Initially this stamp had to commemorate the launching of the new large cruise liner of the Sud Atlantique company, the "Pasteur". The issue of this stamp was scheduled for the launching of the ship in September 1939, but the declaration of war, which occurred on 3 September, cancelled the commercial launching of the "Pasteur", and consequently the issue of the stamp was also cancelled. The postage stamp illustrating the "Pasteur" was finally issued on 17 May 1941.