

Note: The back of the 25c is green, the back of the 50c has a 'granite' effect with blue fibres. The backs of the 1F and 3F are white.

1900 - As above (No. 17) surcharged "TAX RÉDUITE à 0,15 centimes" in red.

H22 15c on 25c

These seem scarcer than Hiscocks prices would suggest.

Hiscocks added the following note:

1900 - 1906 As above but on plain white to cream thick wove paper.
No watermark. Perf. 13½

Type 7   -   H23 - 10c


Type 7   -   H24 - 15c


Type 7   -   H25 - 25c


Type 7   -   H26 - 30c


Type 7   -   H27 - 40c


Type 7   -   H28 - 50c   - used in Rouiba(?), Algeria


Type 7   -   H29 - 75c


Type 7   -   H30 - 1Fr.


Type 7   -   H31 courtesy of Patrice Robin.

* H24b and H27b are added due to an entries in the Yvert et Tellier catalogue.

An internal Westminster Hotel Telephone Message of 1939.

Pneumatic Post.

This design was also used on the Pneumatic Post in Paris.


A range of denominations used.

Beginning in 1866, the pneumatic tube network of Paris was set up by the Telegraph Service for the purpose of express delivery
of received telegraph messages, thus they initially only delivered genuine telegrams.

The post and telegraph services were combined in 1878 and from the beginning of May 1879, the network was opened
up for public use to speed delivery of ordinary mail.
Though there was nothing telegraphic about this additional mail, since the Telegraph section was providing the service,
the stationery used were marked 'Carte Télégramme' and the stamps inscribed 'TELEGRAPHE'.
As always, it is for the collector to decide what to collect.

 
This says that the violet part is open for service from the first of April 1883, I have a used one dated 13 May 1884.


This says that the red part is open for service from the first of April 1883. It is used on 26 March 1884.


This says that from the first of February 1884, the whole of Paris is open for service except the shaded part.



1886 - This telegram can circulate in Paris, within the limits of the fortified town. The number of words is not limited.


A 50c 'TÉLÉGRAMME' used in 1894 - image courtesy of Les Bottomley.


The TAXE RÉDUITE on this suggests a date of 1900 - image courtesy of Les Bottomley.



A 1F reply paid "Service Télégraphique" - courtesy of Les Bottomley.



A 1F "Carte Pneumatique" of 1925.



A similar 1F50 "Carte Pneumatique" of 1935, showing conditions on the back.

Both cards and envelopes were available, though with strict controls on any enclosures.






A 2Fr unused example - courtesy of Les Bottomley.


Further information about this network can be found in a three page account written by J.D. Hayhurst O.B.E. entitled The Pneumatic Post of Paris (1974).

Monaco

Steve Hiscocks wrote:
Modern catalogues list only one telephone stamp — that described below at No.2 — while a catalogue of some 50 years ago also includes an earlier
stamp, No.1 below, similar in type and colour to the first (1880) French telephone stamp. Dates of issue are confused in that modern sources give
the date of No.2 as 1886 while the earlier source gives it as 1892. Since the security background wording equates with that of the third (1886-96)
French issue I have accepted for the moment the 1892 date for No.2 and very provisionally, the 1887 date for No.1. It is interesting to note that the
ordering of 10 centime value stamps of the same design as No.2 below from the National Printing Office in Paris was reported in the Philatelic
Journal of America in 1893. This lends support to the later date for No.2 but the 10 centime stamp has not itself been reported and was apparently not issued.

Monaco introduced its own postage stamps in 1885 and it seems probable that the French telegraph stamps of 1868 were used in Monaco. The first
French telephone issue of 1880 may also have been used in Monaco prior to the introduction of Monaco's own very similar ones.

1887(?) Typographed in black on thin manila paper. No watermark. Imperf.

This shows Type 1 taken from Hiscocks book page 186.

This is slightly different in the lettering. The 'N' of "No" is very different. It is dated 6 March 1892
Type 2  -  Image courtesy of Spink and Son.

