Stamps From Around the World

Ludwig von Beethoven (Deutsches Reich , 1927)

Thomas Edison, ‘LIGHT’S GOLDEN JUBILEE’ (US, 1929)

Alexander Graham Bell (US, 1940)

Thomas Edison (US, 1947)

Alexander Graham Bell (Canada, 1947)

Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA. (US, 1948)

In honor of the first World Deaf Chess Championship held in Warsaw. (Poland, 1955)

Deaf education had its roots with the first formal education established in Paris. Abbé Charles Michel de l’Épeé (1712-1789) founded the “Institution Nationale des sourdsmuets de Paris,” which translates as the “National Deaf-Dumb Institute of Paris.” He is honored on a 1959 French semi-postal stamp (Sc. B337). (France, 1959)

Ludwig von Beethoven (France, 1963)

A 1964 postmarked envelope is shown here as a representative example of another organization in Israel, “Micha.” that helps Deaf children. (Israel, 1964)

Commemorates the country’s hosting of the World Games for the Deaf. (Yugoslavia, 1969)

Ludwig von Beethoven (Romania, 1970)

Ludwig von Beethoven (Russia, 1970)

Alexander Graham Bell (Hungary, 1976)

Alexander Graham Bell (Togo, 1976)

Alexander Graham Bell (Swaziland, 1976)

Portrait of the young Ludwig von Beethoven at Bonn, (Maldives, 1977)

Commemorates the eighth World Federation of the Deaf Congress. (Bulgaria, 1979)

Deaf artist Mathias Stoltenberg, a deaf artist, produced the painting that became a stamp during the International Year of the Child. (Norway, 1979)

1st Day of Issue, Helen Keller, Anne Sullivan, 15cent stamp. (US, 1980)

Helen Keller (Spain, 1980)

Although not a script in the strict sense the sign language of the deaf has an alphabet of its own. It differs in the various languages of the world. The British stamp shows the finger spelling alphabet of British Sign Language. The four signs represent from left to right, “deaf.” (Canada, 1981)

Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Institute for the Deaf and Blind in Worcester, has an EFFATA motto on the stamp. This is because it is the institute’s motto. It is the Aramaic word used by Jesus Christ, according to Mark 7:34, in the healing of a deaf-mute that means “be opened.”(South Africa, 1981)

Helen Keller and Ann Sullivan (Maldives, 1981)

Thomas Edison (Wallis and Futuna, 1981)

“Homage to the Deaf” (Brazil, 1982)

Thomas Gallaudet (US, 1983)

The stamp issued in 1985 to commemorate the 50th anniversry of the Danske Døves Landsforbund (Danish Association for the Deaf) shows the sign for “D”. (Danmark, 1985)

United States – 1991 first day cover
When the post office raises prices for stamps, it stops making stamps with the old prices and starts making stamps with the new prices. But people can still use their old stamps to mail letters—they simply buy a separate stamp to make up the cost difference. The post office labels each special stamp with the letters of the alphabet. Once the post office had issued stamps through F, Rothschild thought of a special way to mail a letter. He rearranged put all the stamps together on an envelop, rearranged them, and made the first postage combination to spell DEAF in the U.S.

Commemorates the 11th World Federation of the Deaf Congress. (Japan, 1991)

Alexander Graham Bell (Cambodia, 1992)

Recognizing Deafness / American Sign Language Deaf Communication. (US, 1993)

The Deaf (Jordan, 1995)

Alexander Graham Bell (Israel, 1997)

Thomas Edison (Israel, 1997)

Lon Chaney (son of deaf parents) (US, 1997)

Frederick Law Olmsted designed the campus on which Gallaudet University, the world’s only foremost institution of higher education for the Deaf, is situated in northeast Washington, D.C. (US, 1999)

Helen Keller (Nicaragua, 1999)

Helen Keller with her secretary, Polly Thomson. (Liberia, 1999)

Helen Keller (Japan, 2000)

Thomas Edison (Ireland, 2000)

Alexander Graham Bell (Sierra Leone, 2002)