The Eiffel Tower

We were shown a rather wonderful presentation recently from Dr Gary Cook on The Eifell Tower, but specifically looking at it from a philatelic angle.

Starting with the original idea behind building a tower on the site, and the philatelic material surrounding the planning and decision-making process, we were told the story of the extraordinarily quick building of the tower to be ready for the Paris Exposition Universelle in 1898, to mark the centenary of the French Revolution.

With the Exposition opening in 1889 came, of course, a range of cachets and other philatelic material that visitors were able to send from various parts of the tower at different times. There were even balloon cards that were attached to a helium balloon, released at the tower, and put into the post by the finder wherever they came to ground.

After the first exposition and before the next one there were a whole variety of cards, postmarks cachets, and other material that we were treated to. We thoroughly enjoyed the presentation from Garyand the vote of thanks was given by our Secretary Carol Slater.