1865, Barre Essays, Paris

Albert Barre, the famous French engraver of the laureate stamps of circa 1863-1870 of France was approached by the Iranian deputation and commissioned to design a postage stamp for the country. The design of these stamps was based on the new Coat of Arms, representing a standing lion facing left

It should be noted here that according to some beliefs Charles Trotin, a member of the Money and Medallion Commission of France, and, engraved these essays not by Albert Barre.

Five copper clichés of each value measuring 18 mm wide by 22 mm long were prepared and clamped together to form a plate for printing the color proofs. Although five clichés of each value were prepared, but only four clichés of each value were taken to Tehran for the printing of the first Iranian postage stamps.

According to his book, “Die Persische Post in 1893”, Friedrich Schüller stated that: The Barre stamps were distributed among the dignitaries in the Nasser-eddin Shah's Court in 1868 to be used on their mail, although none has been found except for the existing Official Presentation Panels prepared in 1882 by the office of the Postal Administration which in addition to other issues, four Barre stamps consisted of 1 Shahi lilac, 2 Shahis green, 4 Shahis ultramarine, and 8 Shahis vermilion. Apparently these four denominations in the mentioned colors were chosen by the post office as the first Iranian issue.

Complete sheets apparently consisted of two panes of twenty stamps printed in tete-beche intercalee form with an inter-panes (inter-panaux) gutter of about 11 ½ mm to 12 ½ mm wide and partly perforated 12 ½. These sheets were printed in vermilion, lilac, ultramarine, and green. All sheets were perforated vertically but not every horizontal row was perforated.

• In vermilion sheets the horizontal margins between the 1 Shahis and between 1 Shahis and 2 Shahis are imperforate.

• In lilac sheets, horizontal margins between 2 Shahis and 8 Shahis as well as horizontal margins between 8 Shahis and 4 Shahis are imperforate.

• In ultramarine sheets, horizontal margins between 1 Shahis, between 1 Shahis and 2 Shahis as well as between 2 Shahis and 8 Shahis are imperforate.

• In green sheets, horizontal margins between 1 Shahis and between 8 Shahis and 4 Shahis are imperforate.

Vertical strip of 3 stamps with the nominations and clichés of 2 Shahis (Cliché No. 2), 8 Shahis (Cliché No. 2) und 4 Shahis (Cliché Nr. 2).

.1865 Barre Essays, 4sh vermilion strip of 3 (pos. 3-5)	1865 Barre Essays, 4sh violet strip of 3 (pos. 1-3)