Today, 10 December, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) has issued a special event sheet of 10 stamps in the denomination of $1.70 to honour Member States who joined the United Nations 70 years ago.
In 1955, 16 countries joined the United Nations, marking the Organization’s largest increase in its history, bringing the total number of Member States from 60 to 76.
This special stamp sheet commemorates the 70th anniversary of the membership of Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sri Lanka.
The stamp sheet highlights the continued engagement of these Member states in the work and principles of the United Nations.
The $1.70 stamp design shows the United Nations emblem in white on a blue background. The background of the sheet displays the flags of the sixteen countries who joined the United Nations in 1955.
The stamp tabs were designed by João Varela (Portugal).
The artist wanted the design to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the 1955 UN admissions by showing many nations coming together. He created the number “70” out of interlocking rings, using colours drawn from the sixteen national flags that blend into gradients instead of strict borders.
The deep UN blue background ties it to the Organization’s identity, and the two-letter country codes give each Member State equal space and a clear voice in the design.
In New York? Join us...
A special event marking the 70th Anniversary of these Member States will be held on 11 December from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the ECOSOC Chamber where the stamps will be released.
All staff members and delegates are welcome to attend.
United Nations stamps are available online at www.unstamps.org and in shops at the UN headquarters in New York, Geneva and Vienna where the stamps can be used for mailing.
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The United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) is in the Facilities & Commercial Activities Service (FCAS) in the Division of Administration (DOA) of the Department of Operational Support (DOS).
Read about DOS on iSeek and our website.
