posted 09-29-2010 09:55 PM               

Commemorative stamps will mark the 50th anniversary of human space flight, salute the educational work of the U.N. Economic and Social Council and promote the International Year of Forests.

The six stamps and three souvenir sheets for the human space flight anniversary are scheduled for release in April.

posted 03-28-2011 09:26 AM               

50th Anniversary Of Human Space Flight

On 12 April 2011, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) will issue three stamps in a mini-sheet format of sixteen stamps to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Human Space Flight. UNPA is also issuing one souvenir sheet with six different denominations, two from each office. This is the first time ever that UNPA has issued a souvenir sheet in this format.

The Artist

The stamps and souvenir sheets were designed by Peter Bollinger (USA).

Renowned in the field of commercial art, Peter Bollinger is an award-winning illustrator whose clients include Grey Advertising, Sony Entertainment, DreamWorks, Sega, Wizards of the Coast, Nintendo, Mars, Harper Collins, Scholastic and many other publishing, advertising and entertainment organizations.

Holding degrees in industrial and environmental design, Peter's expertise covers diverse fields, from the design of computer terminals and street furniture, to monorails and automobiles. He has won major design and illustration awards in the United States, Australia, Italy and Japan. He undertakes architectural and concept design for numerous clients locally and abroad such as Disney Imagineering, Discovery Communications and numerous Japanese theme parks.

Peter works in two separate styles, traditional airbrush and digital illustration, although the two have become more and more similar with each passing technical innovation. Once a die-hard New Yorker, Peter now lives in the relative tranquility of Silverado, California, with his family.

These are Mr. Bollinger's first stamp designs for the United Nations.

Stamp Specifications

The stamps in the denominations of 44 cents, F.s. 0,50 and € 0,35 measure 40 mm horizontally by 30 mm vertically, perforation to perforation. Perforation: 13.

The horizontal sheets of sixteen stamps have four marginal inscriptions, two in the left margin and two in the right margin. The marginal inscription consists of the United Nations emblem with the text "United Nations" above the emblem and the year 2011 below the emblem. One copyright symbol with the year 2011 appears in the bottom left margin. The artist's signature appears in the lower right margin.

Souvenir Sheet Specifications

UNPA is issuing one souvenir sheet design with six denominations on the sheet, two from each office. The souvenir sheets, in the denominations of 44 cents, 98 cents, F.s. 0,85, F.s. 1,00, € 0,55 and € 0,65 measure 83 mm x 260 mm. This is the first time ever that UNPA has issued a souvenir sheet in this format. Customers who purchase equal amounts of New York, Geneva and Vienna souvenir sheets will receive the souvenir sheets as one sheet.

Printing And Printing Quantities

The stamps and souvenir sheets were printed in offset by Lowe-Martin Group (Canada) in the following denominations and quantities:

• 44 cents: 832,000 stamps (52,000 sheets)
  
• F.s. 0,50: 880,000 stamps (55,000 sheets)
  
• €0,35: 1,040,000 stamps (65,000 sheets)
  
• Souvenir sheet: 68,000 sheets

First Day Cancellations

On 12 April 2011, special first day hand-cancellations for the "50th Anniversary of Human Space Flight" stamps will be avail- able at United Nations Headquarters in New York; the Palais des Nations, Geneva; and the Vienna International Centre.

posted 03-28-2011 09:27 AM               

First Day Covers