Issue date: 22 Apr, 2019
NOTABLE FIGURES. Consuelo Álvarez, Violeta. Tribute to the female telegrapher
At just 17 years old, Consuelo Álvarez, Violeta (1867-1959) was one of the first generation of women hired by the Administration in 1885.
The outstanding journalist joined the Madrid Press Association (APM) in 1907 when there were just 3 women. She was the editor of the daily newspaper El País from 1904 to 1920 and Head of the Press Office of José Francos Rodríguez, Director General of the Telegraph office. She remained in the Telegraph office for her working career, combining her profession with journalism, literature, pedagogy, and politics.
A radio journalist and presenter, she worked at Radio España, and a few years later at Unión Radio.
As a writer of the female generation of '98 she wanted to modernise Spain through the spirit of Spanish Regenerationism. To do this, she believed schools would have to be rearranged so that both boys and girls could receive an education, and that with logic and experimentation as the basis, equality would be achieved. As an athenaeum member from 1907 to 1936, she took part in the institutions talk shows and gave numerous conferences, above all on Literature, Pedagogy and Politics.
As a defender of women’s rights she worked tirelessly throughout her life from 1906 to 1931 when she became an MP in the Courts. She drove a campaign for universal women’s suffrage, presented in her name by the MPs from her party, Odón del Buen and Joaquín Salvatella in 1907, Francisco Pi and Arsuaga and Luis Morote in 1908, until finally, her colleague Clara Campoamor was successful.
Her conception of feminism consisted of giving women a social role alongside men, not against them, in order to all live a full life. This was known as “humanisation of society”.
Correos wants to pay tribute to female telegraphers such as Consuelo Álvarez, Violeta through a stamp which as well as her portrait, features other female telegraphers, ending in hands and a computer keyboard, as a metaphor for the evolution of telecommunications. This stamp is also presented on a Premium sheet of 8 effects, all of which have a violet tone.
Rate A - €0.75. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, up to 20 g.
Rate A2 - €0.85. For a “standard” letter or postcard within Spain, between 20 g and 50 g.
Rate B - €1.65. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to Europe (including Greenland), up to 20 g.
Rate C - €1.75. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the rest of the world (except USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand), up to 20 g.
Rate D - €2.10. For a “standard” Ordinary International letter or postcard addressed to the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, up to 20 g.