France, 1927. France. Inauguration of the Boulevard Haussmann, Paris, a bronze medal by P.-V. Dautel, bust of Haussmann, street map behind, reverse worker excavating, 65mm (Classens 47, variety; cf. BDW 5, 129). Softly worked, very fine; in original maroon case of issue (£50-70)

The famous Parisian thoroughfare, Boulevard Haussmann, named after its instigator Baron Haussmann (1809-84), was begun in 1857, but work was not completed until 70 years later, delayed in part by World War I