1 franc 1919

Uncommon. Chamber of Commerce emergency notes from French colonial territories are less frequently encountered than central bank issues, and this specific 1919 Djibouti note was produced in limited quantities for a localized emergency currency need. The authorization date of November 30, 1919 suggests a brief issuance window. While not exceptionally rare, these notes see moderate collector interest in colonial currency specializations. The AU condition grade and authentic signatures add modest collector value above face denomination.

This 1 franc note was issued by the Chambre de Commerce de Djibouti on November 30, 1919, during the post-World War I period when local commercial authorities in French colonial territories were sometimes granted emergency currency-issuing powers. The note's redemption clause—'Exchangeable for notes of the Banque de l'Indo-Chine'—reflects Djibouti's integration into the French colonial monetary system and the practical necessity of providing circulating currency in a major port city. The baroque decorative border and formal French inscriptions exemplify the administrative aesthetic of French colonial commerce in this era.

A symmetrical design featuring a prominent baroque ornamental border with elaborate scrollwork and stylized foliate or zoomorphic head motifs positioned at the cardinal points of the rectangular frame. The front side displays the denomination '1 Fr.' and 'UN FRANC' prominently within the central rectangular cartouche, alongside the issuing authority name 'CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE DJIBOUTI' and the authorizing decree date. Series and serial number information (SÉRIE A, N°.19567) are positioned for identification. Signature lines for the Treasurer and President are prominently featured, both bearing authentic handwritten signatures in blue/purple ink. The reverse presents a simplified, mirrored version of the same ornamental border with the chamber name and denomination. The design contains no portraits or geographical landmarks, relying instead on neoclassical commercial heraldry typical of emergency colonial currencies. The printer's imprint 'A. DESVAGES IMP' indicates professional commercial printing from the period.

{"front":[{"original":"1Fr.","translation":"1 Franc"},{"original":"CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE DJIBOUTI","translation":"Chamber of Commerce of Djibouti"},{"original":"ARRÊTÉ DU 30 NOVEMBRE 1919","translation":"Decree of November 30, 1919"},{"original":"UN FRANC","translation":"One Franc"},{"original":"Le Trésorier","translation":"The Treasurer"},{"original":"Le Président","translation":"The President"},{"original":"SÉRIE A.","translation":"Series A"},{"original":"N°.19567","translation":"No. 19567"},{"original":"A. DESVAGES IMP","translation":"A. Desvages Printing/Imprint"},{"original":"Echangeable contre des Billets de la Banque de l'Indo-Chine.","translation":"Exchangeable for notes of the Banque de l'Indo-Chine."}],"back":[{"original":"CHAMBRE DE COMMERCE DE DJIBOUTI","translation":"Chamber of Commerce of Djibouti"},{"original":"1 FR.","translation":"1 Franc"}]}

Intaglio engraving (line engraving), evidenced by the fine line work, detailed decorative border execution, and the crisp clarity of the ornamental flourishes visible in both sides. The burgundy/maroon ink color and the precision of the border work are consistent with letterpress or intaglio methods employed by professional security printers of the Belle Époque era. A. Desvages was a known Parisian printer specializing in such work. The uniform ink application and the absence of obvious photographic halftone patterns indicate traditional engraving methodology rather than later photomechanical processes.

This example represents Series A, serial number 19567. Varieties for this Pick 24 issue may exist based on series designations (Series A, B, etc.) and potentially different signature combinations, though the singular authorization date (November 30, 1919) suggests a single printing run. The handwritten signatures visible in this note represent individual officer authentication rather than printed variety. No overprints or date variants are apparent from the visual analysis.