Carnets de timbres dans l’air du temps
Through a collection of nearly 200 stamp booklets, posters, and original drawings, visitors are invited to wander among the different formats and messages of this object, reflecting the transformations of French society. The exhibition Stamp Booklets in the Spirit of the Times traces the evolution of this everyday object through three main themes: advertising, usage, and art, presented through an original and luminous scenography.
118 years of existence and still going strong! The origin of the stamp booklet in 1906 was primarily driven by practicality: the desire of the French to have a dozen stamps at hand, gathered in an object easy to slip into a handbag or wallet. Initially, stamp booklets were entirely produced by La Poste. The design was neutral, with utility taking precedence. In 1922, La Poste delegated the production of booklet covers to a concessionaire. Advertisers saw this as an opportunity, even using the margins of the stamps, thus creating advertising stamps. Until 1940, the creation of stamp booklets was prolific, with 1,500 covers being produced. Four main themes dominated: health and prevention, automobiles, department stores and consumer products, as well as leisure, travel, and spa tourism.
Faced with this influx of private productions, La Poste ended the concession of stamp booklets in the 1950s and took over the printing of booklet covers. The format evolved, and the focus returned to utility, with less and less space for advertising. From 1985 onwards, new thematic series appeared: famous personalities, Stamp Day, and message booklets, which gained increasing importance. La Poste began collaborating with painters, designers, street artists, and comic book illustrators. Today, the beloved stamp booklet of the French is not just useful but also a genuine artistic creation.
The exhibition will be open at the Musée de la Poste until 13 October 2025.
