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40 Centimes Rouen; Canteen voucher
| Issuer | Dépôt de Prisonniers de Guerre de Rouen |
|---|---|
| Year | 1914-1918 |
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| Composition | Log in to see details |
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| Shape | Rectangular |
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| Obverse description | Octagonal-cornered rectangular voucher printed in black letterpress on yellowish paper, with the depot name and location inscribed in the upper portion and the large denomination numeral '40' with superscript 'MES' to the right occupying the centre field. A broad diagonal red handstamp band crosses the face from lower left to upper right, and the word 'CANTINE' appears in bold capitals along the lower margin. |
|---|---|
| Obverse lettering | Log in to see details |
| Reverse description | Plain yellowish paper reverse, nearly unprinted, bearing a single circular violet administrative handstamp applied at centre. The stamp legend runs around the circumference and the text 'Le Commandant' appears within the interior of the circle, identifying the authorising officer of the depot. |
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| Comments |
French prisoner-of-war depots issued internal canteen vouchers as a matter of administrative necessity — controlling what captives could spend, and where, without introducing French currency into the camp economy. Rouen, as a major rail hub and established garrison city, held one of the larger WWI depot operations on the Western Front.
These vouchers were strictly internal scrip, redeemable only at the depot canteen and theoretically worthless outside the wire. Survival rates are low precisely because they were designed to be consumed, not saved.