This French Offices in the Levant overprint features the classic Type Blanc design by Paul-Joseph Blanc, portraying the allegorical figure of Peace holding the scales of Justice, accompanied by a winged cherub. Issued for postal use in the Ottoman Empire, this green 5 centimes stamp carries the bold “LEVVANT” overprint along the bottom. These issues served French post offices at Beirut, Constantinople, and other Levantine ports, making them highly collectible for postal-history specialists.
Your example is postmarked, enhancing its authenticity and postal relevance. The intricate engraving and ornate allegorical imagery are characteristic of France’s elegant early 20th-century colonial and foreign-office issues.