French Tax Seal - Ministere FinancesFrance - 'Ministere Finances' appears on the French tax seal required on all lighters for use in France. The earliest of the tax seals had the year on them and typically the year was 1911 from 1911 - 1916. Around 1927 the stamp was apparently changed with the initials C and I entwined or superimposed over one another on either side of the circle with the two "C"s facing one another (as shown in picture). C I stands for "contibutions indirectes". This can further help to date anything with the seal on it. At some point along the way, possibly 1926, another more discrete seal comes into play - it is "BL" (effectively, Deluxe Lighter) and is for the higher priced lighters.
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Vintage Cigarette Lighters |