France 1955 – Laplace 

Pierre Simon, Marquis de Laplace (1749–1827), a French mathematician and astronomer sometimes referred to as the ‘French Newton’, was one of the giants in the development of celestial mechanics, the branch of astronomy concerned with the calculation of orbits and the motions of celestial bodies under the influence of gravity. His masterwork was the five-volume Traité de mécanique céleste (published 1799–1825). Laplace is noted for developing the so-called nebular hypothesis to explain the origin of the Solar System, a forerunner of modern views, and he was one of the first to foresee the possible existence of black holes. 

The stamp has a face value of 30f with a 9f surcharge as it was part of a set issued to raise money for the National Relief Fund. 

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