LA PEROUSE through philately

By Jean-Pierre THOMAS (Association Salomon)

 

The inspiration for this article came to us from many exchanges with General Bertrand Potel, erudite and passionate about military history. Having recently discovered our archaeological research through the reports of Yves Bourgeois on our expeditions to Vanikoro, Mr Potel has collected a large quantity of documents. Sadly, he recently passed away and indulged in what he himself described as "free speech or analyzes made by a non-expert and which gives more freedom for their exploitation by third parties". He thus documented the career of La Pérouse, his representations, his decorations, his ships and his crews, without forgetting the stamps and the medals, which have helped to preserve his memory. 
This article takes up from his knowledge of the philately of metropolitan France. We have “expanded” this article with documents sought from around the world and brought together by us. Many stamps are part of a private collection belonging to one of the members of our association. They are often of high artistic quality, and some will be commented on.

 

MILITARY CAMPAIGNS

 

The legend of this Polynesian stamp of 1976 arouses some remark. It is surprising to see La Pérouse appear alongside Rodney, Commander of the English fleet and winner of the French squadron at the Battle of Saintes in April 1782. This was indeed commanded by Count De Grasse and the Commanding the Triomphant was De Vaudreuil. La Pérouse, meanwhile, was a captain and commanded the frigate L'Astrée.

 

EXPEDITION 1785-1788

 

FRANCE METROPOLITAN

 

A ) Stamp Day 1942 Bicentenary of the birth of La Pérouse. His portrait reproduces one of his most famous paintings.

 

This stamp was used for many marcophilately cards.

 

And was the subject of a prestige show in 2018

 

B ) Tribute to 6 great French navigators in 1988, with their profile portrait and the oceanic route of their explorations.

 

The issue of this stamp was the occasion for the distribution of many cards commemorating La Pérouse himself.

 

And also his trip around the world and some of his main stops.

 

And a first day cover in 1989.

 

C ) A 2006 series brings together some Famous Boats, including La Boussole (The Astrolabe is that of Dumont d'Urville).

 

FRANCE OVERSEAS 

 

A ) NEW CALEDONIA 

In 1928 issue of a series of 14 commonly used stamps representing inset Bougainville on the left, and La Pérouse on the right. This is the oldest philatelic representation of La Pérouse that we know of.

 

This series has subsequently been the subject of various surcharges

 

In 1974, in a series of five values ​​commemorating the 200th anniversary of the discovery of New Caledonia, we find La Pérouse and one of his ships.

 

There is no written record of the reconnaissance of the west coast by La Pérouse, his logbook having disappeared during the sinking. But there are many arguments to attribute it to him. And not least is the mission entrusted to him by the King to explore this coast, while James Cook had only been able to explore the East Coast in 1774.

In 1988, the meeting in Botany Bay (Australia) between La Pérouse and Phillip (Commander of the First Fleet) in 1788 is commemorated. 
This beautiful block of 2 values ​​illustrates well the geographical situation and the context of this cordial meeting. Botany Bay is the last known stopover of the La Pérouse expedition.

 

1988 is also the bicentenary of the disappearance of the expedition.

 

Both ships are sailing downwind. The presumed route taken between Australia (Botany Bay) and the place of the shipwreck (Vanikoro, Solomon Islands) is shown. Mention is made of the Salomon Association, bringing together, around Alain Conan, a team of New Caledonians who have been carrying out research in Vanikoro since 1981.

B ) WALLIS AND FUTUNA

In 1973 La Pérouse found his place in a series of 4 “great discoverers” stamps.

 

We find La Pérouse and his two ships on a 1988 stamp.

 

OTHER COUNTRIES 

 

A ) VANUATU issued in 1999 a series of five stamps on the first explorers of the Pacific and one on three notorious French explorers.

 

La Pérouse is represented on a detail of Nicolas Monsiau's painting of 1817 (and receiving on a world map, before his departure, the recommendations of King Louis XVI).

B ) The SOLOMON ISLANDS 

This is where Vanikoro is located and this country had to commemorate La Pérouse. 
A series of five stamps published in 1994 recounts the expedition and its tragic outcome.

 

Very surprising is the tricolor flag flown by La Boussole and L’Astrolabe while these boats will never experience the French Revolution of 1789... On the map "the island of La Pérouse" is obviously Vanikoro and the position of the two wrecks very approximate.
In 2009, in a series listing various exploration boats, there is a stamp representing La Boussole and L’Astrolabe sailing together.

 

 

We have to make the same objection concerning the tricolor flag!

C ) NORFOLK

La Pérouse made a very brief stopover there before heading to Australia. 
This small Pacific state commemorated this visit in 1987 with a set of three stamps.

 

On both sides of this visit: the preparation of the trip and its final tragedy.

D ) SAMOA

In Tutuila, one of the main islands of this country (then called Island of the Navigators) occurred the massacre of eleven members of the expedition, including Fleuriot De Langle (Commander of the Astrolabe). In 1987, La Pérouse was honored as an explorer of the Pacific.

 

Here too we see a detail of the famous painting by Monsiau (La Pérouse receiving instructions from the King of France in 1785).

E) TONGA

In 1788, La Pérouse explored the islands of this Pacific archipelago, formerly known as Île des Amis.

 

F ) THE MALDIVES 

THE MALDIVES listed a few shipwrecks and maritime mysteries in 2001, including that of La Pérouse (although at that date, the sites and circumstances of the shipwreck were no longer a mystery...).

 

The two ships (including La Boussole with its incorrect spelling) were peacefully anchored in a welcoming bay in 1789, one year after the sinking!

 

RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIES 

 

DOCUMENTS SALOMON ASSOCIATION 

 

This association of New Caledonian volunteers carried out between 1981 and 2008, nine excavation campaigns in Vanikoro. Some have given rise to the issuance of “personalized” philatelic documents.

 

NEW-CALEDONIA MARITIME MUSEUM

 

Its existence dates back to 1999. It was born from the desire of the members of the Salomon association and that of Fortunes de Mer to collect and exhibit the results of their archaeological excavations. We find there in particular, in a historical and educational context, a large number of objects and their laboratory treatment resulting from the excavation campaigns in Vanikoro.

 

 

PERSONAL TRIBUTES

 

We owe them mainly to the French Navy.

 

La Pérouse and his two ships left their names to various cartographic places. But we do not know of any appearing on a stamp.