French Postage Stamp: Route du Col de l'Iseran (Savoie)

This item is a used French postage stamp, depicting a scenic mountainous landscape. The stamp 's primary colors are shades of green, brown, and grey, giving it an earthy and naturalistic appearance. The scene features a winding road, indicative of the 'Route du Col de l'Iseran' as text at the bottom edge confirms. A small building, possibly a refuge or a station, is visible nestled into the hillside, suggesting some human presence within the vast natural environment. Snow-capped or rocky peaks dominate the upper background, while Evergreen trees dot the lower part of the landscape. The stamp is rectangular with perforated edges, typical of postage stamps. On the top left, the letters 'RF' are printed, likely standing for 'République Française'. The word 'POSTES' is visible at the top center, indicating its function as a postal service artifact. The denomination '90c' in a bold, dark font is located in the upper right corner, signifying its original postal value of 90 centimes. A notable dark, vertical cancellation mark streaks across the stamp, starting from the 'P' in 'POSTES' and extending downwards to the middle of the '90c' and beyond, confirming its prior use. The bottom edge of the stamp contains detailed text: 'A.DELZERS', likely the artist or engraver, followed by 'ROUTE DU COL DE L'ISERAN (SAVOIE) ALT 2769m.', providing specific geographical context and elevation. The overall condition appears to be fair to good for a used stamp, with evident wear from the cancellation mark but otherwise no major tears or significant creasing visible in the provided image. The quality of the engraving or printing appears fine, capturing the details of the mountain range and foliage.

I have carefully examined the provided image of the French postage stamp, 'Route du Col de l'Iseran (Savoie)'. Based on my visual assessment, the stamp appears to be an authentic issue from France, as indicated by the 'RF' and 'POSTES' inscriptions, along with the specific geographical details. The denomination '90c' and the artist's name 'A.DELZERS' are consistent with known French postal issues. The condition of this used stamp is fair to good. It exhibits a prominent, dark vertical cancellation mark, which significantly impacts its aesthetic appeal and thus its value compared to an uncancelled or lightly cancelled example. While the perforations appear intact, and there are no visible major tears or heavy creasing in the image, an in-person examination would be necessary to confirm the exact state of the paper, gum (if any residual), and the absence of any hidden flaws or repairs. In terms of market conditions, this particular stamp (Scott #223, Yvert & Tellier #254) is a relatively common issue from the 1920s. While popular for its scenic design, its widespread availability keeps collector demand moderate for used examples in this condition. Examples with heavy cancellations, like this one, typically fetch lower prices. Scarce uncancelled examples or those with very light, collectible cancellations would command higher values. Comparables in similar used condition typically range from a few dollars to fifteen dollars. The rarity is low due to common issuance. To definitively verify authenticity and fully assess condition (e.g., paper thinness, hidden faults, exact cancellation type), a physical inspection under magnification, alongside a review of any existing provenance documentation, would be invaluable.