French Red Cross

France has issued Red Cross stamps every year since the end of WWI for postage with a surcharge for the charity. This set has no values, inscribed for the relief of inhjured soldiers, so must have been sold purely for fundraising. I think they date from 1918 and show scenes of Rouen. There are probably other sets showing other cities, and all acted as precursors for the surcharge postal stamps.



I have mixed feelings about Rouen. I have driven to the Le Mans 24 Hours race, and the route takes you through Rouen - there is no bypass. Just before hitting the city the N24 goes through a tunnel and the verge was at the entrance was a mass of Pyramidal Orchids. You then arrive near the bridge over the river which is just two lanes, and at Le Mans week the traffic is double normal. We got stuck there for over an hour. We had hoped to stop and see the cathedral but it was all covered up and scaffolded. Heading south the road passes 2 miles of railway sidings, about 25 lines wide. These were packed old rusting locomotives and rolling stock. for the second race a petrol tanker had crashed on the bridge and burst into flames earlier in the year. Traffic was being diverted over another bridge. However a split second decision to go another way really paid off. We followed the eastern bank of the Seine and saw the massive barges used there. This raod lay below some limestone hills which were part of this year's Tour de France. We kept to this route on all subsequent Le Mans trips and navigated the traffic easily.

Thanks Daniel

That makes sense. do you know if other cities were featured?

Apologies for the very late response. Delandre's Red Cross Vignettes 1914-1917 is a large volume unto itself.. There was a set of ten for Le Puy en Velay, a couple of stamps for Tulle, ten for Bourges, 10 for Le Havre, 10 for Langres, 20 for Marseille, 20 for Montargis, 10 for Bourbonne les Bains. Also others showing historical scenes.