Surprise Dec. 10 issue from the United Nations Postal Administration

A previously unannounced pane of 10 stamps issued Dec. 10 by the United Nations Postal Administration commemorates 70 years of United Nations membership for 16 countries.

The stamps are for use from the UNPA post office at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. The design shows the United Nations logo, and the $1.70 denomination pays the United States Postal Service rate for international mail.

With the addition of Albania, Austria, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Libya, Nepal, Portugal, Romania, Spain and Sri Lanka in 1955, the number of United Nations member states rose from 60 to 76. This marked the largest one-time increase in United Nations membership in the organization’s history.

“The stamp sheet highlights the continued engagement of these Member states in the work and principles of the United Nations,” the UNPA said.

At the right of each stamp is a se-tenant (side-by-side) label designed by Joao Varela of Portugal.

The label design shows the number 70 created out of 16 interlocking rings in the colors of the 16 member states, and the two-letter country code for each of the 16 countries borders the label. The selvage of the panes includes the flags of each of the 16 countries. 

Customers can personalize the labels with a photograph replacing original design by visiting the U.N. headquarters or by uploading their photographs to the UNPA website at www.unstamps.org.

The panes were printed in-house. Each stamp measures 40.6 millimeters by 29.8mm, the tabs measure 26.6mm by 29.8mm, and each pane of 10 is 279.4mm by 215.9mm.

For ordering information for these stamps and related products, visit the website unstamps.org; email unpanyinquiries@un.org; telephone 212-963-7684 or 800-234-8672; or write to UNPA, Box 5900, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-5900. 

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