International Dance 2017 Date of Issue: 23 March 2017 2017 Flag Series Date of Issue: 3 February 2017

FASCINATION PHILATELIC BULLETIN No. 121

INTERNATIONAL DANCE 2017 DATE OF ISSUE: 23 MARCH 2017 2017 FLAG SERIES DATE OF ISSUE: 3 FEBRUARY 2017

CHINESE LUNAR CALENDAR — YEAR OF THE ROOSTER NY SPECIAL EVENT SHEET DATE OF ISSUE: 13 JANUARY 2017

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAPPINESS — THE SMURFS PERSONALIZED EVENT SHEET DATE OF ISSUE: 20 MARCH 2017

34TH ASIAN INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXHIBITION — MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA SPECIAL EVENT MINI-SHEETS DATE OF ISSUE: 30 MARCH 2017

unstamps.org 1 LETTER FROM THE CHIEF

Dear Collectors, Welcome to the New Year! I hope that you have all enjoyed the holiday season. We have some very exciting stamp issues to tell you about in this bulletin. In February, UNPA is proud to continue its very popular Flag Series. Eight new flag stamp designs of Member States whose flags have changed since they were first issued by UNPA will be featured on two stamp sheets. UNPA has also re-designed the Flag folder with a new updated look to accompany the series. In March, because of its extreme popularity with collectors, UNPA will continue its stamp series on International Dance. The six stamp sheets will feature dance styles from Native American tribal dance to Polynesia, Quadrille, Japanese fan, Samba and Ballet. UNPA is also issuing some special event sheets which include the Chinese Lunar Calendar — Year of the Rooster; International Day of Happiness — The Smurfs; and a three-stamp mini-sheet to commemorate the 34th Asian International Stamp Exhibition in Melbourne, Australia.

For the remainder of the year, UNPA will continue its very popular Endangered Species Thanawat Amnajanan series and World Heritage series featuring the Silk Road. Other stamp issues that Chief are planned will commemorate World Environment Day, International Day of Peace United Nations and World Food Day. Postal Administration As always, we thank you for your interest in United Nations stamps, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. I wish all of you the best for a healthy and happy New Year.

FOR YOUR INFORMATION—THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

UNITED NATIONS STAMPS USED FOR REGISTRATION THRESHOLD Postage stamps and stamp-related products MAILING UNPA changed the registration threshold purchased from the United Nations Postal United Nations stamps in United States dollar amount effective 15 July 2014. Orders valued Administration are not subject to sales tax. denominations are valid for postage only if at $200.00 and above are automatically mailed at United Nations Headquarters in New registered. To place an order or to contact our office in York. Stamps in Swiss franc denominations are New York: WHEN ORDERING BY MAIL valid for postage only if mailed at the Palais Call toll-free: 1 800 234 UNPA (8672) The item numbers used in this edition of des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland. Stamps in For Canadian customers: 1 212 963 7684 Fascination identify the products and should Fax: 1 917 367 1400 euro denominations are valid for postage only be written on the order form in the Item E-mail: [email protected] if mailed at the Vienna International Centre, Number column. The next column asks Austria. for a description of each item as a cross Or write to: United Nations PRICES reference. In this space, you may also indicate Postal Administration Stamps are sold at face value. UN/Geneva any specific requests, e.g., special marginal P.O. Box 5900 Grand Central Station and UN/Vienna stamps are sold at USD inscription (M.I.) positions. Fill in the price in New York, NY 10163-5900 equivalent rates, rounded up to the nearest the appropriate column. Multiply the price by USA cent. The USD equivalents of the euro and the number required of that particular item To contact our European offices: Swiss franc denomination stamps are subject and enter the resulting figure in the amount Call: 43 1 126060 4032 Fax: 43 1 26060 5825 to fluctuating exchange rates. column on the order form. Total your order E-mail: [email protected] and indicate whether registration of the SALES AND EXCHANGES Or write to: order is requested. Add postage and handling Every effort is made to provide UNPA customers Postverwaltung der Vereinten Nationen charges. Enclose your remittance, and mail it with materials of the highest philatelic quality. Postfach 900 to the indicated address. Therefore, all sales are final and no exchange Internationales Zentrum Wien A-1400 Wien—Vereinte Nationen or refund will be made except where stamps The new-issue stamps, stationery or other Österreich are received in damaged condition. philatelic items have been pre-printed on the order form for your convenience. CHANGE IN UNPA FIRST DAY COVERS All items listed in the Philatelic Products SELLING PERIOD Currently Available section of this Fascination Please be advised that there has been a change may be ordered on this form, subject to in policy regarding the selling period of UNPA availability of stock. first day covers. Effective 2 September 2014, the selling period changed from three months Please allow at least four (4) weeks for delivery. to six months. For faster service in processing your orders, please visit the UNPA website: unstamps.org. 2 unstamps.org 2017 PROGRAMME OF ISSUES IN THIS ISSUE (Tentative and subject to theme, date and denomination changes) 3 February 4 2017 FLAG SERIES FLAG SERIES (2 sheets of 16 stamps — 4 designs per sheet – $1.15 5 First Day Covers Flag Series Folder 5 Folder 23 March INTERNATIONAL DANCE 6 INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY (6 mini-sheets of 6 stamps) 49¢, $1.15, CHF 1,00, CHF 1,50, € 0,68, € 0,80 7 First Day Covers 11 May 7 Artists ENDANGERED SPECIES (CITES) (3 sheets of 16 stamps - 4 designs per sheet) 8 CHINESE YEAR OF THE ROOSTER $1.15, CHF 1,50, € 0,80 Personalized Sheets 3 Maximum Cards 2017 Endangered Species Collection Folder 8 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAPPINESS — 5 June THE SMURFS WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY/45TH ANNIVERSARY OF UNEP Special Event Sheet (Sheets of 20 stamps)

