1983 World Flags

This is the fourth group of sixteen flag stamps.  The series includes the United Kingdom, Barbados, Nepal, Israel, Malawi, Byelorussian S.S.R., Jamaica, and Kenya.

While the designs and colorations of the flags flown at the U.N. are different, the flags are manufactured from identical materials, and cut to identical proportions.

The flag of Nepal is unique because it is in the form of two triangles rather than the common rectangular shape.  The moon on top and sun on the bottom are symbols of this small, mountainous Asian nation.

The shield of David (also know as the “Star of David”) is displayed on the flag of Israel.  This star is an ancient symbol of the Jewish people.

On the flag of Barbados, blue stands for sky and sea, while orange symbolizes sand.  The design in the center is a portion of a trident, associated with the god Neptune.  In Roman mythology, Neptune was god of the sea.  The trident is a fitting symbol for a nation surrounded by water.  These flags are good examples of how a nation chooses symbols to convey a message about itself.