La Poste creates a new stamp in tribute to Dewoitine, industrialist at the origin of aeronautics in Toulouse

In the entrance hall of the Salle Nougaro, in Toulouse, the stamp and aviation enthusiasts crowd in front of the sales stand. On a small foldable table the stamps Dewoitine D1 are lined up, next to the mini-sheets. Only insiders have come for this event, the stamp is officially released on Monday, November 7.

A collector’s stamp sought after by philatelists

Among them in the crowd, Alain, philatelist for more than 50 years, came from the opening to discover this famous stamp and buy the first edition : “He looks like a Soulages, it’s almost from beyond black.” he blurts out with a laugh. At his side Michel Pratviel, president of the Airbus philately section, admits that the stamp is a bit dark: “but if you look closely, you see many reflections.”

And this has not escaped Bernard’s discerning eye, he has been collecting stamps for more than 20 years: “There is a slight relief, and the illustration drawing was made by an engraver. Engraving provides better quality of stamp, there we see it on the drawing. The very thin black lines on the white background.”

The illustration was made by the painter Arthur Thomas but it is the process of reproduction which allows to have such a good visual quality, in particular thanks to the engraving made by Claude Jumelet.

Many philatelists came out to buy this first day stamp, as they call it, but in the crowd a few aviation enthusiasts are also there. This is the case, for example, of Benoît Mas: “I am not passionate about stamps but about aviation yes. Seeing this stamp illustrated with a Dewoitine D1 is a great source of pride. It is a heart stamp__, especially here in Toulouse.”

This is In Toulouse indeed, in 1922, thatEmile Dewoitine builds the first fighter plane single-seater, the famous Dewoitine D1. It’s the start of a long series aircraft built in Toulouse. Above all, this creation marks a major turning point in the establishment of aeronautics in the Toulouse region and foreshadows Airbus.

In 2019, the stamp for the 50th anniversary of the first flight of Concorde had met with great success: sold, from the first day, several thousand copies in the Blagnac post office.

There the Dewoitine D1 stamp was edited at 408,000 copies in France. Count 5 euros 26 for a single stamp, 52 euros 60 for a mini-sheet.