100 Years of Ginger Meggs

Overview

This stamp issue marks the centenary of Ginger Meggs’ arrival on the comic scene in Australia. The star of Australia’s longest running and most widely syndicated comic strip, Ginger Meggs began life in November 1921 as a side character named Ginger Smith in a strip titled “Gladsome Gladys”, first published in Sydney’s Sunday Sun. By April 1922, the character had morphed into the leading man – known as Ginger Meggs – a mischievous, quick-witted, waistcoat-wearing, red-headed suburban kid.

Renamed first “Us Fellers” and then, in 1939, “Ginger Meggs”, the comic strip was originally created by James Charles “Jimmy” Bancks. By the time Bancks died unexpectedly of heart failure in July 1952, he had been committing to paper the life of Ginger Meggs for nearly three decades. Subsequent artists to create “Ginger Meggs” were Ron Vivian (1953–73), Lloyd Piper (1973–83) and James L Kemsley (1983–2007). Since 2007, “Ginger Meggs” has been illustrated by Perth-born, New York–based cartoonist and comedian Jason Chatfield. In his current incarnation, young Ginge, like many kids of the 21st century, has a smartphone and his buddies embody the increasingly diverse nature of modern Australia’s social landscape.

The stamps in this issue showcase the work of three of the five cartoonists who have illustrated this much-loved character. The shift in style, colour and typography across the stamps’ visual elements demonstrate something of the development of “Ginger Meggs” over the century.

Technical specifications