Delandre
Encyclopedia
Gaston Fontanille also known just as Delandre, was a French entrepreneur
and conman born in Valence
, the son of a Magistrate
.
which was a popular form of label or poster stamp
during World War I
. He started by reproducing Italian regimental vignettes when the supply of originals proved insufficient for his needs. From there he expanded to include French army stamps and ultimately he produced over 4000 different patriotic stamps which have become a popular collecting area in cinderella
philately
. Delandre responded to claims of forgery of the Italian vignettes by claiming that they were 're-impressions'. He explained in a 1916 letter that he sold three types, real ones, re-impressions and new stamps that he created himself. He also stated that he had produced successful facsimiles. Detailed catalogues of Delandre's oeuvre have been produced by Francis Kiddle
and Walter Schmidt.
Other pseudonyms used by Gaston Fontanille include Commander Deville, The Baron Allard, The Marquis of Vaurens and The Count of Chabanes.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
and conman born in Valence
Valence, Drôme
Valence is a commune in southeastern France, the capital of the Drôme department, situated on the left bank of the Rhône, south of Lyon on the railway to Marseilles.Its inhabitants are called Valentinois...
, the son of a Magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
.
The Delandre Vignettes
One of Delandre's many schemes was the invention of the Delandre vignetteVignette (philately)
In philately, the vignette is the central part of a postage stamp design, such as, a monarch's head or a pictorial design, which often shades off gradually to the edges of the stamp....
which was a popular form of label or poster stamp
Poster stamp
The poster stamp was an advertising label, a little larger than most postage stamps, that originated in the mid-19th century and quickly became a collecting craze, growing in popularity up until World War One and then declining by World War Two until they are now almost forgotten except by...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He started by reproducing Italian regimental vignettes when the supply of originals proved insufficient for his needs. From there he expanded to include French army stamps and ultimately he produced over 4000 different patriotic stamps which have become a popular collecting area in cinderella
Cinderella stamp
In philately, a cinderella stamp has been defined as "Virtually anything resembling a postage stamp, but not issued for postal purposes by a government postal administration..." The term also excludes imprinted stamps on postal stationery.- Types :...
philately
Philately
Philately is the study of stamps and postal history and other related items. Philately involves more than just stamp collecting, which does not necessarily involve the study of stamps. It is possible to be a philatelist without owning any stamps...
. Delandre responded to claims of forgery of the Italian vignettes by claiming that they were 're-impressions'. He explained in a 1916 letter that he sold three types, real ones, re-impressions and new stamps that he created himself. He also stated that he had produced successful facsimiles. Detailed catalogues of Delandre's oeuvre have been produced by Francis Kiddle
Francis Kiddle
Francis Kiddle is a distinguished philatelist who has achieved an international reputation in the field of philatelic literature and cinderella philately.-Philately:...
and Walter Schmidt.
Arrest and death
Following the success of Delandre's other productions, the French Red Cross asked him to produce similar stamps for them in order to raise funds. Unfortunately, despite selling many stamps, Delandre failed to pay the Red Cross their share of the proceeds and in 1917 he was arrested. He subsequently died in jail in 1923.Other activities
Delandre was arrested many times for various other schemes including the creation of a chemical company to which he appointed several prominent businessmen as directors without their knowledge, and the sale of noble titles of dubious status.Other pseudonyms used by Gaston Fontanille include Commander Deville, The Baron Allard, The Marquis of Vaurens and The Count of Chabanes.
Further reading
- Kiddle, Francis, Publications by Éditions Delandre. (An Introduction to the Books, Catalogues, Leaflets, Posters, etc.), Cinderella Stamp ClubCinderella Stamp ClubThe Cinderella Stamp Club was founded on 5 June 1959 in London, England, and is an association of philatelists, amateur and professional, whose interests lie in local stamps, telegraph stamps, railway stamps, revenue stamps, fiscals, forgeries, bogus and phantom issues, Christmas, Red Cross, TB and...
, Handbook No.12, Alton, Hampshire, 1997. - Kiddle, Francis & Schmidt, Walter. Images of the Great War Volume IV, an illustrated catalogue of Delandre’s Vignettes other than Military and Red Cross 1914-1917, Cinderella Stamp Club, Handbook No.13, Alton, Hampshire.