Nicholas Tesla

I was mounting some Yugo stamps from my recent box lot and had to check the catalog on where to find this guy. He turns out to be Nicholas Tesla. I wish I had the whole set from 1956 showing his induction motor etc: but this is it so far !

In the early days of worldwide electrification, Tesla and Edison fought a monumental "war" over the most efficient means of transmitting electricity. Tesla was a champion of AC, while Edison favored DC, and had already built several DC generating stations in New York City. I won't go into details, but it profoundly changed the progress of industrialization. In the mid-1880s, Tesla actually worked for Edison, but left abruptly to pursue opportunities in designing applications for alternating current.

I think the right decision was reached !!

Dont think I've got any Tesla stamps, but I have got this nice crisp note

I've lived in Colorado Springs, Colorado for most of my life, so here's a snapshot of history about Mr. Tesla:

Back at the turn of the 20th century, Nikola Tesla had a small research shop here. It was at a time when he was conducting experiments in attempting to transmit electrical energy wirelessly. I believe he only occupied this lab for about one year.

Local residents reported seeing eerie lights and sparks emanating from his shop at night. One can't help but wonder if they imagined some sort of Frankenstein-esque shenanigans goin on there.

Reportedly, his activities drew enough power to overload and burn out the infant Colorado Springs electrical power generator!

Tesla promptly sent in his technicians, and they were able to rebuild the power station, in the process making it better and more efficient than the original. This likely kept him in the good graces of the local officials and populace.

For many years there had been a Tesla museum near the site of this lab, but I believe it was removed back in the 1990s. I never got a chance to visit it, which is a shame, because I work in the electronics industry.

There may still be a historical marker at the site, but I can't verify that either.

Another historical note about Tesla which relates to 222's post above.

Tesla's AC power transmission ideas were vigorously backed by George Westinghouse.

Thomas Edison pretty much founded General Electric.

The epic AC vs. DC battle was essentially fought between these two rival companies.

It's rather ironic that Tesla's AC system won the day and became the standard in the USA, yet his name remains rather obscure compared to Mr. Edison's.

Tesla finally did get a US stamp in his honor, but not until 1983, as part of an American Inventors block (Scott 2055-8)

Nikola Tesla Biography - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikola_Tesla
Nikola Tesla (born in Croatia, Smiljan, July 10, 1856 - died in USA, New York on January 7, 1943) was a Croatian and American scientist and inventor of Serbian origin.

These are some of the postal stamps that I have in my collections.
Croatia / Serbia and Montenegro

Another stamp of Nikola Tesla on postal stamps.

A little confused.
Do we consider him Croatian or Serbian ? and why?
Thanks.

He was an ethnic Serb born in Croatia.

Can't remember off the top of my head if SCOTT lists them, but the 15din and 30din have perf. varieties.

Thanks Rog.
I had a time getting my head around that.

https://www.quora.com/Was-Nikola-Te...at-or-a-Serb

Straightforward - Tesla was Serb born on land that today is recognised as Croatia. Let me provide some insights on that region and its turbulent history.

Place of birth doesn't normally indicate someones nationality.

Tesla both parents where Serbian origins at least several generation recorded - again, nationality is another mislead by baptism, in case of Tesla Christian Orthodox (his father was a priest). Like with story of Leo Tolstoy who recognised that Islam is something closest to his views, at second half of his life, Tesla came very close to the metaphysical world, and later explained that most closer to his view on "religion" would be Buddhist contemplation or karu#7751;#257;, or "view of compassion. There are traces of his influence within different movements (like the one that went to occult - see Helena Petrovna Blavatsky) but thats another topic. So event baptised as a small child as Orthodox, Tesla respected but did not practiced any common religion.

Further - place of birth- Tesla was born in modern day Lika, today region in Croatia, but back then Austro-Hungarian monarchy. This allowed him to educate in Graz and later work in Budapest. It was not a Croatian passport since Croatia as state did not exist at the time - crown ruler was in Vienna.

A complex history of a very complex man. Fascinating.

Being an electrical engineer, I always admired Tesla. Well, at least until I read more about him. I have known some err… unusual engineers. I have hired and worked with some extremely intelligent engineers who often do not have a lot of social skills. I think that Tesla would fit into that category. He was a lifelong bachelor who insisted that his chastity helped him focus on his work. Perhaps that was true but I can not help but wonder about his obsession with a white pigeon which he believed was communicating with him. He was also deathly afraid of touching another person's hair. Odd fellow indeed.
Don