The first French mail service was set up to serve the King and the Royal Court on 19 June 1464. In 1490 the Counts of Thurn and Taxis set up an international service. The mail service in France developed gradually and was eventually made available to everyone in 1603.
France issued its first postage stamps in 1849, during the Second Republic. Initial postage stamp designs were republican in nature, featuring Ceres, the goddess of agriculture. Todays stamp is from the first issue in 1849. I has a face value of 15 centimes (C). CV for a mint copy is no less than 17- 20.000 $.