1944

Year Set

France

Edouard Branly

Issued 21 February

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Marshal of France

Issued 24 April

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The Grand Condé

Issued 31 July

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Battle of Isly

Issued 20 November

France 1944 - Centenary of the Battle of Isly

Thomas Robert Bugeaud, marquis de la Piconnerie, duc d'Isly, was born 15 October 1784 in Limoges, France. After running away from homed at a young age, Bugeand spent several years as an agricultural worker before enlisting as a private solider in the Imperial Guard at the age of 20. Interestingly these seemingly disparate vocations gradually became more and more entwined during the course of his life.

Over the next eleven years Bugeaud quickly rose through the military ranks, distinguishing himself in Poland, Spain, and the Alps. Indeed, by 1815 he had achieved the rank of colonel and he was involved in Napoleon's restoration during the Hundred Days (20 March 1815 - 8 July 1815, a period of actually 111 days). The restoration culminated in Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo, and his return to exile.

Now out of work, Bugeand returned to his home district of Périgord where he returned once again to agriculture. But the call of the military could not be silenced. The call came in the form of the July Revolution in 1830. Again, he excelled, and by 1831 he was given the rank maréchal de camp, which was basically third in command of the French army.

It is during this period of his life that his aggressive - perhaps dark - side began to assert itself more prominently. In 1831 he was elected into the Chamber of Deputies. In this position he made his opposition to democracy very clear. He was brutal in his policing of the city, especially so in the suppression of revolts by the people. In fact, his brutality while working as a goaler led to a duel between himself and his deputy.  His deputy was killed in this duel.

Then he was sent to Africa to conquer Algeria. Although initially against this idea, he accepted the challenge and set about subjugating Algeria with ruthless efficiency. His level of violence seems to have been extreme. He was so successful that by 1840 he was governor-general of Algeria. Further success in Algeria strengthened France's position there. And in 1843, Bugeand was elevated to the role of Marshal of France. But it was perhaps his victory at the Battle of Isly on 14 August 1844 that was his most memorable. He even won another title - duc d'Isly.

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On 20 November 1944 France issued a stamp commemorating the Centenary of the Battle of Isly. This stamp was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris. The stamp features the portrait of Thomas Robert Bugeaud.

What I see in his design is a young man gazing proudly towards the future. Perhaps here we see an attempt to restore pride in France's military history during a period of immense turmoil in the country. I find the choice of subject a bit ironic, but engaging in personal political opinion is beyond the scope of this humble blog. Speaking of the engraving itself, it is another fine example of Decaris' personal take on portraits.

Until next time...

France 1944 - The Grand Condé

The famous French general, Louis de Bourbon, the Prince of Condé, was born on 8 September 1621. His father, Henri de Bourbon, first cousin once removed to King Henry IV, demanded his son have a proper education. Louis spent six years at the Jesuits' school at Bourges, where he studied history, law, and mathematics. After completing his studies at Bourges, he went on to study at the Royal Academy in Paris.

At the young age of 17 Louis began to display talent for leadership. While his father was absent from home, Louis managed to govern Burgundy successfully. It was about this time that young Louis' personal life became somewhat complicated. His father had betrothed him to the 13 year old, Claire-Clémence de Maillé-Brézé, niece of the powerful Cardinal Richelieu, chief minister of the king. The problem was Louis was in love with someone else, a woman named Marthe Poussard (mademoiselle du Vigean), daughter of the king's gentleman of the bedchamber. Despite this, Louis' father forced him to marry the thirteen year old girl.

Even though his young wife bore him three children, he accused her of multiple infidelities and had her locked away at Châteauroux. These charges were in all likelihood false, and merely a way of ridding himself of a woman he didn't love.

By the time of the Thirty Years War in 1643, Louis was already a combat veteran. But at the Battle of Rocroi on the 19 May, he excelled himself against Spanish generals with far greater experience. After a resounding victory, he returned to Paris a hero. But the woes of that annoying  marriage continued. It seemed the only respite from this situation was returning to the battlefront. In 1644, he went to Germany and he was again victorious in the Battle of Frieburg.

