Marché aux Timbres du Prado

A Sunday Gathering for Marseille Collectors

Every Sunday morning, the Avenue du Prado hosts a small specialized market that delights stamp collectors and postcard enthusiasts. Between numbers 61 and 69 of this major avenue in the 8th arrondissement, about a dozen exhibitors display their binders, albums, and boxes of stamps on trestles, outdoors, creating a friendly and passionate atmosphere.

This market is organized by the Club Philatélique Phocéen (C.C.P.), a Marseille association dedicated to fostering relationships between collectors and facilitating the exchange of philatelic documents. The club, headquartered on Avenue de Montredon in the same district, animates this weekly event throughout the year.

Stamps, Postcards, and Numismatics

The Marché aux Timbres du Prado is a niche market specializing in the following areas:

• Philately: stamps from France and around the world, complete sets, used and mint stamps, miniature sheets, booklets
• Postcards: old postcards (CPA) from Marseille and Provence, regional views, themed cards, collectible modern postcards
• Numismatics: old and modern coins, commemorative medals
• Philatelic Documents: old letters, first-day covers (FDC), postmarks, postage marks

The exhibitors are a mix of professional dealers and private collectors who come to trade, complete their collections, or sell duplicates. The atmosphere is that of a circle of enthusiasts where newcomers are welcomed kindly and where connoisseurs share their expertise.

Avenue du Prado, the Market's Urban Setting

The Avenue du Prado is one of Marseille's most iconic boulevards. A wide, plane tree-lined avenue, it connects the Prado roundabout to the Castellane district and is a major axis in the south of the city. The stamp market is located in the upper part of the avenue, near the Périer metro station and not far from Castellane.

This pleasant urban setting, with its wide, shaded sidewalks, is perfect for a Sunday stroll. Visitors to the stamp market can extend their morning with a walk to the nearby Parc Borély or the Prado beaches, or head up the avenue towards the city center.

A Market Rooted in Marseille's Philatelic Tradition

Philately has a long tradition in Marseille, a major port city. The Phocaean city, a departure point for many maritime routes to North Africa, the Levant, and the Far East, has always been a significant postal hub. This rich postal history is reflected in the diversity of stamps and documents found at the Prado market, where Marseille and Provençal postmarks are found alongside items from around the world.

The Marché aux Timbres du Prado continues this tradition by offering a meeting and exchange space every Sunday for all philately enthusiasts in the region.