France-The 1871 Ceres Head-Two 25 Cent Postage Stamps-Illustrated

Illustrated below are two examples of the 1871 "Ceres Head" designs(Ceres was the Roman Goddess of plant growth) of the earliest French postage issues. Originally issued in the mid 19th Century. Then re-issued in 1871 during the Franco-Prussian War. The examples show early dot and post office number cancellations used in France at the time.