In the battle against tuberculosis, a portrait of Calmette, as the saviour of children through his BCG vaccine, invites the purchase of fund-raising stamps. Colour lithograph after H. Cheffer, 1934.

In the upper part of the poster, the stamp is reproduced, much enlarged: it shows a reproduction of an engraved portrait of Calmette, and the edges simulate the serrated edges of the stamp

The red cross with two crossbars had been since 1902 the symbol of the battle against tuberculosis: it was adopted on 23 October 1902 at a Berlin conference on the suggestion of Gilbert Sersiron. It had been the device on the standard of Godfrey of Bouillon, who had placed it on the tower of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem in 1099. Its adoption indicated that the fight against tuberculosis was analogous to a crusade seen from the Christian point of view. Though similar in form, it had no connnection with the cross of Lorraine. Information from Thierry Devinck, André Wilquin: publicités, Paris: Agence Culturelle de Paris, Mairie de Paris, 1991, p. 68

Paris (66 Boulevard Saint-Michel, Paris (VIe)) : Comité National de Défense contre la Tuberculose, 1934 (Paris (27 Pas. Gambetta, Paris 20e Arrt.) : Imp. M. Dechaux)

1 print : lithograph, printed in colours ; sheet 59.8 x 40.2 cm

Achetez le nouveau timbre antituberculeux. "Calmette sauveur des tout-petits". Ministère de la Santé Publique et de l'Éducation Physique. Comité National de Défense contre la Tuberculose. Calmette sauveur des touts-petits par le vaccin B.C.G.

Wellcome Collection 525024i