Nature’s Majesty in Miniature: The 1933 Réunion 10c Salazie Waterfall Stamp

Historical and Iconographic Overview

Technical Specifications

This stamp is a classic example of the "Paysages" (Landscapes) definitive series, which marked a shift in French colonial design from allegorical figures to the celebration of local natural beauty.Country of Issue: Réunion (French Colony)

Date of Issue: 1933

Denomination: 10 centimes (10 c)

Subject: La Cascade de Salazie (Salazie Waterfall)

Color: Greenish-blue / Blue-green

Printing Process: Recess (Taille-douce)

Perforation: $13.5 x 13

Paper Type: Thin, white wove paper

Historical and Iconographic Overview

The year 1933 was a period of consolidation for the French Colonial Empire. Réunion, known historically as Île Bourbon, was one of the "Old Colonies" (Vieilles Colonies) that had been under French control since the 17th century. Unlike the African colonies acquired during the late 19th-century "Scramble for Africa," Réunion had developed a unique, stable Creole culture deeply integrated with the French administration.

During the 1930s, the French Colonial Ministry sought to promote tourism and "Empire Pride" through a series of beautifully engraved stamps featuring iconic landscapes. The Salazie Cirque, depicted on this stamp, is one of three massive volcanic calderas on the island. Known for its lush greenery and hundreds of cascading waterfalls, Salazie is a UNESCO World Heritage site today. The choice of the waterfall for the 10-centime denomination—a rate often used for local printed matter or postcards—ensured that this image of tropical paradise traveled widely both within the island and back to mainland France.

Inscriptions and Translations

REUNION: The name of the issuing territory.

LA CASCADE DE SALAZIE: The Salazie Waterfall.

POSTES: Indicates its use for postal services.

RF (Republique Française): French Republic (found in the design corners).10c: The face value of 10 centimes.