Manama – Ajman stamps year 1972 Summer Olympic games Munich

Manama – Ajman stamps year 1972 Summer Olympic games Munich

In 1972, the State of Ajman and its dependency, Manama, released several series of stamps commemorating the Munich Summer Olympics. These issues are a classic example of what philatelists call “Dunes” or “Sand Dune” stamps.

The 1972 Munich Olympic Issues

These stamps were produced in high volumes with vibrant colors and diverse formats to appeal specifically to topical collectors (those who collect by theme, like “Sports” or “Olympics”).

• Standard Series: Often found in sets of 20 stamps or more, featuring various Olympic disciplines like cycling, track and field, and rowing.
• Souvenir Sheets (S/S): Large, decorative sheets containing one or two stamps. A notable 1972/73 set from Manama/Ajman featured legendary footballers (soccer players) like Uwe Seeler and Denis Law in gold-bordered sheets to coincide with the Olympic/World Cup era.
• 3D/Lenticular Stamps: Ajman was famous for producing “3D” plastic-coated stamps for the 1972 Olympics, which were a major novelty at the time.

Philatelic Status & Cataloging

It is important to note that these stamps have a controversial status in the hobby:

• “Dunes” Classification: Most major catalogs (like Scott) stopped listing Ajman and Manama stamps after 1965-1967 because they were issued primarily for export to collectors and saw little to no actual postal use within the territory.
• Michel Catalog: Unlike Scott, the German Michel catalog usually lists these issues (e.g., Michel #726-745 for some Ajman 1972 Olympic sets).
• Postal Validity: By late 1971, Ajman had joined the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While Ajman stamps were technically tolerated for local use until April 1973, most 1972 “Olympic” issues were sold directly to international dealers and never reached a post office in Manama.

Estimated Market Value (2026)

Because they were produced in such massive quantities for collectors, they remain very affordable today.

Collector’s Note

While these stamps are not “investment grade” and aren’t typically used in competitive philatelic exhibits, they are beloved by topical collectors for their large, beautiful artwork and are a perfect way to fill out an Olympic-themed album on a budget.