The public is anyway the practical formula

A Friday in May to Boulazac, near Périgueux. On presses past stamps celebrating Mozart through his operas. Passing under different rolls, the characters of "Cosi fan tutte" or the "marriage of Figaro" gradually life. Starting their journey in blue, they take on tints of red, yellow, black and finish their race by walleye be perforated and then to pile up in sheets. That day, in the printing press from which emerge all French stamps and vignettes of a dozen other countries, they alongside hearts signed this year by Jean-Louis Scherrer or rolls of Marianne.

This series, referring to the composer born 250 years ago, is going in preview in the stamp and the writing show. Organized around travel and highly interactive, the event, which opens tomorrow in Paris in the bois de Vincennes floral park, expected 100,000 visitors here on 25 June and seeks to play on all tables. "We want to send us both to neophytes, to modernize the image of the stamp and make it attractive, and the collector, for the loyalty rewarding philatelic recreation", says Joëlle Amalfitano, Commissioner-General of the show.

At the time of the mail and SMS, it is, for the position, to give the public the urge to take pen and especially send mail. If sales of thumbnails with the effigy of Marianne crumble, "beautiful stamps", displaying other Visual, see their turnover grow. For purchases, the stamp therefore put on the news and themes referring to the largest number. It is merely more commemorations. With the series and blocks, Phil position, which designs, prints, and distributes the stamps, hopes to double blow: the public buys one to use it and one to keep.

The year of the dog in Astrology Chinese football World Cup from the Museum of the Branly quay or the rehabilitation of Dreyfus celebrates its Centennial, the year 2006 is well tagged. A philatelic programmes ensuring the grain commission, it nevertheless for all tastes. Even the former President of the Senate, Alain Poher, who was President of the Republic acting, will be entitled year to stamp his effigy. It is nevertheless unlikely to become the bestseller of 2006.

Customization system

The selected topics sometimes to replay the quarrel of the ancient and modern. The stamp purists do not hesitate to criticize the naive aesthetic of the young animals series released in April. But children who parents seek to write to their grandmother should find their marks. Probably more than in the representation of the ossuary of Douaumont, realized in intaglio, a specialty jealously preserved by printing.

The stickers stamps are another theme of debate. Philately fans do not like them because they are more difficult to take off after sending. Demonstrations will seek, in the show, to prove the contrary. The public is anyway the practical formula. As shown by the recent series of stickers stamps devoted to the Impressionists. In the post offices of district, it has quickly been exhausted. Some companies had been a RAID to attract the attention of their customers. Saturated advertising mail, people are more likely to open an envelope stamped, less assimilated to direct marketing. But companies do not really have time to moisten the traditional models before you paste it. "The pace of release of stickers booklets of beautiful stamps will accelerate," Announces Françoise Eslinger, Director, Phil position.

Paradoxically, the Internet is a track of development... the sales. In this cyberboutique, may as well buy the block of the gardens of France as by-products such as scarves. Next year should also develop offers of loan-to-poster, combining stamp and envelope, for businesses. The canvas is also used in connection with the community of collectors. They can subscribe to various forms of gathering news. A club was established in their intention at the beginning of the year. The Web also allows customization and the association of a sticker bearing the photo of his latest addition to his recent trip to his new home in a classic stamp. The theme is now particularly carrier ("Les Echos", 14 June) and demand is growing. The current challenge is to find the right formula to propose this system of person-fare at a suitable cost to companies. Today, the 53 cents of a current shipment addition to 50 cents for customization.

It is on the so-called stamps of everyday life that Phil position has the widest margin of manoeuvre. Fun, stamps of birth, vacation, or in the form of heart to express affection. "We aim to reach all the moments of life." "Mail keeps an emotional value," notes Françoise Eslinger. This offer is further forward. For mother's day, the post offices adorned posters showing a little girl and heart shaped stamps. Do not despair of the urge to write French, particularly in the major opportunities. A letter on five sent to Santa Claus comes from a... adult!