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Jan. 2 Karel Čapek introduced the world to the word “robot”

On January 2, 1921, Czech writer Karel Čapek introduced the world to the word “robot” with the premiere of his science fiction play R.U.R. – Rossum’s Universal Robots.

The play is set in a future time where human-like androids called robots are mass-produced on an island factory owned by R.U.R. All work on the island is done by robots. Čapek’s brother Josef famously coined the word “robot” for the play by suggesting his brother use the Czech word “robota” which means forced labor or servitude.
On this day in 1919: Karel Čapek’s R.U.R. gets its first public reading – Prague, Czech Republic

Engraver: Jindřich Schmidt  Karel Čapek -1890-1938 
 
Karel Čapek (1890-1938)
From the Writers series
Released by Czechoslovakia in 1958
Designer: Max Svabinský

Engraver: Jindřich Schmidt  
 
Karel Čapek (1890-1938)
From the World Culture Personalities – UNESCO series
Released by Czechoslovakia in 1968
Designer: Adolf Hoffmeister
Engraver: Jindřich Schmidt 
 
 
Czech Republic This day in stamps