Theme of the stamp
The annual issue For Children commemorates Helena Zmatlíková, one of the leading Czech female illustrators of children's books. Born on November 19th, 1923 in Prague, Helena became an apprentice dressmaker, but she preferred drawing to sewing. Her father paid for her drawing lessons, and soon nothing prevented her from pursuing her beloved vocation. In the wartime she worked as a graphic designer in the Melantrich graphic studio and designed handbags. She also made up and illustrated jokes for newspapers and magazines. She started her profession as an illustrator by illustrating books for adults, but after some time she exchanged them for children's books. Later on she was only a children's books illustrators, one of the core staff of the children's book publishing house Albatros. The best known books, illustrated by Zmatlíková, include Children from Bullerbyne, Karkulín ze střechy, Martínkova čítanka, Z deníku kocoura Modroočka. The television bedtime story, Domeček u tří koťátek (The Little House of Three Little Kittens), illustrated by Zmatlíková, is also well remembered by the Czech population. Books with her illustrations were published in a number of countries and translated into dozens of languages. They have become hugely popular particularly in Japan, where new editions have been published on a regular basis. Helena Zmatlíková also created a large number of pop-up and colouring children's books. Her work includes illustrations for about three hundred books. Helena Zmatlíková died on April 4th, 2005.
The postage stamps will be issued also in the form of a special philatelic booklet with 8 stamps and 2 coupons.
Method of printing
rotary recess print in black combined with photogravure in green, red, blue and yellow