Austria 2009 "200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin"
| Issue Date | 24.11.2009 |
| ID | Michel: Bl. 57 Scott: Stanley Gibbons: Yvert: 2127 UPU: AT058.09-AT060.09 Category: Dw |
| Author | Design: Mag. Robert Trsek Artist: Mag. Robert Trsek |
| Stamps in set | 3 |
| Value | Euro 0.55 x3 |
| Size (width x height) | 29.6mmx38.5mm |
| Layout | 3 stamps in block |
| Products | FDC x1 |
| Paper | |
| Perforation | 13 x 13 |
| Print Technique | lithography+photogravure, multicolor |
| Printed by | Österreichische Staatsdruckerei GmbH |
| Quantity | 250,000 blocks of 3 stamp each |
| Issuing Authority | Osterreich Post AG |
As
the founder of modern evolutionary theory, Charles Darwin (1809-1882)
is without doubt one of the most important scientists of all times. His
work had a fundamental influence on biology and geology 8include
paleontology), and was of major importance for subsequent ideas.
After
an averagely successful school career and the abandonment of his
university studies, the life of the young Charles Darwin was to change
fundamentally on December 27, 1831. It was on this day that he became a
member of a voyage of discovery that he later referred to as “by far
the most important event in my life”. On HMS Beagle under Captain
Robert FitzRoy, Darwin spent five years travelling and exploring the
world: the Cape Verde Islands, the Falkland Islands, the coast of South
America, the Galapagos Islands, Patagonia, South Africa, Mauritius,
etc. On his return he not only brought a Galapagos turtle with him
(which incidentally only died in November 2006 at the age of 176), but
a mass of drawings and findings that were to form the basis for his
most important work, “The Origin of the Species". This book was
published in 1859, and sold out almost immediately. Sceptics criticised
his theory (and still do) as blasphemous, since, contrary to the
Christian story of creation, Darwin argued that the various species
were the consequence of adjustments to their habitat (“survival of the
fittest”) and had thus developedin different directions. The scientific
world, however, quickly acknowledged the sensational and well founded
conclusions.
Charles Darwin,
who later became a member of the Royal Society, published around 20
further works in the course of the years, ranging from studies on coral
reefs, meat-eating plants and orchids to the origin of mankind, his no
doubt most disputed scientific theory.
There is no doubt that his revolutionary discoveries (and his often
caricatured ideas) give Charles Darwin a strong presence even today;
they are still deeply rooted in public awareness. Thus in 1982, Darwin
took 16th place in the list ofthe most influential persons in history,
while in Great Britain, he was placed fourth of the "100 greatest
Britons”. 200 years after Darwin's birth, the theory of evolution he
founded and that has since been continuously further developed, forms
the fundamental paradigm for biology. Thanks to it, all the biological
subdisciplines such as zoology, botany, behavioural research,
embryology and genetics are brought under one roof- according to the oft
quoted sentence “Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of
evolution”. This new commemorative block is a tribute to one of the
greatest researchers of all times.
Products
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References:
Osterreich
Post AG
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Latest update 21.10.2017
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