France postage stamps year 1906/37 The Sower (“Semeuse”) Series MNH/MLH
That’s a fantastic focus for French philately! The Sower (“Semeuse”) Series is the backbone of French stamps during the 1906-1937 period.
The Sower design, created by artist Louis-Oscar Roty, features a woman in a Phrygian cap walking left, scattering seeds, with the sun rising behind her. It symbolizes the French Republic, hope, and the spread of liberty.
The 1906 to 1937 period is defined primarily by the shift to and subsequent variations of the Cameo Sower.
1. The Key Distinction: Lined vs. Cameo
To correctly identify the Sower stamps from this era, the most crucial thing to check is the background behind the Sower figure:
| Type | Years | Key Feature |
| Lined Sower (or “Sower with lines”) | 1903-1906 (Early Issues) | The background behind the Sower’s head and body is filled with fine, distinct horizontal lines (representing the sun’s rays). |
| Cameo Sower (or “Sower with solid/flat background”) | 1906-1937 (Dominant Type) | The background behind the Sower is plain, solid, or flat (like a cameo brooch), making the Sower figure stand out more sharply. This is the version most commonly found in your specified date range. |
While the Lined Sower began in 1903, the Cameo Sower was introduced in 1906 (starting with the 5c green) and was the standard low-to-mid value definitive until 1937.
2. Major Varieties and Points of Study (1906-1937)
The Cameo Sower stamps are extremely popular with specialists because of the sheer number of minor variations resulting from repeated printings, new plates, and rate changes.
- Dies (Types): Slight differences in the engraving, known as “Types” or “Dies” (often designated I, II, or III in catalogues), can be found on certain values (e.g., 10c red, 35c violet, and 25c blue). These differences are often minute, such as:
- The thickness of the letters in “POSTES” or the value numerals.
- Small dots or flaws on the plate (e.g., the famous “dot under Q” on the 5c green).
- Subtle changes in the lines around the figure’s feet or belt.
- Color and Shade: As the stamps were printed over three decades, colors varied significantly. For example, a 15c stamp might be found in shades ranging from Grey-Green to Olive-Green.
- Paper: Variations in paper, including poor-quality, grayish paper used in some periods (“Grande Consommation,” G.C. paper), can be noted by advanced collectors.
- Perforation: While most were Perforation $14 \times 13\frac{1}{2}$ (standard), some later provisional issues used a different perforation.
