TREASURES OF NOTRE-DAME

On 15 April, La Poste will issue the last of its Treasures of Notre-dame miniature sheets. Following the devastating fire of 15 April 2019, the series, which began in 2020, has been highlighting the treasures, riches and heritage of the cathedral throughout the period of its reconstruction. Originally built in the 12th and 13th centuries, but the subject of several repairs over the centuries including a new spire in the 19th century, the cathedral is scheduled to reopen in December this year.

The sheet focusses on the frame of the structure, with the imagery used based on models created for the reconstruction. Nicknamed the ‘forest’, the large framework of Notre-dame de Paris is a hidden treasure of the cathedral. Following the almost complete destruction by fire of this unique structure, the decision was taken to reconstruct it almost identically. Extensive study of the carbonised remains and research helped in the process of reconstructing the frame, and luckily, it had been the subject of complete surveys in the 2010s. Approximately 1,400 oaks from French forests were used, with shorthandled axes specially forged for the task. Before being installed, the parts of the frame were assembled on the ground.

The first miniature sheet, with a single €1.40 stamp, was released on 15 April 2020, one year after the fire, and featured a drawing of the cathedral’s façade. A circular stamp illustrating the famous Adam and Eve panel in the cathedral’s south rose window featured in the 2021 sheet. The theme of the 2022 sheet was the great organs of the building. Meanwhile, the 2023 issue depicted the famous bells of Notre-dame.

The creation and engraving of the miniature sheet is by Sarah Bougault based on photos by Pascal Lemaître.