Feb. 4 United Nations issue showcases items in the United Nations Art Collections

By David Hartwig

Twelve stamps in a Feb. 4 stamp issue from the United Nations Postal Administration showcase artworks held in the United Nations Art Collections.

The 12 stamps are arranged in six se-tenant (side-by-side) pairs, each presenting two works from the United Nations Art Collections. Donated by member states and foundations, the art on the stamps reflects a broad geographic and artistic range, with most donor countries represented once.

The stamps are arranged on six panes of 10. Each pane represents one denomination with one of six rates.

The stamps are denominated 78¢ and $1.70 for use from the post office at U.N. headquarters in New York City, 1-franc and 1.90fr for use from the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and €1.25 and €2 for use from the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria.

The 78¢ stamps pair O Pensador by Mpambukidi, a gift from Angola, with Bambara, donated by Mali. Together, the two works draw on traditional forms and cultural expression from West and Central Africa.

On the $1.70 stamps, Structures by Napoleon V. Abueva represents a gift from the Philippines, alongside Zun of Peace, donated by China. The pairing features a contemporary sculptural form next to a figure associated with ceremonial or spiritual use.

The two works on the 1-franc stamps reference women: one design shows Girl with Lyre by Ivan Mestrovic, a gift from Croatia, and the other shows Epic Tale of Woman and Trees by Stanislovas Kuzma, donated by Lithuania.

Human figures feature prominently on the 1.90fr stamps, which present Mosaic of the Four Seasons, a gift from Tunisia, paired with Mankind and Hope by Henrik Starcke, donated by Denmark.

The €1.25 stamps show War and Peace by Candido Portinari, both gifts from Brazil. Portinari is the only artist represented twice in the issue, with the paired works representing opposing themes of conflict and peace.

The €2 stamps feature Reclining Figure: Hand by Henry Moore, donated by the Henry Moore Foundation, alongside Tapestry after Femme sur L’echelle (Woman on a Ladder) by Pablo Picasso, a gift of the Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation. The pairing brings together two canonical modern artists whose works focus on the human figure and abstracted form.

Additional pieces in the United Nations Gifts collection consist of artworks, historic objects and architectural elements formally presented to the U.N. by member states, foundations and private donors since about 1950.

The collection is vast and varied. It includes tapestries, sculptures, paintings, ceremonial objects, furniture and even architectural elements built directly into U.N. headquarters spaces.

The gifts are meant to reflect national identity, shared values or support for the U.N.’s mission rather than personal diplomacy. Most gifts are installed throughout U.N. Headquarters in New York; while many are publicly visible, others are in restricted or archival spaces.

More information on the gifts currently on display at the United Nations headquarters can be found online at www.un.org/ungifts.

Rorie Katz of the United Nations designed the United Nations Art Collections stamps, and Joh. Enschede of the Netherlands printed them by offset lithography.

The quantities are 9,000 panes of 10 for each of the denominations, except for the pane of 10 $1.70 stamps which were printed in a quantity of 11,000.

The stamps measure 30 millimeters by 40mm and the panes are 170mm by 100mm.

For ordering information for the United Nations Art Collections 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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