A new commemorative postage stamp titled Tribute to Sir Nicholas was introduced by Czech Post to the public at the main post office in Jindřišská street in Prague on Wednesday, 02 September 2015. The stamp designed by Czech graphic artist, painter and illustrator Zdeněk Netopil is the first stamp in the world issued as a tribute to the man who saved 669 Jewish children from transportation. About 6 thousand people owe their life to him today.

The CZK 13 stamp portraying Nicholas Winton came out in the limited number of 750 thousand pieces printed by the Postal Security Printing Company. The stamp will be available at most post offices. This is the 860th stamp issued in the Czech Republic.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by Her Excellency Jan Thompson, British Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and seven of the rescued “Winston’s children”. The programme included a presentation of the documentary footage shot by director Matej Mináč, author of several films on Nicholas Winton.

Nicholas Winston’s daughter Barbara consented to the issue of the postage stamp: “It is really extraordinary to see the face of my father on a stamp! It is an exceptional honour and I am sure that he would not have expected that something similar could ever happen. Czech Post created a permanent commemoration of his friendly relationship with the Czech Republic - a country he loved so much and the people he met and loved in the past 25 years.”

“The story of Nicholas Winton, which is not a mere idea but a reality, should become a motto, a memento to be passed from one generation to another that will always arouse admiration in the listeners but also commemorate the horrible time of this heroic act,” said Jiří Nováček, First Deputy to the Minister of the Interior and added: “I appreciate the effort of Czech Post that decided to pay tribute to this important person by issuing a commemorative postage stamp. This is the least we can do to show our gratitude and our admiration to Sir Nicholas.”

“The postage stamp titled Tribute to Sir Winston belongs to those I appreciate the most, both because of the excellent graphic design by graphic artist Zdeněk Netopil and mainly of the person portrayed on the stamp. I wish that everyone who will glue the stamp on a letter or postcard thought about the legacy left to us by Sir Nicholas Winton,” added Martin Elkán, Czech Post’s Director General.

 

Matyáš Vitík
Spokesman
Česká pošta, s.p.
vitik.matyas@cpost.cz