Centenary of Little Mermaid statue is celebrated by stamp issue

The famous 'Little Mermaid' statue at Copenhagen celebrates its centenary this August, a celebration marked by the issue of a special stamp. Hans Christian Andersen's well-known fairy tale of the girl who gave up her life in the sea to marry the man she loved was honoured by a statue in Copenhagen (the town where he lived).

Post Danmark's special stamp is to be issued ahead of the centenary of the unveiling of the statue on 23 August 1913. The stamp shows the statue, which depicts the mermaid gazing out to sea, and stands beside the water at Langeline, Copenhagen. The stamp was designed and engraved by Martin Morck and the surrounding sheet includes further photographic detail of the rock on which the statue stands and the waterfront at Copenhagen.

The Little Mermaid statue

The Little Mermaid statue was the work of sculptor Edvard Eriksen who based the mermaid figure on his wife, Eline. The bronze statue was cast by Carl N G Ramussen, bronze caster to the Royal Danish Court. Despite the fact that it attracts thousands of tourists each year, the statue has also drawn unwanted attention as it has been the subject of several attacks by vandals. Twice the statue has had its head taken; it has been daubed with paint; and had one of its arms broken several times. Plaster casts of different parts of the statue are now kept permanently in readiness.

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