U.N. pane commemorates annual IAEA charitable ball

By David Hartwig

The United Nations Postal Administration issued a pane of 10 stamps with labels Feb. 17 to commemorate the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Staff Association Ball held on the same date as the stamp issue.

A presentation of the stamps occurred at the ball, an annual charitable event dating back to 1961 and now held at the Hofburg Imperial Palace in Vienna, Austria.

The stamps are denominated €1.20 for use from the U.N. post office at the Vienna International Center in Vienna. The stamp designs show photographs taken at previous IAEA balls, and se-tenant (side-by-side) labels promote the ball with text reading “IAEA Staff Appreciation Ball since 1961.”

The selvage of the pane shows an image of the ball in the background and a silhouette of people dancing in the foreground. The same text as on the labels appears over the silhouette, and text at the bottom of the selvage provides information about the ball.

This year’s event was a masked ball featuring multiple dancing areas with live and recorded classical, Broadway, hip-hop, jazz, disco and party music.

Opera singer Marco Di Sapia provided opening remarks along with IAEA Staff Association president Anthony Alozie. IAEA director general Rafael Mariano Grossi also gave remarks.

The United Nations established the IAEA in 1957 as an autonomous intergovernmental organization that “seeks to promote the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear technologies,” according to the agency’s website. The agency’s headquarters is at the U.N. office in Vienna.

The 2,500 staff members are divided into six departments: nuclear energy, nuclear safety and security, nuclear sciences and applications, safeguards, technical cooperation, and management.

Funding for these six departments comes from the regular budget of the IAEA, which is provided by member states. Other funds for the IAEA come from voluntary contributions. Proceeds of the IAEA Staff Association Ball are donated to charity and IAEA staff welfare.

Rorie Katz of the United Nations designed the stamp pane. InHouse printed it in a quantity of 2,500 panes.

The stamps measure 40.6 millimeters by 29.8mm and are perforated gauge 14.25 by 14.

The se-tenant labels on the pane can be personalized. To do so, customers can visit UNPA stamp shops at the U.N. headquarters or upload their photographs to the UNPA website.

For ordering information for the Feb. 17 IAEA Staff Association Ball 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.

Connect with Linn’s Stamp News: 

    Sign up for our newsletter
    Like us on Facebook
    Follow us on Twitter