[from PostNL press material] [click on any of the pictures for larger versions]
Molly personalized stamps

Issue date: 12 February 2024
Appearance: sheet of five personal stamps in five different designs with denomination ‘1’ for post weighing up to 20 g with a destination in the Netherlands
Item number: 840019
Design: Yvonne Warmerdam | Orange Licensing, Gouda
Illustrations: Francien van Westering

In addition to the official issue programme, PostNL also has an annual issue programme for personal stamps, which is flexible.

The Molly stamp sheet features illustrations by Francien van Westering and was issued on 12 February 2024. Each of the five personal stamps bears the denomination ‘1’ for post weighing up to 20 g with a destination in the Netherlands. The stamp design was created by art director Yvonne Warmerdam of Gouda-based Orange Licensing. A sheet of five stamps costs €5.45.

The cat Molly is the main character in van Westering’s columns and books. She first came up with and drew Molly when she was a child. It was not until later in life, after making a career and name for herself as the ‘cat artist’ of the Netherlands, that she brought Molly back to life. She did so in columns in the women’s magazine Margriet and children’s magazine Bobo Magazine, as well as in books that she wrote and drew about Molly. Molly goes on little adventures in the countryside, loves nature, wears flamboyant dresses and doesn’t go anywhere without her hat with flowers on it.

A large drawing of Molly in a hammock covers the sheet border. One of the stamps has a cut-out of this illustration. The other four stamps feature drawings of Molly with flowers, Molly with flowers and a cat at her feet, Molly sitting against a tree and Molly with a wheelbarrow with two cats in it. Of the five illustrations on the stamps, two fill the entire picture plane and three are individual illustrations. The three stamps with an individual illustration feature flowers against a white background. The Molly logo serves as the title of this issue on all stamps and at the top left of the sheet border.

The design of the Molly stamp sheet was created by Yvonne Warmerdam, art director of Gouda-based Orange Licensing. She is intimately familiar with the work of Francien van Westering. “We have represented Francien from the very start [of the firm 10 years ago],” she said. “Until now, we have mostly used her lifelike cat drawings, but recently began also using her Molly illustrations – first on greeting cards, followed by Christmas cards and now on this stamp sheet.”

“Every cat lover is familiar with Francien van Westering. It is clear that she has a huge fan base by the enthusiasm of the response to more products with Molly’s drawings now becoming available.”

Warmerdam had access to a huge collection of Molly drawings, which made “it easy to tell the story of Molly: a city cat who moves to the countryside. As a child, Francien often went on holiday to England with her mother and younger brother. She has always loved the country and its beautiful landscapes, especially the hills. This same landscape can be seen in the drawing I chose for the background, with Molly in the hammock.”

Warmerdam believes that the Molly character comes across well in all the illustrations. “Molly is really a little lady who is always groomed to perfection. She loves the countryside, being outdoors and flowers. The illustrations have lots of character, with soft colours and a nice nostalgic and warm look & feel. There is a sweetness about them, which we could all use nowadays.”

This is the second set of Dutch stamps to use van Westering’s drawings. In 2015, PostNL issued Francien’s Cats, with four sheets of three stamps each.

The Molly stamp sheet is available only through the Collect Club philatelic service, either via the website or telephone ordering.

Technical Data:
Stamp size: 30 x 40 mm (wxh)
Sheet size: 170 x 122 mm (wxh)
Paper: normal with phosphor print
Gumming: gummed
Printing technique: offset
Print colours: cyan, magenta, yellow, black
Print run: number of sheets
Appearance: sheet with five personal stamps in five different designs
Denomination: denomination ‘1’ for post weighing up to 20 g with a : destination in the Netherlands
Design: Yvonne Warmerdam | Orange Licensing, Gouda
Illustrations: Francien van Westering
Item number: 840019

Note: PostNL does not sell directly to collectors in North America. Its website refers to a company called Nordfirm, which says it sells Dutch new issues at face value. The Virtual Stamp Club has no connection to this company.