U.N. stamps to celebrate family farming

Six United Nations stamps to be issued Aug. 21 commemorate the International Year of Family Farming. The set is called Cultivating Hope.

According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, there are an estimated 500 million family farms in the world.

The purpose of the International Year of Family Farming is to highlight the role of these farms in eradicating hunger and poverty, preserving natural resources and promoting sustainable development.

Three stamps in the Cultivating Hope issue represent different types of farms.

For example, the $1.15 stamp for use from the post office at U.N. headquarters in New York City symbolizes aquaculture, the raising of fish.

A family farm in a northern climate is shown on the 1.60-franc stamp for use from the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition to a family, the design includes a barn, wind turbines, a pig and chickens.

A terrace farm in Asia is portrayed on the €1.70 stamp for use from the Vienna International Center in Vienna, Austria. In addition to a farming couple, this design includes a bull.

The other three stamps focus on the harvest.

A cornucopia of produce that families bring to local markets is shown on the 49¢ stamp.

The 1.30fr denomination depicts African women harvesting produce, and the €0.62 stamp shows a family in India carrying bundles of harvested straw and grain.

U.N. Postal Administration art director Sergio Baradat designed the stamps. Lowe-Martin Group of Canada printed them by offset in panes of 20 with four marginal inscriptions featuring the U.N. emblem.

The initial print quantities are 120,000 each of the 49¢ and $1.15 U.N./New York stamps; 100,000 each of the €0.62 and €1.70 U.N./Vienna stamps; and 90,000 each of the 1.30fr and 1.60fr U.N./Geneva stamps.

Each stamp measures 40 millimeters by 30mm and is perforated gauge 13.

The stamp illustrations shown with this report are created from publicity images of the stamp designs.

The website of the UNPA is http://unstamps.un.org.

Ordering information also is available by writing to UNPA, Box 5900, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-5900; telephone 800-234-8672; e-mail unpanyinquiries@un.org;or fax 212-963-9854.