# 2697j - 1992 29c World War II: Allies Land in North Africa

US #2697j
1992 Allies Land in North Africa, 1942

• Part of the second Souvenir Sheet issued to commemorate 50^th anniversary of World War II
• Sheet contains 10 stamps and a world map.

Stamp Category:  Commemorative
Set:  1942: Into the Battle, World War II
Value:  29¢ First Class Mail Rate
First Day of Issue:  August 17, 1992
First Day City:  Indianapolis, Indiana
Quantity Issued:  12,000,000 stamps
Printed by:  Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method:  offset/ intaglio
Format:  Sheetlets of 10, arranged in two strips of 5 with a world map between.  Offset printing plates of 8 sheetlets (2 across, 4 down). Intaglio printing sleeves of 16 sheetlets (2 across, 8 down)
Perforations:  11

Why the stamp was issued:  This stamp is part of a sheetlet issued to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of World War II.  It was the second in a series of five that were issued over the course of five years.

About the stamp design:  There were many topics the USPS wanted to cover when commemorating World War II, but those planning the series didn’t want to issue a large number of stamps.  It was decided a sheetlet format would best highlight the main events of the war.  In order for all the sheetlets to have a uniform design, the same artist, William Bond, and art director, Howard Paine, were assigned to the entire project.

Bond’s painting used for this stamp image shows an American M3 tank moving toward German defenses.  His inspiration was a photo made by a Life magazine photographer.  The artist incorporated yellow in the sky and landscape to show the head and sand of North Africa.

Special design details:  Though the sheet is very similar to the 1991 issue, there are some small changes.  In this sheet, the year 1942 was added to each individual stamp.  The previous sheet only had the year on the map, so if the stamps were separated it would have been difficult to identify the year the stamp was commemorating.  In addition, an explanation was added to the map which read, “Red areas controlled by enemy.”

First Day City:  The First Day of Issue ceremony took place at the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, which took place in Indianapolis, Indiana.

About the World War II Series:  As the 50^th anniversary of World War II was approaching the US Postal Service wanted a series that would recognize the key events of the war and the important contributions America made to the Allied victory.  Rather than issue a large number of stamps, the USPS decided to create five sheetlets, each commemorating one year of America’s involvement in the war.  Each sheetlet had 10 different stamps arraigned in two horizontal strips of 5.  In the center was a world map with Allied and neutral nations in yellow and Axis-controlled areas in red.  Notes on the map highlighted key developments that occurred that year.  The stamps each featured important events that took place during the year, as well.

History the stamp represents: 

Across the Atlantic Ocean from America, Allied forces were engaged in heavy combat against Nazi Germany.  North Africa was in the hands of Vichy France, which was fighting with the Axis powers.  In a mission known as Operation Torch, the Allies invaded French North Africa beginning on November 8, 1942.  This was the first major involvement of US troops in the European- North African Theatre.  Three areas of Morocco and Algeria were targeted for assault: Casablanca, Oran, and Algiers.  Casablanca, with its large port facilities, was captured after two days. Oran was also captured by November 10.  French resistance at Algiers was light.  US forces landed on three beaches and faced little opposition.  The senior French Army officer in North Africa surrendered to the Allies the first day.  The French forces in North Africa were ordered to cooperate with the Allies.  Many joined the Allies in their fight against Nazi Germany.