Stamp programme 2009

However, the Norwegian Cultural 
Heritage Association, which has the main responsibility for 
organizing the Norwegian Year of Cultural Heritage 2009, has a wider 
perspective. Its motto is "Cultural Heritage in Everyday Life", 
and here both red telephone kiosks and Kurér radios have a natural 
place. Just as they do on postage stamps.

In 1932 a young architect, Georg Fredrik Fasting, won the Oslo 
Telephone Exchange's competition for the design of an outdoor 
telephone kiosk and received a prize of NOK 800. By 1933 the first 
telephone kiosk was in place on the quay below Akershus Castle. Soon 
the red telephone kiosk could be seen everywhere.

Until the 1980s, there was a large gap between the demand for and 
supply of private telephones. The Telegraph Service, later Norwegian 
Telecom, was unable to meet the demand and public telephone kiosks 
were a practical solution. This development gathered speed in the 
1960s and the number of kiosks in Norway finally peaked at about 
6000. Of these only 100 remain today, but they are protected by law. 
Under an agreement with Telenor in 2007, the Directorate for Cultural 
Heritage was able to ensure their preservation. The remaining kiosks 
are still in operation and serve as a significant cultural reminder 
in local communities in Norway.

A new icon saw the light of day in 1950 when Radionette launched its 
Kurér radio. The Kurér was the company's greatest success, and the 
red transistor model in imitation alligator skin was the undisputed 
winner. Radionette's history started in 1927 with 24-year old Jan 
Wessel, in a small rented room in Oslo. "Good, reasonably priced 
radios for everyone" was the motto of the company's self-taught 
founder, and with the Kurér he struck a gold mine. The radios sold 
like hot cakes, not only in Norway, but all over the world. They were 
exported to 60 countries and Radionette became a household name. 
Factories were set up in Iran, South Africa and Turkey.

After the golden 50s, Radionette found itself in difficulties. Sales 
fell at the end of the 60s and in 1972 the company was merged with 
Tandberg Radiofabrikk. In 1978 Tandberg closed Radionette down and 
went into liqui-dation itself later the same year. A major electrical 
retailer acquired the trade mark and the Radionette name still exists 
today. The radios are manufactured in Asia.

Subcject:Kurér radio, Telephone kiosk
Design: Inger Sandved Anfinsen
Value: NOK 8.00 - NOK 8.00
Issue: 200,000 rolls, with the two stamps alternating on each roll
No. per roll: 100
Printing: Offset by Royal Joh. Enschedé, Netherlands 
Sales prices:
First day cover:  NOK 20.00
Presentation pack: NOK 21.00
Collector's set: NOK 51.00
Collector's sheet: NOK 36.00