Confirmed varieties of Louis Braille

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In 1959 the Soviet Union issued a postage stamp dedicated to the French educator and innovator Louis Braille, the creator of the writing system for the blind.
The design features Braille’s bust inside an oval medallion against a turquoise-green background; below, his name appears along with the inscription: “Founder of the international system of writing for the blind.” The edition follows the style of Soviet commemorative stamps: clear composition, restrained graphics, and bold colour contrast.

The purpose of the issue was to mark the 150th anniversary of Louis Braille’s birth (1809-1852), thereby emphasising the theme of knowledge accessibility and communication for visually impaired individuals.

Within the philately of the Soviet Union, this issue belongs to the theme “outstanding figures of foreign science and culture,” a category widely used in the 1950s as part of ideological messaging about human achievement and international solidarity.

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Design-wise, several features stand out:

• Choosing a portrait of Braille highlights the individual achievement of a significant figure, which was less common in Soviet stamps of the time (more often themes of labour, technology, or revolution prevailed).

• The colour palette — turquoise and green combined with a bronze or brown medallion — creates a strong contrast, underscoring the portrait as the focal point.

• The typography is minimal and clean: few inscriptions, no excess decoration — consistent with the 1950s Soviet aesthetic striving for a ‘pure’ and recognisable image.

• The subject matter has a humanitarian quality (education of the blind), aligning the stamp with a more inclusive and global message rather than purely ideological or nationalistic themes.

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This issue appeals not only to collectors of Soviet philately but also to those interested in inclusion, the history of disability, and global humanitarian heritage. It demonstrates how a country, through a small object like a postage stamp, can express values, memorialise globally important figures, and shape visual memory.

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Summary

 

The 1959 USSR stamp is a refined philatelic tribute to Louis Braille: a compact cultural-historical statement, visually well realised and emblematic of its era.

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Postage stamp specifications:

• Design: B. Gundobin

• Print: Offset

• Perforation: Comb 12½ : 12​

• Circulation: 1 500 000