United Nations Geneva stamps year 1997 China Terracotta Warriors booklet

United Nations Geneva Terracotta Warriors stamp booklet—a visually appealing prestige booklet featuring China’s famed terracotta warriors.

Background & Issuance — Terracotta Warriors (UN Geneva, 1997)

• The Lady Terracotta Warriors stamps were issued by the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) at its Geneva office, not in 2001, but on 19 November 1997, to mark the 25th anniversary of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention.
• These were part of the UN’s inaugural “World Heritage” stamp series, honoring cultural sites worldwide.
• The set includes six stamps depicting various views of the Terracotta Army (also known as the Terracotta Warriors from Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb near Xi’an).
• The prestige booklet format featured a specially shaped cover that gives the impression of “gazing at an army.” Inside, collectors find six panes—each with four of the stamps—accompanied by 12 narrative pages providing historical context about the excavation and significance of the warriors.

Clarification on Date

Your mention of 2001 likely stems from the successive issuance of the World Heritage series, such as the Japan booklet released in 2001. However, the China Terracotta Warriors booklet was explicitly from 1997, with no corresponding UNPA issue in 2001.

Collectors’ Insights & Postal Use

• These UN stamps are valid for postage—but only when mailed from UN post offices, such as in Geneva, similar to UNNY and UN Vienna issues.
• The market interest in UNPA stamps, especially modern issues, tends to be modest: “There’s just no market for these… First day covers just aren’t widely collected anymore.”
  “United Nations stamps in United States denominations… are valid… only if mailed at UN HQ in New York. Stamps in Swiss franc denominations are valid… only if mailed at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland.

While their monetary value may not be high, they remain significant for thematic collectors, UNESCO enthusiasts, and those specializing in UN-related philately.

Summary Table