STAMP ISSUES RELATED TO ICAO (1994-1995)

 

Mauritius : Anniversaries and Events

 

Issue date: 16/06/1994

 

 

 

Control tower at Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (SSR) International Airport, Port Louis, Mauritius; ICAO’s 50th anniversary logo. Coat of Arms of the country.

The airport was previously known as the Plaisance Airport.

 

Cancelled to Order (CTO).

 

 

Gutter pair.

Upper-right corner of 16 stamps.

 

 

Official first day cover.

 

Special insert of the above cover.

 

Background: ICAO’s 50th anniversary stamp is part of a set of 4 stamps issued at the same date to commemorate the following anniversaries or events:

1.    The centenary of the death of Dr. Charles Édouard Brown-Séquard. Charles-Édouard Brown-Séquard (1817-1894), also known as Charles Edward, was a Mauritian physiologist and neurologist who, in 1850, became the first to describe what is now called Brown-Séquard syndrome. Son of an American father and a Mauritian mother, he was born in Port Louis (the capital city of Mauritius); he devoted his life to research work on the physiology of the nervous system.

2.    The International Year of the Family. The year 1994 was proclaimed the International Year of the Family by the United Nations General Assembly. The logo symbolizes life and love in a home where one finds warmth, caring, security, togetherness, tolerance and acceptance. The International Year of the Family was commemorated in Mauritius by numerous activities.

3.    The 1994 FIFA World Cup (Fédération Internationale de Football Association, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2004). The FIFA World Cup took place for the first time in the United States from 17 June to 17 July 1994. The matches were played at nine different venues in the USA. Twenty-four nations were competing for the World Cup from a total of 141 nations after more than five hundred qualifying games. Over one billion people watched the 1994 finals on television worldwide. Football is the single most popular sport in Mauritius.

4.    The 50th anniversary of ICAO. The Rt Hon. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam (1900-1985), often referred to as Chacha Ramgoolam) was a Mauritian politician, statesman and philanthropist. He served as the island's first Chief Minister, Prime Minister of Mauritius, and Governor-General.

 

 

The coat of arms of Mauritius consists of a Dodo Bird and Sambur Deer which symbolize the extinct and present wildlife; they support two sugar canes indicating the importance of sugar for the local economy. The shield is divided into four sections:

1.    The ship in the first quarter refers to the European settlers of the island, the Portuguese, Dutch, French and English respectively.

2.    The second quarter shows three palm trees for the tropical vegetation and the three dependencies of Mauritius: the Cargados, Agalaga islands and Rodrigues Island.

3.    In the third quarter, the key symbolizes the strategic importance of the island.

4.    The fourth quarter shows the island as the star of the Indian Ocean.

On a ribbon below, the country's motto Stella clavisque maris indici (Star and key of the Indian Ocean) is displayed in Latin.