Philatelic foray - UN Postal Administration's new stamps

UN Chronicle, Summer, 1998

In September 1980, the UNPA began issuing flag stamps at a rate of 16 per year. But by 1989 all Member States had been represented, so the UNPA suspended the series. But with the increase in the membership of the United Nations, the UNPA decided to revive the Flag Series in February 1997.

The latest installment was issued on 13 February, featuring the flags of the Federated States of Micronesia, Slovakia, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Azerbaijan on Sheet 43, and Uzbekistan, Monaco, the Czech Republic and Estonia on Sheet 44.

The UNPA also issued five new definitive stamps on 13 February, in make-up postage rate denominations of 1 cent, 2 cents, 21 cents, F.s. 2,00, S 6.50 and S 9.

Designed by Zhang Le Lu of China the 1-cent stamp depicts a simple crayon-like drawing of a child holding a peace dove. With a smile that stretches across the stamp, and giant eyes that look like patchwork globes of green and blue, the child reflects the openness and idealism of the United Nations.

The 21-cent stamp, designed by Gregory Halili of the Philippines, shows a similarly abstract image of the United Nations. Here, cut-out figures of dancers - representing Member States - hold hands and form a circle around a glowing United Nations logo. Like a sun in the center of the universe, the UN logo anchors concentric rings of orange, red, blue and black, and the circle of dancers themselves who seem pulled by its unifying gravitational force.

The Swiss Franc (F.s.) 2,00, the Austrian shillings (S) 9 and the S6.50 stamps picture United Nations buildings.

Colourful and practical, these limited edition stamps hold wide appeal for stamp collectors and average citizens alike.

From Hawaiian geese to Carribean flamingos, and even to the golden birdwings of Asia, species are dropping off the face of the earth. Though they are becoming increasingly hard to find in nature, the UNPA has captured their images in a commemmorative collection of endangered species stamps.

Twelve new stamps featuring, endangered fauna were issued by the UNPA on 13 March. The total set consists of three sheets, each with 16 stamps on it. The animals depicted range from the cuddly - the Short-tailed Tibetan macaque and the Persian fallow deer - to the just plain ugly - the Lesser galago and the Sun bear.

Each sheet was designed by a different artist for whom the endangered species stamps were their first UNPA assignment. The four 32-cent stamps - Lesser galago, Hawaiian goose, Golden birdwing, and Sun bear - were done by Pat Medearis-Altman of New Zealand, who is a professional stamp designer.

Suzanne Duranceau, a native of Montreal, Canada, designed the F.s. 0,80 stamps, which include the Short-tailed Tibetan macaque, the Caribbean flamingo, Queen Alexandra's birdwing and the Persian fallow deer.

Finally, Robert Hynes of the United States designed the last sheet, which includes the Green turtle, the Burrowing owl, Rajah Brooke's birdwing, and the Lesser panda. Mr. Hynes specializes in nature scenes. His art has appeared in National Geographic magazine and in the award-winning children's book The Secret World of Animals. Launched in March 1993, the Endangered Species series draws attention to the worldwide need to protect these animals. The new stamps are the sixth set of stamps in UNPA's multiyear series on endangered species.