La Poste to Honour André Citroën with an Exclusive Special Stamp
On July 6, 2026, the French postal service “La Poste“ will issue an exclusive stamp block in honour of André Citroën (1878–1935), tracing the most important milestones in the visionary’s life.
Born to a Dutch father and a Polish mother, André Citroën acquired French citizenship at the age of 18 to study at the prestigious École Polytechnique. The foundation of the Citroën brand was laid in 1900 when he discovered a novel chevron-shaped gear design in Poland, acquired the patent, and founded his first company, “Les Engrenages Citroën“.
However, André Citroën’s impact went far beyond pure engineering. During the First World War, he built a munitions factory within just four months; its workforce—which grew from 3,500 to 13,000 employees by 1918—benefited from unprecedented social advantages. Following a return to peace, he adapted Taylorism, also known as scientific management. (Developed by Frederick Winslow Taylor it focuses on optimizing work processes to increase efficiency and productivity. It emphasizes the systematic analysis of tasks, division of labor, and the scientific selection and training of workers.)
Through creative and modern marketing—from illuminating the Eiffel Tower to the legendary “Croisière Noire“ and “Croisière Jaune“ expeditions—Citroën rose within a decade to become the largest European and second-largest global automobile manufacturer. The objective cited by La Poste, to always be five years ahead of the competition, is reflected in the numerous mythical vehicles that have made Citroën the most widely collected automotive brand in the world today.
Technical Specifications of the Special Edition stamp:
- Design & Layout: Antoine Doré
- Printing Process: Héliogravure (Photogravure)
- Stamp Format: 30 x 40.85 mm
- Block Format: 110 x 160 mm
- Face Value: €2.25 (International Letter Rate)
- Print Run: 200,000 copies
Additionally, a special “Souvenir philatélique“ will be offered in a limited edition of 20,000 copies (Print: Offset/Héliogravure) at a price of €5.00.
Pre-sale and Signing Sessions in Paris
For those visiting Paris in early July, a special opportunity awaits: On Friday, July 3, and Saturday, July 4, 2026, an exclusive pre-sale (avant-première) that will take place at the “Le Carré d’Encre“ boutique (13 bis rue des Mathurins, 75009 Paris).
On Friday, July 3, the artist Antoine Doré will be on-site for a signing session from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM, followed by Henri-Jacques Citroën from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM.
Regular sales will officially begin on Monday, July 6, 2026, at selected post offices, via Philaposte’s subscription service, the Musée Postal, and online.