COVER N. 441 - FRANCE

Postmarks: Salon Philatélique de Printemps - Salons de Provence 13 - Salon de Provence  04.04.24

Posted on the 4th April received on the 15th April 2024

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The Salon Philatélique de Printemps is an event that has been taking place annually (with an interruption due to the pandemic)  under the direction and organisation of "La Chambre Syndicale Française des Négociants et Experts en Philatélie", an institution established in 1970, which congregates the various professional interests linked to the philatelic business, such as vendors, experts,  manufacturers and  publishers.

Each year, the CNEP organises two major philatelic exhibitions:  Le Salon d'Automne (since 1946) and le Salon de Printemps, for which I could not find the date of the first edition, although Eric at "Mon Blog Timbré", whom I thank for this great Salon cover (Merci, Eric!), states that 1980 is most likely it.

This year's Salon de Printemps took place from the 4th till the 6th April at Salon-de-Provence, a city in the South of the Hexagon, not that distant from Marseille, and famous for having been the final resting place of Michel de Nostredame (Nostradamus for his friends 😀), the famous 16th century futurologist...

For those keen on flying things, such as I, Salon-de-Provence is also the location of the French Air Force facility where the famous aerobatic team  “Patrouille de France” is based. 

For the occasion, as it is customary, La Poste  issued commemorative stamps and labels, both of which can be seen on the cover Eric sent me.

The 1,29 € stamp is illustrated with landmarks of the city hosting the event and, from left to right we have Salon-de-Provence's Tour de l'horloge (clock tower) dating from the 17th century, the château de l’Empéri, from the 9th century and the Moussue fountain, from the 16th century.

The LISA (Libre-service d'affranchissement) label, issued in this particular case with "lettre verte" tariff, is illustrated with an image of Salon-de-Provence's Town Hall, also dating from the 17th century.

The stamp is cancelled with a celebratory postmark with the coat of arms of Salon-de-Provence, while that of the Lisa label once again replicates the façade of the city's Hôtel de Ville.