An Post adds its touch to Braille

23 January 2009

Des Kenny, Chief Executive of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, said, “Louis Braille was an especially gifted individual. His creativity combined with his inquisitive mind and unrelenting determination led to him design a system of reading and writing that literally revolutionised the lives of millions of people who are blind across the entire globe. It is a fitting tribute for An Post to issue this stamp in this remarkable man’s memory.”
Louis Braille lost his sight at the age of three.  While a student, he was shown a system of raised dots and dashes developed by Charles Barbier, a French army captain, as a method of reading messages in the dark.  He reduced the system to a much simplified grid consisting of just six dots, thereby creating the Braille system. 

The stamp, designed by Red Dog Design Consultants, features an eye adorned with the 55c denomination in Braille.   It features stark black ink on a white background, a contrast which helps maximise vision for those with sight impairment.  The new stamp and a first day cover may be viewed or purchased at www.irishstamps.ie and at main post offices nationwide.

This is Ireland’s second-ever Braille stamp; the first was issued in 2006 to mark the 30th anniversary of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.