World Stamps

UNPA commemorates International Moon Day with July 20 issue

Jul 16, 2024, 11 AM
The United Nations Postal Administration will honor International Moon Day, July 20, by issuing 15 stamps. Twelve are in six se-tenant pairs; the other three are in souvenir sheets. Each pair shows images associated with a different lunar mission.

By David Hartwig

A July 20 issue from the United Nations Postal Administration commemorates International Moon Day.

Twelve stamps are presented in six vertical se-tenant (side-by-side) pairs, with each pair showing images associated with a different lunar mission.

The stamps in each pair are denominated at a different rate: 73¢ and $1.65 for the post office at U.N. headquarters in New York City; 1.20-franc and 1.50fr for the U.N. post office at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland; and €0.95 and €1.20 for the post office at the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria.

A souvenir sheet was issued for each of the three post offices; each sheet features an additional stamp denominated either $1.65, 2.50fr or €1.90.

The U.N. General Assembly declared July 20 as International Moon Day in 2021. The date honors the first landing of humans on the Moon as part of the 1969 Apollo 11 mission.

The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) promotes international cooperation in the peaceful use and exploration of outer space and the utilization of space science and technology for sustainable development.

A statement by the U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs director Aarti Holla-Maini appears on the selvage of the souvenir sheets: “Today’s moon exploration is wreathed with ambitious plans, but the expansion of our so-far pristine horizons must take place sustainably. The United Nations will leverage its unique convening power to foster the necessary dialogue on the way forward.”

The 73¢ stamps show images related to the Danuri mission, South Korea’s first lunar exploration mission. Officially known as the Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (KPLO), Danuri was launched Aug. 5, 2022, by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).

The $1.65 stamps show images associated with Surveyor 1, the first successful lunar lander in NASA’s Surveyor program, which launched May 30, 1966, and landed on the moon June 2, 1966. The success of Surveyor 1 was crucial in paving the way for the Apollo manned lunar landings.

Images related to Chandrayaan-3, India’s third lunar exploration mission under the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), appear on the 1.20fr stamps.

The 1.50fr stamps show images related to the Japanese lunar exploration project Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM), developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Images related to the European Space Agency (ESA) mission Small Missions for Advanced Research in Technology-1 (SMART-1) appear on the €0.95 stamps.

The €1.20 stamps show images related to the Chang’e 5 mission launched by China on Nov. 23, 2020. Chang’e 5 showcased China’s advanced space capabilities and marked a significant achievement in lunar exploration.

The stamps on the souvenir sheets represent milestones in lunar missions.

The $1.65 stamp on the souvenir sheet for the post office at U.N. headquarters in New York City shows an image from the historic 1969 Apollo 11 mission.

The 2.50fr stamp on the souvenir sheet for the U.N. post office at the Palais des Nations in Geneva shows an image of the Luna 2 spacecraft.

The €1.90 stamp on the souvenir sheet for the post office at the Vienna International Center in Vienna shows an image from the Chang’e 4 robotic spacecraft mission.

Rorie Katz of the United Nations designed the stamps and souvenir sheets. They were printed by Joh. Enschede of the Netherlands by hexachrome. The stamps are square, 36 millimeters and 36mm, and perforated gauge 13.25.

The stamps are available in panes of 10 for each of the six denominations; each pane contains five se-tenant pairs.

For ordering information for these 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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