The Digital Disability Stamp collection. Philately a collection of Postage Stamps from around the world with images of disability
1981 International Year of Disabled People on Postage Stamps
Commissioned and supported by Unlimited, celebrating the work of disabled artists, with funding from Arts Council England.
Our collection of postage stamps draws together a number of collections, making it one of the largest themed Philately: images of disability.
The stamps illustrate the many, different and changing depictions of disability on a global scale.
Full access to the collection is under development.
‘The year 1981 was proclaimed the International Year of Disabled Persons (IYDP) by the United Nations.
It called for a plan of action with an emphasis on equalization of opportunities, rehabilitation and prevention of disabilities’ (from Wikipedia).Postage stamps across the world were issued to mark the occasion, the imaginary on these stamps capture attitudes of the time. Our project takes a look back at the images of disability on these stamps.