Catalog
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| Issuer | Chambre de Commerce de Narbonne |
|---|---|
| Year | 1915 |
| Type | Log in to see details |
| Value | 1 Franc |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Obverse description | Orange and brown lithograph on a yellow-orange underprint repeating the legend CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE NARBONNE. To the left, an allegorical female figure seated beside amphorae and agricultural implements, with a medieval castle vignette in the background. The issuer's title appears at the top, with the deliberation date, denomination BON DE UN FRANC in large letters at centre, a guarantee clause referencing the Banque de France, and spaces for the Treasurer's and President's manuscript signatures above the series and serial number at the base. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Log in to see details |
| Reverse lettering | RF RF UN FRANC CE BON REMBOURSABLE LE 31 DÉCEMBRE 1916 (SAUF PROROGATION), NE SERA VALABLE QU'AUTANT QU'IL SERA REVÊTU DU TIMBRE SEC DE LA CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE. LITHU. P. MORER - BENEZET, PERPIGNAN |
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| Comments |
The Chambres de Commerce emergency issues of 1914–1918 exist because the outbreak of war triggered an immediate hoarding crisis — silver and bronze coins vanished from circulation almost overnight, and the Banque de France lacked the infrastructure to plug every regional gap. Local chambers of commerce were authorized to fill the void with small-denomination paper, each issue technically valid only within its own administrative territory. Narbonne's series is among the more modestly produced examples from the Languedoc, lithographed by Morer-Benezet in Perpignan rather than one of the larger specialist printers used by wealthier chambers.
The dry stamp was the primary authenticity control — a blind embossed seal applied by hand, which means impression depth and placement vary considerably between individual notes.