# UN663-64 - 1995 United Nations 50th Anniversary

 

On June 26, 1945, representatives form 50 countries signed the Charter of the United Nations. These six stamps and three souvenir sheets celebrate that historic occasion. The United States joined the U.N. in celebrating the ratification of the charter by temporarily amending its postal agreement with the U.N. Normally, U.N. stamps are valid only within the confines of the U.N. headquarters in New York. But, as it has on five other anniversaries, the U.S. Postal Service allowed the U.S. Postal Office at San Francisco, California, to temporarily become a part of the New York Headquarters. This was done solely for the purpose of providing First Day Cover Cancellations for the souvenir sheets and commemorative stamps from this issue with U.S. denominations.

 

The father and son team of Paul and Chris Calle, who worked together to create the U.S. 25th anniversary of the Moon Landing souvenir sheet issued in 1994, created these six stamps and three souvenir sheets. Their teamwork represents the first time in U.N. history that two artists have collaborated to create a U.N. issue. Paul Calle has been called a “visual historian.” His art, which often chronicles American history, has been displayed in museums all over the world. Mr. Calle has created postage stamp designs for postal administrations worldwide, most notably the “First Man on the Moon,” created for the U.S. Postal Service. Chris Calle has created more than 65 postage stamps for postal authorities all over the world. He is the first designer to be commissioned to create more than one stamp in a single year for the U.N. – the “Endangered Species” stamps issued in 1995 were also his work.