Louis' continued military success earned him respect as a general and he was renowned as le Grand Condé, which basically meant he was considered the most successful of the Condé family. For more on Louis, click HERE

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On 31 July 1944 France issued a set of six semi-postal stamps commemorating 17th Century French celebrities. Each stamp has a surcharge that contributed to national aid. One of these stamps features Louis as The Grand Condé. The stamp was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris. 

There are a few features in this design that I really like. Decaris has rendered the armour on Louis' right (our left) arm beautifully. I also like the delicate feel Decaris has given to the neck scarf. One final feature I like is the quiver-like country nameplate. A nice suggestion of the subject's military prowess.

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!

Ivory Coast 1936-1944 - Definitives

Between 1936 and 1944 Ivory Coast issued a large set of 41 definitives comprising 4 different designs. One of the designs, used for 15 of the stamps, was engraved by Albert Decaris. It's possible he also designed the image, but I'm not sure yet. This was the third design Decaris engraved and one can see the burgeoning of a great artistic talent.

The image Decaris designed depicts a coastal scene. This design was issued over five printings between 1936 and 1944. And 8 different colours were used. I recently purchased a set of the Decaris design, but I discovered the set is missing 3 values unfortunately. I guess I'll have to keep hunting for the 3 missing values. Nevertheless. the 12 stamps I received are absolutely fantastic. They are so nice, I decided to show them all here.

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In 1936 six values were issued.

Red Brown

Dark Violet

90c carmine rose (stamp not available yet)

Dark Green

Copper Red

1f 50c ultramarine (image not available yet)

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Two values were issued in 1938.

Black Brown

Carmine Rose

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One value was issued in 1939.

Dark Green

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Four values were issued in 1940.

Carmine Rose

Red Brown

Ultramarine

Black Brown

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One value was issued in 1944.

Greenish Black

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!

France 1944 - Edouard Branly

On 21 February 1944, France issued a stamp commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the birth of Édouard Eugène Désirè Branly. This stamp was designed and engraved by Albert Decaris.

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Édouard Branly was a Professor of Physics at the Institut Catholique de Paris. He was also an inventor. His best known invention was the coherer. Basically, this was a radio wave detector, which became the basis for radio communications. Branly's design was further modified by the likes of Guglielmo Marconi. For more info on the coherer click HERE. For his scientific work, Branly was three times nominated for the Nobel Prize, but he never won it. But in 1911, he was elected to the French Academy of Sciences. In gaining this prestigious position he beat out another name huge in the field of sciene, one Marie Curie. Apparently they were great rivals in the field.

Let's take a look at the stamp designed and engraved by Decaris. The stamp has a face value of 4f.

This portrait, still rather stiff for the style for which Decaris became renowned, is rather attractive. What do you think?

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!

France 1944 - Labour Charter

In 1944, Albert Decaris designed and engraved a stamp for France, the topic of which, from what I've read and tried to deduce, seems rather controversial.

The topic of the stamp is the Labour Charter under the Marshal of France, Philippe Petain. This charter changed France from its republican values which was represented by the slogan "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity" to a very different nationalist slogan "Work, Family, Fatherland". Petain was given the Marshal of France title due to his leadership during World War I. But his authoritarian regime whilst Marshal, which included the Labour Charter, was not terribly successful from what I can gather. By the end of World War II Petain was tried and convicted of treason, which is very complicated and not really suitable for this blog. For more info check out these sites: HERE and HERE

Let's take a look at the stamp. It has a face value of 4f with a 6f surcharge. The stamp, although rather austere in nature, is loaded with great detail. The cogs of industry grinding away in the background, made alive by smoke billowing from the stacks. The workers in the foreground personifying the Work aspect of the nationalist slogan. And in the top right corner we have a fine rendering of the man himself, Philippe Petain.

Until next time...

Stay Decaris Crazy!