From Michael de Petrovsky.
IN response to Barrie Bertram’s lam-ent concerning his dissatisfaction with the philatelic products of Jersey Post (JEP, 7 February), I would like to suggest a worthy subject for a forthcoming issue.

Thursday 12 February 2009 will be the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. As Mr Bertram has pointed out, Jersey Post has seen fit to produce a stamp commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Prince of Wales becoming the Prince of Wales — hardly an occasion that has more than a remote connection with this Island.

Indeed one might well ask why the portrait of this man, who is reputed to talk to plants, is said to require a flunky to load his toothbrush and who pontificates on GM crops without any sound scientific education, is used to illustrate one of our stamps. I would suggest that such qualifications are more suited to gaining a place among those objects of mindless admiration to be found in Hello magazine.

As for Darwin, here we have a man who threw open the doors to a scientific renaissance; who shattered the myths and unfounded beliefs of centuries of ignorance; whose foresight laid the seeds of today’s genetic engineering which, in time, is likely to prevent the onset of, and cure, many of today’s terminal illnesses and much more besides.

What an extensive, wonderful and educational subject he presents — not only to philatelic design, but to the world at large. Based on Darwin, the abundance of material for potential artists is almost overwhelming.

There is the path of evolution, from the emergence of man’s first ancestors from the primordial swamp to today’s top scientific geniuses, with its great range of fossilised creatures along the way; there is the voyage of the Beagle; the strange creatures and plants peculiar to the Galapagos; and the scenic beauty of the islands themselves.

It would be a shame were we in Jersey to allow Charles Darwin’s anniversary to pass unnoticed. Recording it on our stamps would at least show that we appreciate his having made an enormous contribution to our advance along the road of enlightenment.
Le Sellier,
Rue du Rondin,
St Mary.