UN stamps: messengers of peace.

• Author: Endrst, Elsa B.

They have been called "Messengers of Peace" And it is an apt title, for every day UN Postage stamps relay the goals of the world Organization around the globe.

Since 1951, the UN Postal Administration (UNPA) has issued 860 stamps of different design, all on international themes-human rights, environment, population and development-to name just a few. International days, years and decades have been commemorated. Between 1980 and 1989, the UN issued a series representing the flags of its 159 Member States. All stamps are issued simultaneously at UN post offices in New York, Geneva and Vienna on six dates every year.

In 1947, Argentina proposed the idea of the UN issuing its own postage stamps. Secretary-General Trygve Lie was asked to determine if the United States, as the host country for UN Headquarters, thought the idea feasible.

An agreement was reached with American postal authorities in 1951, with the condition that the stamps be issued in United States denominations, but used only at UN Headquarters in New York. The programme began on UN Day, 24 October 1951. On 4 October 1969, the Geneva branch of UNPA was opened at the Palais des Nations, with the first UN stamps denominated in Swiss francs. The Vienna branch was opened on 24 August 1979 with stamps issued in Austrian schillings.

Special treaties between the UN and the three countries involved provide that the same classes and types of postage will be available at the UN Post Office as at any United States, Swiss or Austrian post office.

These postal services receive revenues from the sale of UN stamps which pay for processing and delivery of the mail. The UN retains the revenues from philatelic sales, which in 1988 amounted to almost $4 million. Universal themes

Gisela Grunewald, Chief of UNPA, explained that the UN is the only organization in the world which has the privilege of issuing its own postage stamps. Subjects for the six annual issues are chosen to "highlight what the UN really stands for and what the work of the Organization is really all about," Mrs. Grunewald said.

Themes for 1990 are: international trade (2 February); fighting AIDS worldwide (16 March); medicinal plants (4 May); the 45th anniversary of the UN (26 June); crime prevention 13 September); and human rights (16 November).

Understanding the message of UN stamps is important, Mrs. Grunewald emphasized, because we have to be understood the world over-we cannot show one aspect of mankind that is not universal".

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