2018-05-02 Wed

Readers of An Post’s new-issue bulletin Irish Stamps, The Collector, have voted Ireland’s Che Guevara stamp as the “stamp issue of the year 2017”. Issued on 5th October 2017, officials claimed that the stamp managed to create conversations and debate through art, due to which it won the poll.

The famous red and black poster image of Guevara created by Irish artist Jim Fitzpatrick is featured on the £1 commemorative stamp. The original photograph was taken by Cuban photographer Alberto Korda. The stamp commemorates the 50th death anniversary of Guevara. Both the Marxist revolutionary and the artist of the poster are from Ireland.

He was the main force behind the revolt against the Cuban government in the late 1950s. He was arrested and executed by Bolivian army on 9th October 1967 because of his guerrilla revolutionary techniques.

There are many who criticized his actions and were not in favour of the commemorative issue. However, the stamp gained popularity over time. All the 122,000 stamps from the first release were sold out by 12th October 2017. The second set was released in mid-November 2017. These stamps have been sold out as well.

Image Courtesy: An Post