First Day Cover - Monaco - 1966 - Gustave Doré and Unknown Designer

Title

First Day Cover - Monaco - 1966 - Gustave Doré and Unknown Designer

Type

First Day Cover

Coverage

Monaco

Date Issued

1966-02-01

Description

The issuer of these first day covers is not indicated but they bear a logo featuring a rooster. The covers are numbered 139 and 140. The cachet for no. 139 is by an unidentified artist and depicts a scene from the beginning of the Inferno in which Dante is blocked by three beasts. He is shown holding a shepherd's crook and wearing a lyre on his back (symbolizing his role as a poet). The cachet for no. 140 is based on Gustave Doré's illustration for Paradiso 26:7–9, "The Heaven of the Fixed Stars," showing Dante and Beatrice before Saint John. Except for their numbering in the upper left corner, both of the cachets have the same text as follows: at the top: "PREMIER JOUR D'EMISSION / F.D.C." (first day of issue); and at the bottom: "DANTE ALIGHIERI / 700Anniversaire" (700th anniversary).

Extent

93 × 163 mm (all)

Contributor

Modèle déposé
Gustave Doré

Language

English
French