S22 - Internationalalen Breifmarken-Messe Essen 2008

The next United Nations personalized sheet was issued on 8 May 2008, at the International Stamp Exhibition in Essen, Germany. The design in the background depicts the mineshaft in "Bauhaus" style, the last colliery (a workplace consisting of a coal mine plus all the buildings and equipment connected with it) that was shut down in Essen. The colliery and the coking plant of the "Zollverein" (German customs union) belong to the more remarkable industrial monuments in Europe and are a UNESCO world cultural heritage site since 14 December 2001. The personalized sheet was issued to commemorate UNPA Europe's 18th participation at this fair.

The stamps, which have not yet been assigned Scott or Michel numbers, consist of 2 x 5 stamps, each being € 0.65. The UN logo and the 2008 Essen show cachet are featured on the tabs of the stamps. The photos of the stamps represent the following, reading from left top to bottom:

1. United Nations Headquarters—Vienna International Centre
2. Flags on the “Memorial Plaza”—Vienna International Centre
3. “Woman Free” sculpture by Edwina Sandys, 1989—Vienna International Centre
4. AQA—Water with a Human Face—drinking fountain as a living piece of art; designed by Hansi Dietrich of Unitas Humana
5. Japanese Peace Bell on the “Memorial Plaza”—Vienna International Centre

When the sheet was first announced, it was to be sold for € 12.95, which would have equated to $20.43. On the afternoon before the sheet was to go on sale, the price was changed at the UNPA online site to the standard $14.95. I wonder what they were sold for at the Essen show?

I don't have any information on the designer or quantities printed. If someone could share that with us, I'd be happy to pass the information on to everyone.