Eugène Vaillé
Encyclopedia
Eugène Vaillé was a French postal historian and the first curator of the postal museum of France, now La Poste's Museum
, from 1946 to 1955.
, Vaillé was a Doctor in Law. In 1920, he was hired by the Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones
as a librarian. During this following decade, he managed the central library of the PTT.
In 1936, he convinced PTT Minister Georges Mandel
to start again the project to create a postal museum ; the first one took place late 19th-early 20th century. Even if the economic crisis of the 1930s
and World War II
prevented any concrete action, Vaillé inventoriated the collections and material available in the French posts' archives and libraries. In 1943, he became president of the future museum's ruling board.
On 4 June 1946, he became its first curator with the inaugural of the Postal Museum of France. The museum was installed in the Choiseul-Praslin residence in the 6th arrondissement
of Paris
. He retired in 1955.
A French postal historian, he was elected titulary member of the Académie de philatélie
in 1938, then was entitled honorary member in 1955. He is known for the writing of a "General History of the French Posts" in sept tomes, published between 1947 and 1955.
He wrote fable
s under the pseudonym
of Jean Coulanges.
Musée de La Poste
The Musée de La Poste is the museum of the French postal operator La Poste. It specialises in the postal history and philately of France...
, from 1946 to 1955.
Biography
Born in HéraultHérault
Hérault is a department in the south of France named after the Hérault river.-History:Hérault is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790...
, Vaillé was a Doctor in Law. In 1920, he was hired by the Minister of Posts, Telegraphs and Telephones
Postal Telegraph and Telephone
A postal, telegraph, and telephone service is a government agency responsible for postal mail, telegraph, and telephone services. Such monopolies existed in many countries, though not in North America or Japan. Many PTTs have been partially or completely privatized in recent years...
as a librarian. During this following decade, he managed the central library of the PTT.
In 1936, he convinced PTT Minister Georges Mandel
Georges Mandel
Georges Mandel was a French politician, journalist, and French Resistance leader.-Biography:Born Louis George Rothschild in Chatou, Yvelines, was the son of a tailor...
to start again the project to create a postal museum ; the first one took place late 19th-early 20th century. Even if the economic crisis of the 1930s
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
prevented any concrete action, Vaillé inventoriated the collections and material available in the French posts' archives and libraries. In 1943, he became president of the future museum's ruling board.
On 4 June 1946, he became its first curator with the inaugural of the Postal Museum of France. The museum was installed in the Choiseul-Praslin residence in the 6th arrondissement
VIe arrondissement
The 6th arrondissement of Paris is one of the 20 arrondissements of the capital city of France. It includes world famous educational institutions such as the École des Beaux-Arts de Paris and the Académie française, the seat of the French Senate as well as a concentration of some of Paris most...
of Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He retired in 1955.
A French postal historian, he was elected titulary member of the Académie de philatélie
Académie de philatélie
The Académie de philatélie is a French philatelic voluntary association created in 1928. Its goal is to promote philately and philatelic studies....
in 1938, then was entitled honorary member in 1955. He is known for the writing of a "General History of the French Posts" in sept tomes, published between 1947 and 1955.
Publications
- (1947-1955). Histoire générale des Postes françaises [General History of the French Posts], 7 volumes, Paris, Presses universitaires de France.
- (1946). Histoire des postes françaises jusqu'à la RévolutionFrench RevolutionThe French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
[History of the French Posts until the Revolution], "Que sais-je ?" collection, #200, Presses universitaires de France. - (1947). Histoire des postes françaises depuis la Révolution [History of the French Posts since the Revolution], "Que sais-je ?" collection, #260, Presses universitaires de France.
- (1950). Le Cabinet noirCabinet noirCabinet noir was the name given in France to the office where the letters of suspected persons were opened and read by public officials before being forwarded to their destination...
. Histoire du contrôle et de la violation de la correspondance privée [The Black Room. History of the Control and Violation of the Private Correspondence], Paris, Presses universitaires de France. - (1952). La Poste en France au milieu du XXe siècle [French Post in the middle of the 20th Century], Paris, Postal Museum. Engravings by Henry Cheffer, Paul Dufresne, Albert DecarisAlbert DecarisAlbert Decaris was a French artist, engraver, painter and aquarellist.At only 19, he won the Concours de Rome, the most prised award for young artists in France at the time...
, Paul-Pierre Lemagny, Charles Mazelin and cover in colors by René Dessirier. - (1959). Histoire du timbre-poste [History of the Postage Stamp], "Que sais-je ?" collection, #273, Presses universitaires de France.
He wrote fable
Fable
A fable is a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse, that features animals, mythical creatures, plants, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized , and that illustrates a moral lesson , which may at the end be expressed explicitly in a pithy maxim.A fable differs from...
s under the pseudonym
Pseudonym
A pseudonym is a name that a person assumes for a particular purpose and that differs from his or her original orthonym...
of Jean Coulanges.
Sources and references
- Martin Hella (December 2006). « Du Musée postal de France au musée de La Poste » [From the Postal Museum of France to La Poste's Museum]. L'Écho de la timbrologieL'Écho de la timbrologieL'Écho de la timbrologie is a French monthly magazine about philately and stamp collecting. First published in 1887, it is the French oldest surviving philatelic publication. Its subtitle is "La tribune des philatélistes" ....
#1802, pages 38-42.