Essays and Proofs. 1923 Group of four parliamentary bills for the introduction of the 1924 Olympic issue ("le projet de loi relatif à l'emission de timbres-poste spéciaux à l'occasion des jeux olympiques de 1924"): - 7th December 1923 "Chambre des Députés" 3-page report no.6730. The text mentions that Olympic stamps of limited validity were issued by Greece in 1896 and 1906 and by Belgium in 1920. That the Olympic Committee has asked the postal administration for four values; 10c, 25c, 30c and 50c as well as a 20c postcard. It goes on to explain that because of the limited validity of the stamps a new law must be authorised and their period of validity would not exceed December 31st, 1924. And to avoid objections of a budgetary nature, the Olympic Committee has undertaken to bear the costs of the essays and engraving by Mr. Becker. - 13th December 1923 "Chambre des Députés" 3-page "Avis" no.6786. The text mentions that the issue of these stamps would be advantageous to the Treasury since the costs of design will be borne by the Olympic Committee, and the costs of printing are negligible in view of the additional revenue from selling the stamps to collectors. It mentions that for 1920 Antwerp they printed 10 million of each value. Therefore France must conform to the well established tradition of promoting the Games through the issue of stamps. It requests a change of the period of validity until 30th September 1924. -22nd December 1923 "Sénat" 3-page report no.890. The text confirms the proposal that the date of validity would be 30th September, after which the reserve and unsold stock would be destroyed. It then proposes that from October 1st that special stamps for the 1925 Decorative Arts exhibition will be issued. - 28th December 1923 "Chambre des Députés" 1-page "Projet de Loi", no.1454. A notice confirming the definitive text and adoption of the project to issue postage stamps and a postcard of limited duration for the 1924 Olympic Games. An extremely rare and important group of documents in the history of the 1924 Olympic issue. (Image)

1924 Paris 25c rejected die proof showing clouds in the background and no "FRANCE" under value, in black on glossy paper with surround, horizontal crease, rare. (Image)

1924 Paris 25c rejected die proof showing clouds in the background and no "FRANCE" under value, in blue on thin low quality wove paper with quadrille watermark showing impression of the printing die, very fine and rare. (Image)

1924 Paris 25c rejected (and defaced) die proof showing modified clouds in the background, no "FRANCE" under value and no plants in lower left corner, in grey & green on gummed paper, the bush from the lower left corner has been removed and the statue has been defaced as well as extra cross-hatching on the stomach and shoulder, signed by the engraver G. Daussy, showing impression of the printing die, horizontal crease above design, fine and rare. (Image)

1924 Paris 25c die proof showing the accepted design in red and dark blue on glossy paper with surrounds in both colours, signed by the designer E. Becker, showing impression of the printing die, very fine and rare. (Image)

1924 Paris 30c die proof in mauve and lilac on gummed paper, showing impression of the die in the paper, unusually has been perforated, the only example known perforated, of unknown status, very fine and scarce, ex Bergman. (Image)

1924 Paris 30c die proof in black and pale green on wove paper, showing impression of the die in the paper, very fine and scarce. (Image)

1924 Paris group incl. 30c proof in grey-blue (taken from the composite sheetlet of proofs with other issues), 1924 (Jul 13) cover with 25c & 50c used during the Games sent underpaid to Switzerland, Olympic 25c tied by Olympic cancel on cover, poster vignette tied to cover, and poster vignettes in two different colours in blocks of six or eight, plus some loose stamps. (Image)

1924 Paris Olympics die proof of the essay of the 30c value showing an athlete doing an Olympic salute, in the rejected design before changes were made (see lot 20199 in our December 2021 Olympic auction), in orange-brown on glossy paper, very rare and important proof. (Image)

1924 Paris Olympics die proof of the 30c value showing an athlete doing an Olympic salute, before the value was changed to 50c, in deep red on glossy paper showing die markings and surround, very fine and scarce. (Image)

1924 Paris Olympics die proof of the 30c value showing an athlete doing an Olympic salute, before the value was changed to 50c, in black on buff paper showing die positional markings (no surround), very fine and scarce. (Image)

1924 Paris Olympics die proof showing an athlete doing an Olympic salute, with void value and left column before the changes to the issued design for the 50c, in scarlet on thin ribbed paper showing die positional markings (no surround), a very rare and important proof, one of only six recorded by Bergman. (Image)

1924 Paris Olympics 50c bi-coloured die proof showing an athlete doing an Olympic salute, in yellow-brown and grey on yellowish wove paper, with ms "13" at foot, fine and very rare. (Image)