Book Nook: Dada GG Stamp Stories

Denise Oehme-Fisher’s late father truly was one-of-a-kind. An immigrant from India, Ernest G. Oehme was a Postman, a Philatelist and studied the Postal History of history of India and Pakistan. Safe to say, his stamp collection was large – so large his den was an extremely chaotic (if fascinating) place!.

While deciding what to do with his vast collection, Denise received her father in a dream, who told her to write about them. And so the ‘Dadda GG Stamp Stories’ was born. Book one, ‘First Post Office Act 1660’ takes young readers back to the era of Charles II

Dadda GG studies stamps, and snoozes without warning, His den is crammed with so much stuff, you can almost hear it groaning. He has a magnifying glass. He has a sorting stick. Mailing Magic powers up the Postal Popping trick. He has a chuckle tummy and great big wiggly ears. Tootsie loves to chew them, then meows and disappears. His feet are so absurdly big, they look like flapping flippers. Along the floor he slips and slides, in luminous bright green slippers. His tea is served so very, very sweet, the spoon is almost standing, but now he has false chattering teeth, which jump out before crash landing. The great-grand children make a bee-line, to see him in his den, where he recounts stamp stories, of where and why and when.

I had a chance to interview the author to learn more. Her words about the books are below.

During lockdown, I was unable to work as a Care Worker due to a back injury and therefore at home with time on my hands. I was able to go through my father’s stamp and matchbox collection, which had been gathering dust for more than 17 years. I put some of his collection for sale on EBay to help pay for my mother’s care. Unfortunately, there has been no interest at all, and I could not bear the fact that it might all end up in the recycling! Then in a dream on the 13th of May I was shown what to do…

Below is a brief background behind the books:

My late father, Ernest G. Oehme, was an Indian/German immigrant who arrived in Croydon, Surrey in 1956. He joined the Post Office as a Postman until his retirement in 1979. He collected stamps, postmarks, and First Day Covers dating from the late 1800s, which are housed in my garage since my mother was admitted into a Sheltered Home with dementia. He also collected everything else under the sun! He was recognised during his lifetime, for his knowledge on the postal history of Pakistan and India. He wrote and contributed many articles to various Philatelic journals and was a member of various international Philatelic societies. He had a yearning for learning and for teaching without preaching!

I want his legacy to continue. My father came to me in a dream on the 13th of May 2020 and indicated that I should write stories about the stamps (writing stories/poems is a hobby of mine). To avoid the collection’s sad demise, I have written Book 1 of illustrated children’s books for readers 6+, taking a stamp, postal mark or First Day Cover from my father’s collection and bringing a child and the context of the stamp into the story and wrapping them up in its history. The idea is to get these children reading and sparking an interest in stamps and the history that surrounds it. The subject matter is endless as there are so many commemorative stamps about all kinds of events. The books are “Rhystories” – Rhyming histories (I made that word up!). Book 2 is already half written and is about the First Airmail Flight 1911 in Allahabad India. 

Dadda GG™ (as he is known) is a sprightly octogenarian, always willing to learn new things, loves to help people learn, is engaging and drinks tea so sweet that he has lost his teeth which means that his false dentures have a life of their own. He lives with his daughter in an Aberdeen granite mansion and has been allowed the use of the cellar to make his somewhat chaotic “den” full of stamps, coins, and all manner of collectables. Dadda GG™ will have ‘Mailing Magic’ called ‘Postal Pop’, and a magic “Sorting Stick” which will transport himself, the visiting children and Tootsie the malevolent cat and the long suffering Tekel dog called Tico, through time, to be exactly where the history is taking place. They are invisible. His slippers sometimes come to the rescue!

Dadda GG™ has a large family with 6 children, 11 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren (which are based on my own family). His son-in-law is an international scientist specialising in conservation. This will mean lots of visitors from overseas, giving an international element to the books (as my father has many overseas stamps and first day covers). Not only that it will bring diversity of race, religion and traditions and also there will be stories where the child may have some sort of disability and through the magic of the Sorting Stick, can forget all about their disabilities for a brief moment in time.
“Wash your hands” will be an absolutely, integral message in all the books both for normal hygiene and because of the current pandemic.

The name, Dadda GG derives from my mother being called Nanna GG by her great grandchildren. Unfortunately, they never met their great grandfather.

The book will also have a short history of the stamp at the end and some black and white templates of empty stamps so that the buyers can make and colour their own stamp. I wish to encourage the buyers to send these into me to showcase on Twitter and Facebook. I also wish to encourage children to write their own stories about stamps and send them in. I would like children and adults alike, to become actively involved.

My very fervent wish is to start the Ernest G. Oehme Charitable Foundation with the profits of the books. I also hope to get an animated series onto the T.V. I am very passionate about this, as my father worked double shifts as a Postman most of his working life, to keep us all fed and clothed.

The aim of the Foundation is to help deprived and disabled children. To start with, I would like to sponsor Teaching Assistants in schools then start up breakfast and supper clubs. As I was a Teaching Assistant, I realise the value of their assistance, not only aiding the people with learning difficulties, but also to help maintain equilibrium in the class so that other pupils can learn. Unfortunately, TA’s are often the first cuts a school must make during difficult times. I have lots of other ideas, once I get this going!

Dadda GG™ Stamp Stories Book 3 will be about Florence Nightingale, book 4 about the 1966 World Cup and Book 5 will be about the USA Wetlands 20c stamp. Then…lots of other “Rhystories” to follow!

The "King" of Hobbies and the hobby of "Kings" - stamps have intrinsic historical value. Nowadays with stamp labels printed with the exact amount of postage, stamps play a less and less role in the sending of correspondence. Since I have been going through my late father's effects, I have come across so many interesting pieces which tell the passage of time, places, events. Then the beautiful artistry in the stamps with their designs, colours and uniqueness.

I hope that with my books, children and adults alike will start to love them as I do.