The children's stamp campaigns of 1971, 1974, 1976 and 1978 (2)

The second part of this series of articles focuses on the children's stamp campaigns from 1971 to 1978. It is striking that considerably less space needed to be allocated to the children's stamp years 1971 and 1974 than to the years 1976 and 1978. The reason? 50- and 30-year children's stamp anniversaries resulted in attractive and memorable supplementary issues alongside the children's stamps.

1971

In 1971, not the 47th but only the 45th children's stamp issue was released. Without background information, this will be a mystery to many. During the Second World War, no series of children's stamps were issued in 1942, 1943, and 1944. The reason? The Germans demanded the surcharge amount for pro-German charities. So in 1971, the 45th anniversary of children's stamps was celebrated with the poster / door stamp, which by Frans Mettes are designed

1974

Fifty years ago, in 1924, the first children's stamps were sold at the post office. Graphic designer Frans Mettes designed the red poster, the yellow door stamp, and the DAM postmark images. The Amsterdam Committee for Children's Stamps promoted the sale of children's stamps (annually from 1970) during the period 12–14 November by selling DAM envelopes in combination with a DAM stamp.

1976

Entirely in keeping with the children's stamp campaign, the text '50 times children's stamps' was written by a child in his handwriting. In 1974 and 1976, both series refer to 50 times children's stamps. This comes across as confusing. The reason? In 1974, the basis was the first issue of the children's stamp series in 1924. In 1976, on the other hand, the basis was the number of children's stamp series issued, namely "50 times" according to the poster that was pasted on a small plaque above a mailbox at the time. In 1974, 1975, and 1976, the 48th, 49th, and 50th stamp series were issued, respectively. With this poster (designed by Frans Mettes), people were called upon in 1976 to order or buy children's stamps. Schoolchildren, participants in the 'by children for children' school campaign, asked residents who ordered children's stamps and/or postcards from them to place a door stamp on their door or window. Other students then knew immediately that they no longer needed to ring the doorbell. In 1976, the Amsterdam Committee for Children's Stamps also promoted the sale of children's stamps during the period of November 16–18 with a DAM envelope and DAM stamp.

1978

The four children's stamps are incorporated into a perforated grid in an attractive manner. Children are placed around the stamps and within the grid, attempting to engage us as viewers with the stamps in an actively lively way. One even draws our attention to the text at the top with an index finger. On the 55-cent stamp, the text '30 x by the child for the child' is placed in an inverted position. Both door stamps (designed by Frans Mettes) and the PTT children's stamp posters feature '30x'. This number is based on 1948, when the first children's stamp school campaign was launched. The red door stamp sometimes changes color due to prolonged exposure to sunlight, causing the color to develop yellow over time. Sobbing on your knees. Years ago, Karin Bloemen had a sketch about children's stamps in her theater program. A girl tries to sell as many children's stamps as possible by playing heavily on the emotions of the people she rings the doorbell of. She portrays the campaign's charitable cause in an incredibly pitiful and dramatic way. In the end, she is literally on her knees to persuade people to order as many children's stamps as possible. In 1978, the young staff members of the 'For the Child by the Child' school campaign were thanked not only with a thank-you sticker (as is customary every year), but also with a postage stamp (nvph 1167). A little boy ringing a doorbell is trying to secure a buyer for the new children's stamps. The schoolboy is literally standing right in front of the door: both shoes are positioned in front of the frame of the image! The fact that the participation of schoolchildren was attractive is evident, among other things, from the sales figures of the 1963 stamp campaign featuring nursery rhymes. Some children's stamps were sold exclusively through schools, while other denominations were only available at the post office. The schoolchildren sold over 10 million 4-cent stamps and 19 million 12-cent stamps. For the remaining children's stamps, the sales figures are only 1.151.138, 1.200.328, and 1.108.556.

Continuation

Part 3 follows on August 18.