STAMP ISSUES RELATED TO ICAO (1994-1995)

 

Nauru : 50th Anniversary of the United Nations

 

Issue date: 01/01/1995

 

 

4 x 75c, depicting:

    - National flag.

    - National Coat of Arms.

    - Canoe, frigate birds, part of UN emblem.

    - Air Nauru Boeing 737 over phosphate freighter being loaded by cantilever, part of UN emblem.

 

 

Souvenir sheet.

Official First Day Cover showing Nauru’s coat of arms and UN emblem in the cachet.

 

Background: The 4 stamps of this issue are a contiguous arrangement and design; they were printed together, se-tenant. This issue has some incidental or implied relationship to ICAO as an airplane within the UN framework is displayed.

Nauru commemorated the 50th anniversary of ICAO by issuing 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet on 14 December 1994. In 1995, this country commemorated the 50th anniversary of the United Nations with two issues: this one released on 1 January 1995 and the second one on 24 October 1995 (on UN Day). Nauru issued on 14 December 1994 a set of 4 stamps and a souvenir sheet to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ICAO.

The finalization and approval of the first Trust Fund Project (ICAO Trust Fund projects are financed by recipient countries entirely from their own resources) in the Asia/Pacific Region was effected in October 1980 (during the 101st Session of the ICAO Council held from 10 October to 18 December 1980) to advance the civil aviation programme of Nauru. This 2-year large-scale project assisted the government to establish a Flight Information Centre and was executed in 1980 for US$20,570 and in 1981 for US$1.44 million. The aircraft on this issue may refer to the advancements in civil aviation brought by the ICAO project to develop Nauru’s Flight Information Centre.

Flight Information Centres provide pilots with efficient, seamless flight planning, enroute services and better access to flight information services. They are a one-stop shop for flight planning. In-depth interpretive weather briefings provided by qualified specialists using the latest computer and communications technology, and are available either pre-flight or en route.

 

Following the independence of Nauru in 1968, the flag of Nauru (as depicted on the upper-left stamp of the block) was raised for the first time. The flag, chosen in a local design competition, was adopted on Independence Day, on 31 January 1968. It depicts Nauru's geographical position, one degree below the Equator. A gold horizontal stripe representing the Equator runs across a blue field for the Pacific Ocean. Nauru itself is symbolized by a white 12-pointed star; each point represents one of the 12 indigenous tribes on the island.

 

The design of the Coat of arms of Nauru (as depicted on the upper-right stamp of the block) originated in 1968 following the declaration of independence; it began to be used officially in the early 1970s.

Its shield is divided and separated in the middle. In the upper section, the alchemical symbol of phosphorus is shown over a golden woven background (symbolizes the mining of phosphates). The lower-left section depicts a black frigate bird, which sits on a perch over blue ocean waves (symbolizes the fauna). The lower-right section is blue and contains a branch of calophyllum flowers. The shield is surrounded by images of tribal chief gear (which was worn to ceremonies), ropes from palm leaves, feathers of the frigate bird and shark teeth (symbolizes the people of Nauru). The twelve-pointed star centered above the shield is taken from the flag. The ribbon above it bears the name of the island in Micronesian Nauruan: Naoero. The ribbon under the shield bears the national motto of the Republic of Nauru: God's Will First.

 

Phosphorus fascinated alchemists because it seemed to contain light, which was associated with the spirit. Phosphorescent compounds glowed. Pure phosphorus spontaneously burns in air, though it wasn't isolated until 1669. Alchemical symbols, originally devised as part of alchemy, were used to denote some elements and some compounds until the 18th century. Note that while notation was mostly standardized, style and symbol varied between alchemists.

Phosphorus is an element that occurs in nature and is widely distributed in combination with other minerals. In chemistry classes, it is presented as one of the elements on the Periodic Table (#15 on the atomic chart of elements, with the symbol P). Phosphates are natural compounds, i.e. salts containing phosphorus and other minerals.

 

Frigatebirds (Fregatidae) are large seabirds that spend much of their time at sea (they are therefore referred to as pelagic). Their range includes tropical and subtropical oceans and they nest on remote islands or coastal mangrove forests. Frigatebirds have predominantly iridescent black plumage, long narrow wings, and a forked tail. Males have a large, bright red gular pouch (located on the front of their throat) that they use in courtship display. The male frigatebirds assemble in a group and each inflates its gular pouch and points its bill upwards.