1893(?) Typographed on thick white paper against a yellow security printed background consisting of
repeated "POSTESETTELEGRAPHESTELEPHONES ..." by the National Printing Office in Paris.
No gum or watermark. Perf. 13½

Type 3   -   H2   This is not clearly dated, but I have seen one clearly dated 25 October 1894.

Hiscocks added the following note:

French India.

A map adapted from Wikimedia Commons with Madras (now called Chennai) added as I was curious as to why they should also have a 'diamond'. I have since added Negapatam as I have seen a diamond for that also. Though Negapatam is only 14km south of Karikal, it does not appear to have been under French control, though it was successively under control of the Portuguese, Dutch and British. I am thus uncertain what the existance of a 'Diamond' signifies. I have not heard of one for Yanaon or Mahé, so perhaps it is simply produced by a particular handstamp manufacturer in Madras. Can anyone supply a scan of a Negapatam diamond or other new ones ?   I can only assume that though Madras was no longer in the French Colony, there was still some French influence.

French India consisted of Pondichéry, Karikal and Yanaon on the west coast, Mahé on the east coast, and Chandernagor in Bengal to the northeast. Of these, Pondichéry was larger and more populous than the rest put together. Though no special telegraph stamps were issued for French India, they can be identified by the cancels used on telegraph stamps of India, or the special telegraphic cancels on postage stamps after the special telegraph stamps were abolished in India in 1908. As with Ceylon, Telegraph stamps with 'one-line' place and date cancels were initially used. 3 values with Pondicherry cancels the 14¼Rs is courtesy of Rupert from Strathspey Philatelics. The diamonds are usually dated 1872, but a few are from other years. The diamond-shaped cancel is one half of a duplex-cancel consisting of two identical halves connected by a kind of 'Maltese cross'-bridge as can be seen below. Pondicherry diamond 18-8-73. Pondicherry diamond 5-4-73. Pondicherry diamond 1-3-73. Pondicherry diamond 11-12-74. Two more examples from RL.

A Telegraph receipt dated 11 December 1900 for a telegram to Rangoon (Burma).
It shows the full inline cancellation used there at that time on a standard Indian form. Image courtesy of Folkert Bruining.
At the time, Burma was a province of British India.

A dated circular cancel is known for Karikal on Telegraph stamps. Also, later there is a different type with 'TEL.' : Image courtesy of Harry Patsalos. Image courtesy of Folkert Bruining.

The standard 'bullseye' telegraphic cancel used later.

A Telegraph receipt dated 3 April 1885 for a telegram to Akyab (now Sittwe, Burma).
It shows the full inline cancellation used there at that time on a form that I'm not familiar with. Image courtesy of Folkert Bruining.
Akyab was the capital of Arakan (now Rakhine State) along the coast of North Burma.
It had been part of British India since 1826 (after the first Anglo-Burmese war).
The third Anglo-Burmese war of November 1885 brought what was left of the Kingdom of Burma into the British Raj.

From 1908, normal postage stamps were used with the round 'Bullseye' Telegraphic cancels inscribed with (usually) Pondicherry.
For more examples see (again) worthpoint(pondicherry).

I am indebted to Folkert Bruining of the Netherlands for bringing my attention to these and providing information.
Further information and images would be greatly appreciated.

Telegraph Seals.

A few different seals were used on French telegrams at different times.

Steve Hiscocks made a start on cataloguing seals of the world in a book he published in 2007.
It was his hope to update it later, but unfortunately that was not to be.
His original book can be viewed at Telegraph Seals: A World Catalogue. There are links from the pages to my updates.

Alternatively you can view the latest page for France.

If anyone can provide scans to help with this, I am happy to give appropriate credit.

Comments, criticisms, information or suggestions are always welcome.

Contact:    

Please include the word 'Telegraphs' in the subject.

Alternatively Yahoo Group is a forum.

Last updated 19th. Nov. 2018

©Copyright Steve Panting 2012/13/14/15/16/17/18 except where stated.
Permission is hereby granted to copy material for which the copyright is owned by myself, on condition that any data is not altered and this website is given credit.