SOLILOQUY OF A POSTAGE STAMP, #99 THE 1979 INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF THE CHILD, Fouad Kronfol

After a brief break I resume with the series of philatelic materials issued by countries for the IYC. This week it is countries starting with I and J.

Islamic Republic of Iran; despite the Revolution and the change in regime, Iran still issued this three stamp set for IYC. The designs are children's drawings reflecting the new government of Ayatollah Khomeini.

Iran; this is the First Day Cover with the same three stamps for IYC. The cachet is the face of a young boy and the IYC logo. There are two post marks, one indicating it is the first day of issue (in French and Farsi), while the other circular one shows the date of 23 September 1979  (1 Mehr 1358 of the Persian calendar) and it was issued from Teheran.

Republic of Iraq: this three stamp set also issued for IYC. Two of the stamps have the design showing  a child hugging the globe which covers half its face, and with a lit candle in front. The third stamp has a girl and boy reaching for the UN Emblem and the IYC logo.

Republic of Ireland; Another three stamp set for IYC has different drawings by children to commemorate the Year of the Child.

Isle of Man; these two stamps issued for IYC were also painted by the artist E.M.Moore to commemorate Christmas. One shows a girl on a stool with her teddy bear and a cat at her feet, while the other is Santa Claus in his familiar costume holding three children on his knees.The effigy of Queen Elizabeth II is on both stamps.

Isle of Man; this is the FDC with the same two stamps and the cachet showing three boys and a rowboat. The inscription in the frame around the photo reads;" Children's Stamps Help Children's Needs". The post mark has the IYC logo and is dated 19 October 1979 issued from Douglas-10 Man.

Israel; this stamp is one of the slimmest and longest among those issued for IYC. The design shows a child waving while seated on an inverted rainbow.

Israel; this is the same stamp on a First Day Cover but with a tab on which is the IYC logo. The cachet is simply the IYC logo and the post mark indicates it was issued on 13 November 1979 from Jerusalem.

Italy; these three stamps were issued on 25 November 1979 for the XXI Stamp Day (Giornata del Francobollo) and do not show the IYC logo nor any indication that they were issued for that Year. Even the Scott catalogue that I use listed the stamps  as being "Children's Drawings". I have ascertained that they were issued for IYC and show different colorful children's drawings ; a black boy and a white boy holding hands; three children from different ethnic backgrounds are under an umbrella representing the world and a group of children playing  with red balloons.

Cote d"Ivoire.(Ivory Coast) issued this four stamp set for IYC.There are two different designs; one shows the globe as a stylized version of the UN emblem with a boy and girl underneath. They appear to be dancing with one arm and one leg raised . The other shows a child riding on the back of a dove and waving to the world.

4982: Jamaica; this Caribbean island issued the set of four stamps for IYC. As with other countries the stamps also commemorate Christmas. The designs include; a group of smiling children with the inscription " Out of Many One People"; a colorful doll ' a painting entitled "The Family" in a rural setting; and a couple of buildings with the title " House on the Hill "..

4983: Jamaica; this is a regularly posted envelope with three of the IYC stamps and two others which was mailed  from an Insurance Company in Savanna-La- Mar, to an address in Ontario, Canada. The post mark is dated 29 November but shows no year.

4984: Japan; this two stamp set for IYC has original designs that  imply a futuristic vision with a girl  in a space suit flying out of a capsule while holding in her hand three stars. The other shows a boy also in a space suit flying with a net in his hand trying to catch a butterfly while his space craft is hovering above him.

Japan; This is the FDC with one of the above stamps issued for IYC. The cachet is a drawing of a boy under a tree walking towards a building in the distance.The post mark is the IYC logo with the numerals 54. and 8. and 1.

Japan; this is the FDC of the other stamp issued for IYC. Its cachet shows a gril in a yellow dress standing next to a flower. The post mark is identical to the one on the FDC above.

4988: Japan; this is the FDC with both of the stamps issued for IYC. The cachet is an attractive drawing of children in traditional Japanese outfits playing with colorful paper kites. Here again the post mark is the same as the other two FCD's.

Isle of Jersey; an interesting set of four stamps was issued for IYC . These stamps reproduce paintings by the British artist and illustrator Sir John Everett Millais, who was one of the founders of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. Three stamps show children in various positions, while the fourth is entitled "Christ in the House of His Parents, The Carpenter's Shop". Millais depicts the boy Christ just after his hand had been accidentally impaled by a nail. Joseph is in anxious close attendence while Mary kneels to comfort him.His cousin John the Baptist brings a dish of water as a balm for the wound.

Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; this three stamp set was issued to commemorate the National Committee of the IYC. The design has the IYC logo within colored circles , a flag with a star and the Royal Crown on top. The inscription at the bottom in Arabic reads, " Respect Your Children and Improve Their Culture".

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Fouad