49¢, $1.15, CHF 1,00, CHF 2,00, € 0,68, € 1,70 9 34TH ASIAN INTERNATIONAL STAMP EXPO Souvenir Card IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA $1.15, CHF 2,00, € 1,70 9 Stamp shows 3 August WORLD HERITAGE (UNESCO) — SILK ROAD 10 Products available (Sheets of 20 stamps) 49¢, $1.15, CHF 1,00, CHF 1,50, € 0,80, € 1,70 Prestige Booklets NEWS & NOTEWORTHY Limited Edition silk cover

21 September UN STAMPS WIN PRIZES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE UNPA is pleased to announce that it won several prizes at (Sheets of 20 stamps) the 12th China Annual Best Foreign Stamp Poll Awards. 49¢, $1.15, CHF 1,00, CHF 2,00, € 0,68, € 1,70 The 2015 “70th Anniversary of the UN” stamps won the Souvenir Sheet first prize for the “Best Sheet Theme Award”. The 2015 Endangered Species series won second prize in the 16 October “Best Stamp Award” and second prize in the “Best Stamp WORLD FOOD DAY Printing Award” categories. (Sheets of 20 stamps) 49¢, $1.15, CHF 1,00, CHF 1,50, € 0,68, € 0,80 2017 UNPA ANNUAL COLLECTION FOLDER SPECIAL EVENT SHEETS

13 January CHINESE LUNAR CALENDAR YEAR OF THE ROOSTER (insert photos of UNPA accepting the awards) (NY Special Event Sheet of 10 Stamps - $1.15)

20 March INTERNATIONAL DAY OF HAPPINESS — THE SMURFS NANNING SHOW – MONKEY KING SHEET (NY Special Event Sheet of 10 stamps – $1.15) On 2 December 2016, UNPA launched the “Monkey King” 30 March rd 3 stamp mini-sheet at the 33 Asian International Stamp 34TH AISE MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA Exhibition in Nanning, China. The sheet was a huge (Special Event mini-sheet of 3 stamps success with collectors and has already sold out. $1.15, CHF 2,00 and € 1,70) 21 June INTERNATIONAL DAY OF YOGA (NY Special Event Sheet of 10 Stamps — $1.15)

27 October THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS (Special Event mini-sheet of 3 stamps - $1.15, CHF 2,00 and € 1,70)

MONKEY KING SHEET – PRINTING QUANTITIES Please note that the correct printed quantity for the 33 rd AISE Monkey King stamp mini-sheets was 35,000 sheets. unstamps.org 3 2017 FLAG SERIES

Originally launched in 1980, the Flag Series was created to honour the Member States of the United Nations. On 3 February 2017, UNPA will issue two sheets of 16 stamps consisting of eight new flag stamps. All of the flags issued have had flag design changes since they were first issued.

Sheet 52: Sheet 53: Albania New flag issued in 1992 Congo New flag issued in 1991 Benin New flag issued in 1990 Ethiopia New flag issues in 1996 Bulgaria New flag issued in 1991 Georgia New flag issued in 2004 Comoros New flag issues in 2002 Iraq New flag issued in 2008

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