1958 3¢ Brussels Exhibition

# 1104 - 1958 3¢ Brussels Exhibition

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U.S. #1104
1958 3¢ Brussels Exhibition Issue

Issue Date: April 17, 1958
City:  Detroit, Michigan
Quantity: 113,660,200
Printed by:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method:  Rotary Press
Perforations: 
11 x 10 ½
Color:  Deep claret
 
U.S. #1104 featured the first World’s Fair to be held after World War II – the Brussels Universal and International Exposition, held in Brussels, Belgium. The stamp displays a view of the U.S. Pavilion. The Fair was also the first during the Cold War era, and there was tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union groups. 
 

Brussels World’s Fair 

On April 17, 1958, the Brussels World’s Fair, also known as Expo 58, opened its doors.

Expo 58 was the first major official world’s fair after World War II.  Bidding for the fair opened in 1948 and in 1953, Brussels, Belgium was selected as the host city.  It would be the 11th world’s fair hosted by Belgium and the fifth held in Brussels.

Since 1855, Belgium had a tradition of holding large national celebrations to commemorate its independence following the 1830 Belgian Revolution.  However, the prime minister decided to skip the 1955 celebrations to provide additional funding for the world’s fair in 1958.  A total of 15,000 workers would spend three years building the 490-acre site.  They reused several buildings from the 1935 expo, which had been held on the same site.

In the wake of World War II, Expo 58 was intended to help Europe and the world, look toward the future.  Participating nations were encouraged to showcase their best technological advancements as well as their unique cultures.  Each of the 51 participating countries built their own futuristic pavilions, showing their hopes for the future.

The fair officially opened to the public on April 17, 1958.  The most memorable display was the Atomium, a giant structure built to resemble the cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.  It was made of nine connected metal spheres.  The structure remains open to visitors.

The American pavilion consisted of four buildings with displays and activities showing the “American way of life.”  This included color televisions and popular treats such as ice cream and Coca-Cola.  They also had a fashion show, an electronic computer, and a performance by the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra.

The Soviet pavilion was placed right next to the American pavilion, to showcase one of the expo’s major themes – peace and prosperity among nations.  Though there was clear tension between the two groups.  The Soviet pavilion included a towering statue of Lenin and replicas of their successful Sputnik satellites.

One of the more controversial exhibits was the recreated Congolese village, also called the human zoo.  The village consisted of 700 Congolese people, put on display behind an armed guard.  While some visitors praised the exhibit for its accurate portrayal, the Congolese protested the way they were treated by spectators and demanded they be sent home.

The expo also included the worlds first universal film poll.  Critics from 26 countries nominated films and then voted on the best of them.  Among the top choices were Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Through the Ages, and Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane.

The expo officially closed on October 19, 1958.  During its six-month run, the fair had hosted over 41 million visitors from around the world.

Click here to view video from the expo.

Read More - Click Here

 

U.S. #1104
1958 3¢ Brussels Exhibition Issue

Issue Date: April 17, 1958
City:  Detroit, Michigan
Quantity: 113,660,200
Printed by:
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method:  Rotary Press
Perforations: 
11 x 10 ½
Color:  Deep claret
 
U.S. #1104 featured the first World’s Fair to be held after World War II – the Brussels Universal and International Exposition, held in Brussels, Belgium. The stamp displays a view of the U.S. Pavilion. The Fair was also the first during the Cold War era, and there was tension between the U.S. and Soviet Union groups. 
 

Brussels World’s Fair 

On April 17, 1958, the Brussels World’s Fair, also known as Expo 58, opened its doors.

Expo 58 was the first major official world’s fair after World War II.  Bidding for the fair opened in 1948 and in 1953, Brussels, Belgium was selected as the host city.  It would be the 11th world’s fair hosted by Belgium and the fifth held in Brussels.

Since 1855, Belgium had a tradition of holding large national celebrations to commemorate its independence following the 1830 Belgian Revolution.  However, the prime minister decided to skip the 1955 celebrations to provide additional funding for the world’s fair in 1958.  A total of 15,000 workers would spend three years building the 490-acre site.  They reused several buildings from the 1935 expo, which had been held on the same site.

In the wake of World War II, Expo 58 was intended to help Europe and the world, look toward the future.  Participating nations were encouraged to showcase their best technological advancements as well as their unique cultures.  Each of the 51 participating countries built their own futuristic pavilions, showing their hopes for the future.

The fair officially opened to the public on April 17, 1958.  The most memorable display was the Atomium, a giant structure built to resemble the cell of an iron crystal magnified 165 billion times.  It was made of nine connected metal spheres.  The structure remains open to visitors.

The American pavilion consisted of four buildings with displays and activities showing the “American way of life.”  This included color televisions and popular treats such as ice cream and Coca-Cola.  They also had a fashion show, an electronic computer, and a performance by the Seventh Army Symphony Orchestra.

The Soviet pavilion was placed right next to the American pavilion, to showcase one of the expo’s major themes – peace and prosperity among nations.  Though there was clear tension between the two groups.  The Soviet pavilion included a towering statue of Lenin and replicas of their successful Sputnik satellites.

One of the more controversial exhibits was the recreated Congolese village, also called the human zoo.  The village consisted of 700 Congolese people, put on display behind an armed guard.  While some visitors praised the exhibit for its accurate portrayal, the Congolese protested the way they were treated by spectators and demanded they be sent home.

The expo also included the worlds first universal film poll.  Critics from 26 countries nominated films and then voted on the best of them.  Among the top choices were Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush, D.W. Griffith’s Intolerance: Love’s Struggle Through the Ages, and Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane.

The expo officially closed on October 19, 1958.  During its six-month run, the fair had hosted over 41 million visitors from around the world.

Click here to view video from the expo.