http://www.stampandcoin.co.uk FEBRUARY 2016^45Christmas
1 December
The first Christmas stamps were also the most controversial. From
the start the plan had been to select designs by children, an idea of
Tony Benn’s. Eight adult stamp designers judged some 5,000 colourful
pictures and the winners were Tasveer Shemza and James Berry
(pictured below), both aged six. A runner-up design by Ann Belshaw
was used on the First Day Cover. The pictures were reproduced in
four colours each, unedited apart from the value and the head, which
was printed in gold to produce a suitably glittery, Christmassy effect.
Tasveer had left space for the head and value but on the 1/6 stamp the
Queen seems to have a runny nose and is wiping it on the snowman’s
hat! For some this issue was one innovation too many. Today, though,
one wonders what the fuss was about.Stamp designers of 1966
Gordon F. Huntly (Burns Commemoration) was a lecturer
in graphic design at the Glasgow School of Art.Sheila Robinson (1925-1988) (Westminster Abbey) was
an artist and illustrator associated with the Fry Gallery in
Saffron Walden.Leonard Rosoman RA (1913-2012) (British Landscapes)
was a distinguished illustrator, painter, muralist and
printmaker who taught at various leading art academies
including the Royal College of Art. One of his pupils was
David Hockney.David Gentleman (b. 1930) (World Cup, Battle of
Hastings) is Britain’s most talented stamp designer. He is an
independent artist, initially specialising in wood engraving.
His designs are found on book jackets and illustrations,
murals and, of course, stamps.William Kempster (1914-1976) (World Cup) was a
painter and illustrator, printmaker, muralist and poster artist
who illustrated aircraft and aspects of British life and work.David Caplan (1910-1986) (World Cup) was a poster artist
and graphic designer who worked for BP and Shell Mex.J. Norris Wood (1930-2015), described as ‘an inspired
maverick’, was an artist and illustrator who taught natural
history illustration and ecological studies at the Royal
College of Art.David and Ann Gillespie (British Technology) taught
at the Royal College of Art and were part of the ‘Swinging
Sixties’ generation, breaking free of the conventions that
constrained older artists.Andrew Restall (b. 1931) (British Technology) is an
Edinburgh-based artist who taught Visual Communications
at the University of Brighton and Edinburgh College of
Art. In 1964 he was seconded to the Post Office on a stamp
design fellowship.World Cup image: © PA/PA Archive/PA Images
Blackbird image: © Andreas Trepte, http://www.photo-natur.deGB STAMPS 1966Read more about the stamps of the 1960s, the
influence of Postmaster Tony Benn and his proposals
to remove the Queen’s head profile from British stamps
in a special article on our new-look website, just visit:MORE ONLINE!
influence of Postmaster Tony Benn and his proposalsp42 1966.indd 45 21/12/2015 09:45