COVER N.98 - FRANCE

Postmark: La Poste - Trésors de Notre Dame - Paris - Premier jour 18.04.22 
Posted on the 18th April; received on the 19th April 2022
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Merci Pierre! 

I think I can say, without falling prey to false modesty, that I am not terrible with words. In fact I like them a lot and also to use them as I think this little blog of mine illustrates. But (and this time hoping not to fall prey to cliché....) there are times when I look at the word vault and I find it empty.... Thank you so much Pierre for your cover and for what was inside! I really appreciated it.

This fabulous C5 envelope is embellished with two copies of la Poste latest souvenir sheet emission, issued on 18APR22. Part of the ongoing series Treasures of Notre Dame, started in 2020, with a souvenir sheet dedicated to the façades of Notre Dame and continued last year with a souvenir sheet dedicated to the Adam and Eve stained glass window, the very beautiful sheet encapsulating one 1,65€ stamp is dedicated to the Great Organ of the cathedral that is at present being restored following the unfortunate fire of 2019.
The main Organ of Notre Dame was completed in 1867 and it shares the title of  biggest musical instrument of France with the organ of the Sainte Eustache Church, also in Paris, both instruments having more the 8000 tubes each. 
Of note is the fact that prior to the fire, every Sunday afternoon, the great organ could be played by anyone who wished to do so, although the waiting list ran into more than two years.
Luckily, the organ was not touched by the fire, and was dismantled for a complete overhauling, and should be back to its former glory before 2024.