United Nations

1951 Peoples of the World
October 24, 1951

UN Issues Its First Stamps

On October 24, 1951, the United Nations issued its first postage stamps. The UN is the only organization that’s neither a country or territory to issue its own postage stamps.

Read Article
 US #1203 – The original non-error stamp issued on this day in 1962. Click the image to order.
October 23, 1962

Dag Hammarskjöld Invert Controversy

On October 23, 1962, the US Post Office Department unknowingly issued an unknown number of inverted Dag Hammarskjöld error stamps.  The fallout from this issue became known as Day’s Folly (after Postmaster General J. Edward Day).

Read Article
1999 45¢ Universal Postal Union
October 9, 1874

Creation of the Universal Postal Union 

On October 9, 1874, some 22 nations met in Bern, Switzerland to form the General Postal Union (later renamed the Universal Postal Union or UPU). The UPU standardized mail service between countries and is one of the world’s oldest international organizations.

Read Article
2016 47¢ Shirley Temple
April 23, 1928

Happy Birthday Shirley Temple 

Beloved child star and diplomat Shirley Temple was born on April 23, 1928, in Santa Monica, California. Temple starred in over 40 films by the time she was 12, and went on to become the first female ambassador to Czechoslovakia.

Read Article
1960 4¢ John Foster Dulles
February 25, 1888

Birth of John Foster Dulles

John Foster Dulles was born on February 25, 1888 in Washington, DC. Dulles helped draft the preamble of the United Nations Charter, worked with NATO, helped create SEATO, and was the 52nd US secretary of State.

Read Article
2013 UN World Radio Day New York
February 13, 1946

World Radio Day

World Radio Day was established in 2011 to commemorate the creation of United Nations Radio on February 13, 1946.  The UN created its radio service believing it was important for the people of the world to be “fully informed of its aims and activities.”

Read Article
1962 4¢ Dag Hammarskjold
July 29, 1905

Birth of Dag Hammarskjöld

Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöld was born on July 29, 1905, in Jönköping, Sweden.  Serving as Secretary General of the United Nations from 1953 to 1961, he’s still considered one of the greatest diplomats in history.

Read Article
 Item #UN1056-57 – World Radio Day stamps issued by the UN’s New York Office.
February 13, 1946

World Radio Day

World Radio Day was established in 2011 to commemorate the creation of United Nations Radio on February 13, 1946.  

Read Article
 US #1203 – The original non-error stamp issued on this day in 1962. Click the image to order.
October 23, 1962

Dag Hammarskjöld Invert Controversy

On October 23, 1962, the US Post Office Department unknowingly issued an unknown number of inverted Dag Hammarskjöld error stamps.  The fallout from this issue became known as Day’s Folly (after Postmaster General J. Edward Day).

Read Article