Issued in 1981, this French commemorative honors the 100th anniversary of the Jules Ferry educational reforms, which established public schooling in France as free, compulsory, and secular—a cornerstone of the modern French Republic. The design features a stylized linear portrait of Jules Ferry, whose signature is reproduced beside it, printed in sharp dark-brown lines with a contrasting violet denomination. The minimalist, typographic lower panel reinforces the importance of the reform. Designed by Sainson and engraved/realized by Guillaume, this stamp appeals strongly to collectors of education history, French social reforms, and modern graphic portraiture.