STAMP ISSUES RELATED TO ICAO (1945-1977)

 

Comoros : 25th Anniversary of United Nations Postal Administration

 

Issue date: 23/11/1976

 

 

Concorde, Graf Zeppelin LZ‑127 airship over one of the islands in the Comoros archipelago,  clouds and UN carmine stamp of 9 February 1955 (10th anniversary of ICAO; stamp-on-stamp). Text on three lines: SERVICE POSTAL / ONU / 1951-1976.

                             

 

Cancelled to Order (CTO).

 

Imperf.

 

Souvenir sheet with stamp as described here above. Text on three lines: SERVICE POSTAL / ONU / 1951-1976. UN building and emblem; Universal Postal Union (UPU) emblem for its 100th anniversary celebrated in 1974.

First Day Covers.

 

 

First day cover (registered) with the 6 imperforate stamps of this issue. Cancel date on 25 November 1976.

 

Background: The stamp is part of an issue of six stamps with the same basic design, but with commemorative stamps (stamp-on-stamp) issued by the UN in the 1950s and related to FAO, WHO, UNICEF, ITU, ICAO and UPU. Six souvenir sheets reproducing each of the stamps are part of this issue. One miniature sheet was also released at the same date (with a 500f stamp surrounded by the words PEACE, JUSTICE and SECURITY, three goals promoted by the United Nations).

Description of the designs:

  1. 15f (FAO): Agricultural scene;
  2. 30f (WHO): Surgery scene;
  3. 50f (UNICEF): Village scene;
  4. 75f (ITU): Telecommunications satellite;
  5. 200f (ICAO): Concorde and Graf Zeppelin LZ‑127 airship;
  6. 400f (UPU): Lufthansa jet airliner.

 

 

 

 

The stamp issue originally released by the United Nations on 9 February 1955 for the 10th Anniversary of ICAO can be found at the following link: United Nations – 1955 – 10th Anniversary of ICAO.

Based on ICAO philately, a story of the Concorde can be found at the following link: Exit Concorde.

Additional information on the UN Postal Administration can be found at the following link: ICAO and the United Nations Postal Administration.

In 1868, Heinrich von Stephan, senior postal official from the North German Confederation, drew up a plan for a postal union of civilized countries. At his suggestion, the Swiss Government convened in Berne, from 15 September 1874, a conference, which was attended by representatives from 22 nations. On 9 October 1874, a day now celebrated throughout the world as World Post Day, the Treaty of Berne establishing the General Postal Union was signed. Membership in the Union grew so quickly that the name was changed in 1878 to Universal Postal Union (UPU). By virtue of its mission to promote and develop communication between the peoples of the world, the UPU is called upon to play an important leadership role in promoting the continued revitalization of postal services.