France

Philatelic materials of France related to Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression

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France, officially the French Republic, is a unitary sovereign state comprising territory in western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
The European part of France, called metropolitan France, extends from the Mediterranean Sea to the English Channel and the North Sea, and from the Rhine to the Atlantic Ocean.
France spans 643,801 square kilometers and has a total population of 66.6 million. It is a unitary semi-presidential republic with the capital in Paris, the country's largest city and main cultural and commercial centre. The Constitution of France establishes the state as secular and democratic, with its sovereignty derived from the people. [R1]

The first stamps of France were issued on 1 January 1849.
Sometimes imperforated French stamps are offered by some dealers, especially on the Internet. These stamps are printed in very small quantities and offered to the authorities (Postmaster General, Minister's office, prefects, designer of stamp, etc.). And sometimes these authorities sell them to traders who, themselves, sell them to collectors. These imperforated stamps are not valid for postage and cannot be used for franking letters.
According to Michel-online catalog, since beginning of this century, Post of France increased amount stamps issued a year significantly. Over 400 (!) stamps were issued in 2016 and 2018 for example.
However, unlike many other countries who issue excessive numbers of stamps per year, French stamps are well-designed, high quality and exhibit topics of French culture and history.

Since strat of Russian invasion in Ukraine on February 24th 2022, La Poste (official Post company of France) is appealing for donations from the main charities (Red Cross, Secours Populaire, UNICEF, etc.) to its employees and customers and by offering a free appeal for donations by mail. La Poste is also making its Colissimo network available to the Red Cross for the free delivery of parcels or the shipment of essential goods to the Ukrainian population. La Banque Postale is also offering free transfers to Ukraine, including those from Western Union. Calls and SMS from France to Ukraine have been free of charge for La Poste Mobile customers since 4 March. Lastly, GeoPost is providing financial support to the Red Cross and the European Federation of F ood Banks (FEBA) to help Ukrainian refugees. [R2]


Official Philatelic materials of France related to Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression

23.06.2022, "United in the Ukrainian crisis" (in French "Unis dans la crise ukrainienne") MiNr.: 8246, Scott B830: [1]
Support for Ukraine stamps of France 2022 Support for Ukraine commemoraive postmark of France 2022 Support for Ukraine FDC of France 2022
11.09.2023, "Council of Europe - United For Ukraine" MiNr.: , Scott :
Council of Europe - United For Ukraine stamps of France 2023 Council of Europe - United For Ukraine postmark of France 2023

Notes:
[1] On June 23, 2022, during the Paris Philex show which held in Paris the Post of France presented the semi-postal stamp "United in the Ukrainian crisis".
The semi-postal sells for €2: €1.16 for postage (price of the green letter) and a €0.84 surtax for the French Red Cross to use in Ukraine and neighbouring countries housing refugees, was issued in a Sheets of 15.

The sums collected "contribute, in Ukraine and in neighbouring countries, to the supply of water, basic necessities (hygiene products, clothing), the distribution of food products or vouchers. purchase, manufacture of first aid kits; care for the injured and support for hospitals (including the supply of medical equipment and medicines), training in first aid, care for refugees, psychological assistance, the setting up of activities to maintain and restore family links, etc. »

The left side of the semi-postal features an image of France’s Marianne l’Engagee (Marianne the Committed) stamp introduced in 2018.
Inna SHEVCHENKO, Ukrainian Femen activist, who war kidnapped and threatened by the Belarus KGB in 2011 and was given political asylum in France after facing persecutions in her native Ukraine, was the main inspiration for a new French stamp depicting Marianne introduced in 2018.
The inscription “letter verte” in the lower right and the overall green color of this stamp image denote that it pays the green rate for domestic letters that travel only by ground transportation. [R3]

[2] In March 2023, the Council of Europe exhibited the urban art works of French artist C215. The exhibition presented 18 photographs of his works created in Ukraine in spring 2022, during the conflict.
C215 is one of the big names in French street art and on the international scene. He is involved in numerous causes and in particular the protection of children and vulnerable people.
After painting in March 2022, shortly after the start of the Russian aggression, a huge fresco in Paris in support of the Ukrainian people, the committed artist went to Ukraine to paint on the walls of the cities of Kyiv, Lviv and Zhytomyr. His works appear on the ruins of buildings destroyed by bombing.
C215 believes that he had no choice but to go to Ukraine, despite the danger. “If you want to make street art that talks about war, the work has to be where the war is taking place. (...) I didn’t really decide to come to Kyiv, it was my paintings that decided for me.” The world of childhood that haunts his work is omnipresent in his Ukrainian works. “A child is an innocent, a child does not have to face war and in this war, there are millions of mothers and children who are scattered throughout Europe. [R4]



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