3. Stamps Announcing Solid Improvements and Innovations and Educating General Public about a Medical Discovery or Promoting Health Programs
The first IVF baby, Louise J Brown, was delivered in Oldham England in 1978 using extracorporeal fertilization (In Vitro Fertilization-IVF), developed by obstetrician and gynecologist Patrick Steptoe (1913-1988), physiologist Robert Edwards (1925-2013), and nurse and embryologist Jean Purdy (1945-1985) 41. Since this first successful example which was a major milestone in the treatment of infertile couples, the use of IVF has spread throughout the world due to factors such as the trend for postponing childbearing, the significant drop in the number of people trying to conceive 42.
The media referred Brown as a “test tube baby” 43. In 1999, Patients’ Tale (Millennium Series - 3rd Set) Presentation Pack was issued by the Royal Mail, which comprised of four stamps. One of these four stamps depicts the photograph of the Sculpture of Test-tube Baby in cast iron sculpted by Antony Gormley, which represents the development of in vitro fertilization (Fig 12). Also 2 postcards of each stamp; 2 First Day covers were issued.
This contributed social consciousness and raise awareness of this newly established treatment option for infertility which affects approximately 15% of couples.
Georgios Nikolaou Papanikolaou (1883 – 1962), a Greek cytopathologist, found that cancerous tumors of the cervix could be discovered and diagnosed by examining cells found in vaginal secretions under the microscope 44. He invented the cervical cancer screening “Pap Smear” test, one of the greatest developments in medicine, which is widely used worldwide and resulted in a significant decline in cervical cancer incidence and mortality 45.
In 1978, Papanikolaou’s work was honored by the US Postal Service with a 13-cent stamp to draw attention to early cancer detection (Fig 13). Designed by Paul Calle, the stamp depicts Papanikolaou placing a slide under objectives lens of a microscope.
In 2004, Correo Argentino, Argentina’s postal service, point out the importance of ‘’Pap Test” by issuing a 75-centavo stamp, which put emphasis on prevention of the cervical cancer by performing “Pap Test” in advance.
In 2004, Australia Post issued stamps recognizing five Australian Innovations, which now became a part of everyday life around the world46. “Ultrasound Imaging Equipment 1976” was one of these stamps, which was designed by Mike Heine and printed by SNP Sprint (Fig 14). This stamp was dedicated to George Kossoff and colleagues, who pioneered the widespread adoption of ultrasound worldwide47-50.
The stamp depicts a pregnant woman holding an image of an ultrasound just next to her abdomen, and three people from a distance standing in the sea, most probably attributed to the Australia’s spectacular natural beauties.