Jersey stamps celebrate legendary children’s author and illustrator, Judith Kerr

Much-loved author and illustrator Judith Kerr will be celebrated with a set of eight stamps and a miniature sheet to be issued by Jersey Post on 14 June 2023. Issued on what would have been Kerr’s 100^th birthday, the stamps feature a selection of her best-known children’s books all published by HarperCollins Children’s Books. 

Featured across the eight stamps are illustrations from: The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Mog the Forgetful Cat, The Crocodile Under the Bed, Mog and Bunny and Katinka’s Tail, whilst the accompanying miniature sheet features a playful scene from Mog and Me.

Judith Kerr was born on 14 June 1923 in Berlin but escaped from Hitler’s Germany with her parents and brother in 1933 when she was nine years old. The family passed through Switzerland and France before finally arriving in England in 1936. Judith went to eleven different schools, worked in the Red Cross during the war, and won a scholarship to the Central School of Arts and Crafts in 1945. She worked as an artist, a BBC television scriptwriter and as an author and illustrator of children’s books. 

In 2012 Judith was awarded an OBE for her services to children’s literature and holocaust education, and in 2019 she was named Illustrator of the Year at the British Book Awards. Judith died in May 2019. Judith’s stories have delighted generations of children. Her books take pride of place on bookshelves in homes, schools and libraries around the world, including Jersey. 

Juliet Matthews, Colour Publisher, HarperCollins Children’s Books added, “We are incredibly proud and privileged to be the home of all of Judith Kerr’s publishing; these stamps are a wonderful celebration of her beautifully illustrated covers of classic stories that will continue to entertain young readers for generations to come.”

“Judith Kerr’s illustrations are exquisite, and so full of warmth, character and imagination,” comments Rachel MacKenzie, Philatelic Marketing Manager at Jersey Post. “We are honoured to have been given permission to reproduce a selection on this set of stamps and thrilled to be paying tribute to such a wonderful author and illustrator, and one who has left a lasting impression on so many people’s childhoods.”

Jersey Post’s Judith Kerr – 100 Years stamps will be available to buy from all branches of Jersey Post from 14 June 2023. Philatelic stamp products such as miniature sheets, first day covers and presentation packs will be available from the Jersey post offices at Broad Street, St Helier and Rue Des Pres, St Saviour and can be ordered now at www.jerseystamps.com or by telephoning the Jersey Philatelic Bureau on: 00 44 (0)1534 616717.