Pluk van de Petteflet by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-4028393
Country: Netherlands

Tow-Truck Pluck is a children's book by Dutch writer Annie M.G. Schmidt. First published in 1971, it remains in print and is one of the most popular Dutch books for children, and the second most popular book by Schmidt (after Jip and Janneke). A radio drama based on the book was produced in 2002, and a movie in 2004. The cover of Pluk (all drawings are by Schmidt's regular illustrator, Fiep Westendorp) is used to illustrate the article about Schmidt on the website of the "Canon of the Netherlands," and Pluk got his own stamp in 1999.

By the way, about stamps. Here we have 2 new stamps:

 * 2003. Water in Netherlands 

* 2004. Queen Beatrix

Jip and Janneke by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-2745039, NL-3139825
Country: Netherlands

Here is one more postcard painted by talented Dutch illustrator Fiep Westendorp. But the most interesting information for me was in the message. Do you know the reason why citizens of Zwolle are called like Bluefingers?)

Citizens of Zwolle are colloquially known as Blauwvingers (Bluefingers). This dates back to 1682, when the St.Michael's church tower collapsed. The authorities were strapped for cash and saw no option but to sell the church bells to neighbouring city Kampen. To make sure that Kampen would not make too much profit from the deal, the local authorities asked a high price for the church bells. Kampen accepted, yet after the arrival of the bells it became clear, they were too damaged to be played. In revenge, Kampen paid in copper coins of four duiten (the equivalent of 2-and-a-half cents). Zwolle distrusted Kampen and wanted to be sure they truly paid the entire price. After the rigorous counting of this vast amount of money, their fingers had turned blue from the copper

P.S. As I received duplicated card, I added Postcard ID of the second card at the top.

Here is the stamp from this card:

Slice of life by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-2623791
Country: Netherlands

Yesterday I described another card painted by Fiep Westendorp - this one. It looks that both these illustration are from the same book. Really wonderful, yeah? :)

Once I receive new postcard of this painter I begin to love your works a little more :)

Here is a stamp from the card:

Book illustration by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-1844293
Country: Netherlands

I so like postcards from the Netherlands! I knew about Fiep Westendorp from my postcrossing activity and now like all her works! And would like to read all books with her illustration :)

As I already made I post about Fiep Westendorp,so today I want to say some word about the book author:

Anna Maria Geertruida "Annie" Schmidt was a Dutch writer. She is called the mother of the Dutch theatrical song and the queen of Dutch children's literature, praised for her "delicious Dutch idiom," and considered one of the greatest Dutch writers. An ultimate honour was extended to her posthumously, in 2007, when a group of Dutch historians compiled the "Canon of Dutch History" and included Schmidt, alongside national icons such as Vincent van Gogh and Anne Frank.

Although Schmidt wrote poetry, songs, books, plays, musicals, and radio and television drama for adults, she is known best for children's books. Her best-known work for children may be the series Jip and Janneke. Many of her books, such as Pluk van de Petteflet, were illustrated by Fiep Westendorp.

Schmidt received the 1988 Hans Christian Andersen Medal for her lasting contribution as a children's writer. The biennial award conferred by the International Board on Books for Young People is the highest recognition available to a writer or illustrator of children's books.

Jip and Janneke by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: GB-552485
Country: United Kingdom

When I saw this postcard in my mailbox, I was sure that this card came to from Netherlands. But no! This is the postcard from United Kingdom :)

It was sent to me by a woman that is Dutch but live in England. Manon grew up with lots of books illustrated by Fiep Westendorp. By the way, I've known about this author due to postcrossing activity :)

Two children from this card are Jip and Janneke. Every Dutch child knows them :)

Here is a UK stamp:

Illustration by Fiep Westendorp

Postcard ID: NL-2203925
Country: Netherlands

Sophia Maria "Fiep" Westendorp was a Dutch illustrator who became especially popular due to her long-term collaboration with writer Annie M.G. Schmidt. Three generations of Dutch people have grown up with her illustrations. The drawings she made for Jip en Janneke, a series of stories which ran in Dutch newspaper Het Parool from 1953 to 1957, now adorn a variety of items sold by Dutch department store HEMA. Since the regular Dutch awards for illustrations always eluded her, she was given a unique award for her entire oeuvre in 1997. Since 2007, the University of Amsterdam have an endowed chair for illustration in Westendorp's honor.

Jip and Janneke

Postcard ID: NL-2177420

Country: Netherlands

Jip and Janneke is a series of children's books in the Netherlands, written by Annie M.G. Schmidt and illustrated by Fiep Westendorp.

The series was originally written for Het Parool. Between 13 September 1952 and 7 September 1957 a weekly episode of no more than 250 words was published. Each episode is an independent story in itself. The stories were later collected and published as books.

I like this series of cards and already have a few postcards with Jip and Janneke.

Here is the Dutch stamp: