Davit Franco (1952–2025)

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Davit Franco on 23 March.

Giussepe Davit Franco was born in Istanbul. His journey as an exhibitor began in 1980, when he presented his collection, French Levant Post offices between 1840 and 1876, at the Istanbul National Stamp Exhibition, where he was awarded a Large Vermeil Medal. He won his first Gold Medal in Spain in 1990 and the National Grand Prix in Turkey in 1997, earned his participation in the FIP Championship Class at Philexfrance in 1999, and won the Grand Prix d’Honneur at Espana 2004 in Valencia.

Davit Franco was a TFDF accredited national juror, served on the TFDF Board of Directors, and was one of the founders of the Turkish Philatelic Academy. He was a member of the European Academy of Philately (AEP), which honoured him with the European Award for Philatelic Merit in 2004, as well as the Club de Monte-Carlo and the Royal Philatelic Society London (RPSL).

May he rest in peace.

[Story and photo credit: Turkish Philatelic Academy]