STAMP COLLECTING ISN’T BORING: Digging for the Real Stories Behind the Stamps! This episode of The Coin and Stamp Chronicles talks about a stamp of the Island of Reunion and the waterfall, officially in the Cirque de Salazie, that is popularly known as Brides Veil Falls (or Voile de la Mariée).
In 1933, the French island of Réunion issued a striking new series of definitive stamps that replaced the long-standing “Navigation and Commerce” designs. Among these, the most visually arresting is the 30c (centime) green stamp featuring the Cascade of Salazie.
The Design: The “White Cascade”
The stamp depicts the lush, volcanic landscape of the Cirque de Salazie, one of the island’s three massive natural amphitheatres. The central focus is a powerful waterfall known as the Cascade Blanche (White Cascade), which drops hundreds of feet down the verdant cliffs of the Piton des Neiges.
- Designer/Engraver: Robert Caulet
- Printing Method: Steel engraving (Recchi)
- Printer: Institut de Gravure et d’Impression de Papiers-Valeurs, Paris
- Perforation: 12½
Historical Context
This issue was part of a larger 41-stamp pictorial series released between 1933 and 1940. It marked a shift in colonial postal strategy, moving away from generic symbols of trade toward territorial pride and tourism. By showcasing the island’s unique geography—waterfalls, the “Waterfowl Lake,” and the Leon Dierx Museum—France aimed to highlight the natural beauty and cultural development of its Indian Ocean department.
Philatelic Significance
While the standard green 30c stamp is relatively common today, the design itself became a platform for several notable philatelic varieties:
“France Libre” Overprints: During World War II, following the island’s liberation from Vichy control in 1942, these stamps were overprinted with “France Libre” (Free France) to signify the island’s allegiance to General de Gaulle.
Airmail Overprints: In 1937, some of the waterfall designs were overprinted to commemorate the “Roland Garros” flight from Reunion to Paris.