Edward Jenner postage stamp

News - One of Gloucestershire’s most famous residents, the immunologist Edward Jenner, has been commemorated in a Royal Mail postage stamp.

A set of special postage stamps celebrating the 350th anniversary of The Royal Society has been launched, with Gloucestershire’s own Edward Jenner featuring among the ten pioneers of science and technology immortalised on the first class stamps.

A fellow of The Royal Society – the world’s oldest scientific academy in continuous existence – Edward Jenner’s portrait has been featured alongside those of US founding father Benjamin Franklin, inventor of the programmable computer Charles Babbage and New Zealand physicist Ernest Rutherford.

The portraits have been paired with colourful imagery representing their achievements. Julietta Edgar, Head of Special Stamps, at Royal Mail said: ‘The contrast of black and white portraits and eye-catching use of scientific imagery has resulted in a spectacular and thought-provoking design.’

For those not in the know about Gloucestershire’s over-achieving resident, Edward Jenner discovered the vaccination for smallpox – one of the greatest medical discoveries in history. His home in Berkley is open to members of the public as The Edward Jenner Museum.

It is also the 30th anniversary since the global eradication of smallpox in 2010, making it a particularly important year for the science community.

SoGlos.com
5 March 2010