S18 - Generic International and Pope Benedict

Recently, Marlen Stamp and Coins, Ltd. began offering a Pope Benedict sheet commemorating his visit to the United States on 15-18 April 2008. On 18 April 2008, Pope Benedict delivered a public address to the General Assembly of the United Nations on the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Pope Benedict noted that, if rights are to be more than legal fictions, they must have their foundation in justice and religion.

The Marlen United Nations personalized stamp sheet is a commemoration of that event. The personalization was done by UNPA at Marlen's request, much like you or I could do if we wanted to send UNPA a scan of Pope Benedict and pay $14.95 per sheet. Marlen is currently selling these souvenir sheets for $74.95 per sheet. They are similar to the two Elvis sheets in that they commemorate a specific person or event, and they are printed by UNPA

I try not to make judgments in this Blog on what individuals should or should not collect. I leave that choice up to everyone, and if you collect this type of material, that is fine. I only try to present the facts despite the promotion that Marlen has written on their website:

"UNITED NATIONS POPE BENEDICT SURPRISE SHEET MINT NH THIS SHEET WILL NOT BE SOLD TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC---THROUGH THE UNPA. THIS IS AN OFFICIAL ISSUE OF THE UNITED NATIONS. THIS SHEET WAS ISSUED SPECIFICALLY TO MAKE COMMEMORATIVE COVERS FOR HISTORIC SPEECH BEFORE THE UNITED NATIONS ON FRIDAY. WE HAVE ASCERTAINED THAT JUST ABOUT THE ENTIRE PRINT RUN HAS BEEN UTILIZED FOR COVER GENERATION. IF YOU WANT A PIECE OF PAPAL HISTORY THIS SHEET IS FOR YOU. WE ONLY HAVE A FEW SHEETS AVAILABLE."

Nothing said here is untrue. The sheet will not be sold to the general public by UNPA. Marlen owns the sheets and can sell them either intact or broken up to make commemorative covers. However, this sheet will never be listed in any United Nations specialized catalog.

S15 - 50th Anniversay of Japan's Accession to the UN - Update

Thanks to Dieter Wolke, a UNOP member, we now know the name of the designer of the 50th Anniversay of Japan's Accession to the United Nations personalized stamp sheet. It is Toshiro Sawanuki, who is an official artist for Arts 4 A Culture of Peace & Development Programme for the WAFUNIF Programmes in support of the United Nations System. He held his one man exhibition in 2004 at Artspace Gallery in New York.

From the Artspace Gallery website we know:

"Mr. Sawanuki was born in Tokyo in 1950 and started his career as an art director in making popular Japanese TV programs, commercials and films. With a recognized talent, Toshiro Sawanuki became an accomplished cosmic artist in 1989. Flow of cosmic vision has been motivating his creation for the new millennium world with more than 400 original acrylics that depict infinite energy from the universe, peace on planets, love for humanity, harmony and joy.

Inspired by the new millennium energy, the artworks of Toshiro Sawanuki invite you to the magnificent space journey where you can recognize the blessings and preciousness of our mother planet, common home and origin for all creatures without borders. Cosmic Art of Toshiro Sawanuki provides such opportunity for people of all ages beyond difference of nationality, identity, culture and beliefs.

DEDICATED TO THE INTERNATIONAL DECADE FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE
AND NON-VIOLENCE FOR THE CHILDREN OF THE WORLD 2001 - 2010

Cosmic Art of Toshiro Sawanuki will be dedicated to the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the world proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly Resolution 53/25 spanning through the decade, 2001-2010. It is regarded as a model in promoting six unifying and interrelated values, identified by several Nobel Peace Laureates, as common to all societies, cultures and nations:

RESPECT ALL LIFE
REJECT VIOLENCE
SHARE WITH OTHERS
LISTEN TO UNDERSTAND
PRESERVE THE PLANET
REDISCOVER SOLIDARITY

Changing the world by saying “Yes” to coexistence, to listening, to respecting life, to understanding others, to equality and to respecting the planet.

Changing the world by saying “No” to violence, to crime, to conflicts, to war and
to separation.

The artworks of Toshiro Sawanuki drawn under the 6 values will be displayed at the official launch of Arts for A Culture of Peace & Development Programme for WAFUNIF Programmes in support of the United Nations System. Part of the sales will be donated to WAFUNIF’s Culture of Peace Learning MultiCentre in Nicaragua."