In 1993, the British Christmas stamps celebrated the 150th anniversary of the publication of A Christmas Carol (1843) by Charles Dickens. Within a week of its publication some 6000 copies of the book had been sold at five shillings each. Dickens declared the book “a most prodigious success – the greatest, I think.”
Quentin Blake (1932-), renowned illustrator, cartoonist, caricaturist and children’s writer, was asked to design the five stamps of the set and illustrate the first day cover and the presentation pack. According to the British Philatelic Bulletin Vol. 31/1993, his work has been exhibited on numerous occasions, with a retrospective exhibition at the National Theatre in 1984 and his publications, as author and illustrator, are voluminous, including books for children. He has also provided illustrations for works by Ogden Nash, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, Roald Dahl, Sir Clement Freud, Lewis Carroll, Evelyn Waugh, and George Orwell.
We picked up this beautiful Royal Mail advertising poster from the Twitter account of Alexios Papadopoulos and brought it here in order to admire Quentin Blake’s work, get into the season’s spirit and wish our readers Happy Holidays and a Prosperous New Year.
Thanks to FEPA News for this item.