Category: Stamp

Number Stamps

In 1976 the first Number Stamps of Dutch designer Wim Crouwel were released. Like these stamps all the designs from Wim Crouwel are functional and esthetic. His designs are always personal in spite of his systematic treatment.

Crouwel has used a very strict grid for the numerals and letters. All the corners are 45 degrees, with a exception of the “4” because of the width of the “4”. The backgrounds of all these stamps are all different. The tone gradation from dark to light is sometimes higher and sometimes lower. Otherwise the horizontal bar could be exactly at the change, which wouldn’t be visible.

The typeface “Gridnik” which Crouwel designed for these stamps was original designed for the keys of a Olivetti typewriter. The typewriter never went into production, because the computer took over. The KLM a Royal Dutch Airline company is using the Gridnik now in their new house style for facts and data.

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British stamps

Britain’s Royal Mail has issued a set of ten stamps celebrating 20th-century British design classics.

Each of the 10 special stamps, from Concorde to the Mini, from early Penguin paperbacks to Giles Gilbert Scott’s red K2 telephone kiosks are part and parcel of Britain’s 20th century design adventure.

The stamps themselves are little calm gems, almost like small design posters. Could easily see these framed on my wall!

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