2018-08-20 Mon

Six new stamps were released by the United Nations Postal Administration for its World Heritage series on 15th August. These stamps celebrate UNESCO World Heritage sites of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Information and illustrations about the sites are included in separate prestige booklets. A 50¢ and a $1.15 stamp along with a booklet are released for UN New York. 1 franc and 1.50fr stamps with a booklet are released for UN Geneva. A €0.90 and €1.80 stamps with a booklet are released for UN Austria.

The 50¢ stamp features the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland. The site has almost 40,000 big polygonal columns of basalt creating a pavement. The $1.15 stamp features the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben. Palace of Westminster is situated on the banks of Thames River and was constructed in the 11th century as a royal residence. Big Ben is a clock tower that dates from the 1850s. Stonehenge is featured on the 1fr stamp. This site as built in the prehistoric era almost 5,000 years ago. The 1.50fr stamp features the city of Edinburgh, which was the capital of Scotland since the 15th century. Conwy in northern Wales is featured on the €0.90 stamp. It is one of the finest examples of 14th Century military architecture in Europe built by 1,000 men in four years. Maritime Greenwich is depicted on the €1.80 stamp. The site represents English artistic and scientific endeavour in the 17th and 18th centuries.

The borders feature red, white and blue colours of UK’s flag. 7,500 prestige booklets are printed for the UNPA/New York; 7,000 for Geneva; and 9,000 for Vienna. Palace of Westminster, Edinburgh and Greenwich, are featured on the covers of the booklets from New York, Geneva and Vienna respectively. Through this release, UN hopes to create more awareness about World Heritage Sites.

Image Courtesy: United Nations Postal Administration