World Book Day is celebrated each year on 23 April. It was established by UNESCO in 1995, and the first celebration was held in 1996. In this article, we’ll take a look at stamps related to four famous books and see how great stories and ideas also found their place in philately.
We’ll start with On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. This is one of the most important science books ever written because it changed the way people understand life in nature. In it, Darwin explained the idea of evolution by natural selection and showed how species slowly change over time. The book had a huge impact on biology and on the study of the natural world. Even today, it is remembered as a work that changed science forever.
On the Origin of Species (Charles Darwin)
Ukraine – 2018
“Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge: it is those who know little, not those who know much, who so positively assert that this or that problem will never be solved by science.” - Charles Darwin
The next book is Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Sir Isaac Newton. In this famous work, Newton explained the laws of motion and gravity, helping people better understand how objects move on Earth and in space. The book laid the foundation for classical physics and influenced science for centuries. Even though it is not an easy book to read, its importance is enormous. It is still seen as one of the key works in the history of science.
Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Sir Isaac Newton)
The Principia Mathematica
Motion of Bodies in Ellipses
Optick Treatise
The System of the World
UK – 1987
“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” - Sir Isaac Newton
After that, we come to The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. This is one of the most loved books in the world. Although it is often seen as a children’s story, it also speaks to adults through simple but deep ideas about love, friendship, loneliness, and human nature. Its gentle style and memorable characters made it popular across many countries and generations.
The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry)
Japan – 2019
“What is essential is invisible to the eye.” - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Finally, there is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. This is one of the most famous children’s books ever written. It is especially remembered for its imaginative story, unforgettable illustrations, and the way it understands a child’s emotions and inner world. The book showed that children’s literature could be playful, a little wild, and still very meaningful. Over the years, it became a classic and influenced many later picture books.
Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak)
USA - 2006
“I'll eat you up!” - Maurice Sendak
The stamps and books we saw today remind us that books and philately both preserve ideas, stories, and history, and that reading still matters because it helps us understand the world, broaden our minds, and keep great works alive for new generations.
