United Nations Postal Administration commemorates 55 years of its office in Geneva

By David Hartwig

The United Nations Postal Administration commemorates the 55th anniversary of the UNPA post office at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, with an Oct. 24 pane of 10 stamps.

In 1969 the UNPA opened a branch in Geneva and started issuing stamps denominated in Swiss francs. This followed the successful opening of the UNPA in New York in 1951.

A publicity image of the Oct. 24 pane is shown above. The stamps feature images and artwork of the Palais des Nations complex and are each denominated 1.20 francs for use from the U.N. post office at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

A se-tenant (side-by-side) label illustrating architectural elements from the Palais des Nations appears to the right of each stamp. Although the UNPA calls this pane a “special event sheet,” customers can personalize the labels with a photograph replacing the U.N. logo by visiting the UNPA stamp shops in New York or Vienna or by uploading their photographs to the UNPA website.

A photograph of the Human Rights and Alliance of Civilizations Room at the Palais des Nations is reproduced in the selvage to the left of the stamps and labels.

Inaugurated in 2008 as part of a donation from Spain to the United Nations, the conference room features a ceiling sculpture by Miquel Barcelo, who talked about the inspiration for the sculpture in an online article by Atlas Obscura, publisher of Atlas Obscura: An Explorer’s Guide to the World’s Hidden Wonders.

Barcelo said the inspiration came on a hot day in the Sahel region of Africa. “I remember with the vividness of a mirage the image of the world dripping toward the sky,” he said. “Trees, dunes, donkeys, multicolored beings … trickling drop by drop. And being consumed.”

The design of the stamps and pane is similar to the June 7, 2024, issue (Scott 1339) that shows images of the United Nations Headquarters in New York City and the Aug. 23, 2024, issue (732) that shows images of the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria.

The United Nations Postal Administration printed the UNPA Geneva Post Office stamps 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 new stamps and related products, visit the UNPA website; 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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