Gustave Eiffel (Alexandre Gustave Bonickhausen dit Eiffel) passed away 100 years ago, on December 27, 1923. For the 100th anniversary of Gustave Eiffel's death, many actors, including the Eiffel Tower, the Association of the Descendants of Gustave Eiffel (ADGE) and La Poste, will be coming together to pay tribute and shine a light on his heritage and impact across an era, in many different disciplines. (https://www.toureiffel.paris/en/news/events/2023-year-gustave-eiffel) This also includes some interesting stamps we’ll see today.
Interesting Facts About the Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower, which stands at 324 meters (1,063 feet), was the tallest structure in Paris until 1973, when the Tour Montparnasse was built. For nearly four decades, the tower held the title of the tallest man-made structure in the world, reaching an impressive height of 984 feet without its antenna. However, in 1930, the Chrysler Building and The Empire State Building in New York officially surpassed its height.
Designed by French architect and engineer Gustave Eiffel, who was also involved in the construction of The Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower was created as a symbol of the 100th anniversary of the French Revolution for the 1889 World's Fair. However, when the permit for the tower expired in 1909, plans were made to demolish it. To save the tower, a radio antenna was installed at its top, making it a crucial transmission hub. This tactic was successful, and the tower was saved from destruction, eventually becoming a beloved landmark.
Famous People series (Gustave Eiffel)
France – 1982/12/20
1.80+0.40 ₣ - French franc
Note: Other stamps from the 1982 Famous people series included: Jules Vallès, Frédéric and Irène Joliot-Curie, Guillaume Postel, Henri Mondor, Louis Pergaud, Robert Debré, André Chantemesse, and Léon Blum.
Science Laboratory, Theatre, Yellow Coating…
The Eiffel Tower features the names of 72 French scientists and engineers engraved on its structure, some of whom are Augustin-Louis Cauchy, Pierre-Simon Laplace, Antoine Lavoisier, André-Marie Ampère, Léon Foucault, and Joseph Fourier. Although these inscriptions were concealed for some time, they have been restored and are now visible to observant visitors. It's important to note that the list exclusively comprises men, with no women mentioned.
Gustave Eiffel, Engineer
Design of Gustav Eiffel Stamp of 1982
Design of Eiffel Tower Stamp of 1939
France - 2023/03/23
4 € - Euro
The Eiffel Tower, built with wrought iron, needed a protective layer to endure the effects of natural elements. It was first presented with a copper-brown hue, but after a decade, it was coated in yellow. In 1968, the iconic "Eiffel Tower Brown" became the official color with a gradient effect achieved by using the darkest shade on the top and the lightest on the bottom. If you climb up the tower, be sure to examine the paintwork closely.
Gustave Eiffel, Engineer
France - 2023/03/27
1.80 € - Euro
On the third floor of the Tower, Gustave Eiffel, who had a great interest in science, established a meteorology laboratory where he conducted various researches in physics and aerodynamics. He also built a wind tunnel as part of his research. In a generous act, Eiffel allowed other scientists to use the laboratory for their own experiments. Throughout the years, the Tower housed numerous other installations, although many have since been removed. Among them were "Le Figaro" newspaper offices, which were situated on the second floor for six months in 1889, a post office located on the first floor, and a wooden theater on the first floor designed by Sauvestre.
Continue Reading
Today we’ve seen some interesting stamps and facts related to Gustave Eiffel and the Eiffel Tower. If you want to read about more famous people on stamps, we would recommend to continue with the following:
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