David Feldman Olympic Games and Football June 4, 2019

1924 Paris The original set of four Paris Olympics stamps included a 50c value which depicted the Roman arena in Nemes. However this was later decided to be unsuitable for an Olympics stamp for various reasons, including the fact that it was used in the past for professional sports. So the design for the 30c value then became the issued 50c, and a design for the 30c value came from a statue in the Louvre. This explains why these two values were issued later, and also explains the multiple progressive proofs of the Nemes arena design. Here are the printing stages of the proofs for the Paris Olympics stamps: 1. Artist proof (Épreuve d’artiste): (a) in black and (b) mono-colour, 2-10 examples 2. Status proof (Épreuve d’état): Can be in several stages showing the progression of the project. The last stage were proofs of the frames and centres separately and combined. 3. Printer’s proof (Épreuve d’atélier): The definitive accepted design for the printers 4. Colour proofs and trials (Épreuve de couleurs): In 3-10 colours. One 25c proof exists with control perforation. The modified 50c exists on large sheetlets. 5. Definitive printer’s proof (Épreuve d’imprimérie définitive): In definitive colours, (a) with coloured mould frame and (b) without coloured mould frame 6. Individual luxury proofs (Épreuve de Luxe individuelles): 10 of each value with control perforation 7. Collective luxury proofs (Épreuve de Luxe collectives): 153 printed in 1924, found in three variants, (a) with control perforation at the right side, (b) with control perforation at the bottom, and (c) with no control perforation (offered at the UPU Congress) 8. Imperforate printing of the sheets of 150 stamps (Feuille témoin)