---
title: BCRA forged Vichy 30c Pétain-Laval stamp, sheet of twenty (London, 1942-44)
url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bcra-petain-laval-forged-30c-stamp-1943/
description: A full sheet of twenty red 30-centime stamps in the style of the Vichy definitive bearing Marshal Pétain's profile, inscribed "POSTES FRANCAISES".
section: Collection
---

[Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/)

[![BCRA forged Vichy 30c Pétain-Laval stamp, sheet of twenty (London, 1942-44)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/bcra-petain-laval-forged-30c-stamp-1943.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/bcra-petain-laval-forged-30c-stamp-1943.jpg)

# BCRA forged Vichy 30c Pétain-Laval stamp, sheet of twenty (London, 1942-44)

A full sheet of twenty red 30-centime stamps in the style of the Vichy definitive bearing Marshal Pétain's profile, inscribed "POSTES FRANCAISES". On each stamp a second, moustached face overlaps the marshal's profile at the left; the museum titles the sheet "Pétain-Laval". The tell is the fused portrait on an official-looking stamp, which lets the unpopularity of Pierre Laval attach to the head of state's image.

## Text on the object

Original (French) · read from the image, not independently checked

```
30c  POSTES  30c
FRANCAISES
(sheet imprint under each stamp:) BEL. SC.   Jean Vital PROST
```

English translation (machine translation by Claude, not verified by a fluent reader)

```
30c  POST  30c
FRENCH
(sheet imprint under each stamp:) BEL. SC. [engraver's abbreviation]   Jean Vital PROST
```

The text repeats identically on all twenty stamps. The small imprint under each stamp is barely legible at this size; "BEL. SC." and "Jean Vital PROST" are the best readings. The inventory number 2018.7.1 written at top right is the museum's.

[← Americans Will Always Fight for Liberty](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/americans-will-always-fight-for-liberty-1943/) [China Fights On →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/china-fights-on-united-china-relief-1943/)

## Using the same techniques

- [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer)
- [Gold coin of Kanishka: King of Kings legend, king at the altar, deity Oesho](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/gold-dinar-kanishka-king-of-kings-0130/) (Kushan Empire · 0130 · Transfer)
- [Gold solidus of Justinian I, reverse VICTORIA AVGGG with Victory holding a Christogram staff](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/solidus-justinian-i-victoria-avggg-0538/) (Byzantine Empire · 0538 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Bayeux Tapestry, scene 23: UBI HAROLD SACRAMENTVM FECIT VVILLELMO DVCI](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bayeux-tapestry-harold-oath-to-william-1070/) (Kingdom of England · 1070 · Transfer, Card stacking)
- [Mughal gold coin of Jahangir, dated 1028 AH, with a bull inside a ring of sun rays](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jahangir-gold-zodiac-coin-sun-rays-1619/) (Mughal Empire · 1619 · Transfer)
- [Frontispiece to Eikon Basilike, The Pourtraicture of His Sacred Majestie in his Solitudes and Sufferings (Hollar, 1649)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/eikon-basilike-frontispiece-hollar-1649/) (Dutch Republic · 1649 · Transfer, Glittering generalities)
- [Consult of the doctors on the grave illness of the Grand Sultan (Consult vande medicijnen inde swaere siekte vanden grooten Sultaen)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/consult-of-the-doctors-sick-sultan-antwerp-1683/) (Spanish Netherlands · 1683 · Transfer, Bandwagon)
- [The Highlanders Medley, or The Duke Triumphant (A Loyal Song)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/highlanders-medley-duke-triumphant-1746/) (Great Britain · 1746 · Name-calling, Transfer)