Soliloquy on a Postage Stamp #53 - the FAO Freedom From Hunger Campaign 1963, cont'd : Fouad Kronfol
This week I continue with showing philatelic materials issued by countries as part of their contributions to the FAO Freedom From Hunger Campaign of 1963. The focus this week is on stamps and a cover issued by countries that were part of the British Commonwealth. Therein lies a story.
It appears that the UK was not keen to issue a stamp(s)for the FFHC and instead wanted to contribute a "special cancellation" as they did for the 1960 Refugee Year and the 1962 WHO Malaria Eradication Campaign. There was much debate about whether their 'policy' would be respected if they issued stamps for an event that was not considered a national or royal importance.
When many other European countries joined the ranks of those intending to issue stamps the pressure was great on the Royal Post to change its mind.
Eventually the Director General of FAO Dr. Sen wrote personally to the head of Royal Post assuring him that FFHC was indeed a global event of major consequence and that the UK should join the assembly of nations in this activity. As a result the UK issued two stamps for FFHC (I had featured them earlier) but also decided on an omnibus design for all the Commonwealth countries. There were 37 countries which chose to issue the omnibus stamp. I am proud to display here the entire collection of these stamps. Other Commonwealth countries, like the UK, chose to issue a separate design, some of which I have already shown.
This is the second lot of 18 stamps, also in alphabetical order, starting with Grenada and ending with Zanzibar.
The 37th. Stamp is from New Hebrides Condominium. It is shown individually so viewers can see the details of the design on these stamps.
The final item is a First Day Cover from Bahamas with the omnibus design. The post marks show it was mailed from Nassau on 4 June 1963. It was a registered letter but it is not clear who the recipient is as only a Post Office Box number is shown, without a name.I presume it was a local address.
It appears that the UK was not keen to issue a stamp(s)for the FFHC and instead wanted to contribute a "special cancellation" as they did for the 1960 Refugee Year and the 1962 WHO Malaria Eradication Campaign. There was much debate about whether their 'policy' would be respected if they issued stamps for an event that was not considered a national or royal importance.
When many other European countries joined the ranks of those intending to issue stamps the pressure was great on the Royal Post to change its mind.
Eventually the Director General of FAO Dr. Sen wrote personally to the head of Royal Post assuring him that FFHC was indeed a global event of major consequence and that the UK should join the assembly of nations in this activity. As a result the UK issued two stamps for FFHC (I had featured them earlier) but also decided on an omnibus design for all the Commonwealth countries. There were 37 countries which chose to issue the omnibus stamp. I am proud to display here the entire collection of these stamps. Other Commonwealth countries, like the UK, chose to issue a separate design, some of which I have already shown.
Here we have the first 18 stamps starting with the one from Aden, which I have shown in alphebetical order. The design which all the countries used shows Queen Elizabeth in one corner of the stamp and an agricultural motif in the other , with animals, fruits, grains etc.The 3 grain stalks logo of the FFH Campaign are shown, as well as the inscription "Freedom From Hunger". There is no mention of FAO.
I forgot to point out that all the Commonwealth stamps have Queen Elizabeth II on the left side except Brunei, Tonga and Zanzibar which have their own Head Of State on the stamps.
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