The Singapore Philatelic Museum presents The Fairy Tale World of Hans Christian Andersen exhibition, as part of Singapore’s celebrations to mark the 200th anniversary of the renowned writer. From The Ugly Duckling to The Emperor’s New Clothes, HC Andersen’s stories have touched the lives of children and adults the world over. This exhibition will feature the life and literary works of the Danish writer through local and international stamps.

HC Andersen was a prolific writer. He wrote diaries, several autobiographies with the first in 1832 and one for every decade of his adult life, letters, plays, six novels, hundreds of poems and no less than 170 fairy tales, the latter he only started when he was 30 years old. When narrating the fairy tales, he would snip away on his paper cut-outs with his scissors and at the end of the story unfold his paper creation to a captivated audience. His paper-cuttings of dancers, palaces, theatres, clowns, ‘heart stealers’ (his unique creation) are not just visually pleasing, it is challenging to see beyond these intricate patterns.

HC Anderson’s stories are translated into more than 150 languages and numerous countries have issued stamps and philatelic materials in recognition of his achievement. For the first time, Singapore issued stamps that feature a foreign celebrity, and include four of his popular fairy tales.

Highlights of the exhibition include philatelic items on loan from Post and Tele Museum in Denmark. The Kingdom of Denmark has issued postage stamps on HC Andersen on five occasions. These stamps will be on display, including the earliest stamp issue in 1935, together with its selected and non-selected artworks. Other items on loan include a photograph of HC Andersen in his sixties, and the first known poem written by HC Andersen when he was 11 ½ years old. Pictures showing paper-cuttings, from the Odense City Museums, will also be showcased.