COVER N. 207 - MONACO

Postmark:  O.E.T.P Principauté de Monaco 30.01.2023

Posted on 30th January; Received on the 6th February 2023
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Thank you so much Roland for another nice cover from Monaco.

A rather uncommon and well devised theme was chosen by the Office Emissions des Timbres Poste of the small Principality bordering the Mediterranean, for a rather pricey stamp issue that began to circulate on 05OCT2021, comprising four stamps with 2,12; 2,56; 3 and 4,71 Euros denominations.

In a country which will be forever connected with the world of the 7th art, through the memory of Princess Grace Kelly, a stamp set  dedicated to Films shot on its territory makes perfect sense to me, and on top of that it has an aura of uncommonness that can only add in interest.

The rather large stamps replicate advertising posters for 4 movies shot in Monaco, the one on my cover being "The racers" or "Le cercle infernal" in the French translation, a 1955 Cinemascope film starring Kirk Douglas, Bella Darvi and Gilbert Roland, in a classic lover's triangle erected against the backdrop of car racing, also a subject to which Monaco is no stranger, of course.

Reading about the film did strike a spark somewhere in my brain as I do have a recollection of having watched it, on TV, ages ago... stamps and memories....

The postmark is very clear and impeccably applied as befits a mark from a national stamp issuing office.