United Nations Geneva: 2003 “World Heritage – USA” Stamp Series
In October 2003, the UN Postal Administration in Geneva issued a series of stamps as part of the 2003 UNESCO World Heritage collection, specifically highlighting sites in the United States:
- Denomination CHF 0.90 – Illustrated with Yellowstone National Park, one of the United States’ most iconic natural heritage sites.
- Denomination CHF 0.30 – Featuring Kīlauea Volcano, located in Hawaii and another UNESCO World Heritage site .
- Other denominations (e.g., CHF 0.10) were also part of the series, though their specific imagery isn’t detailed in available sources.
These were issued on 24 October 2003, designed by Rorie Katz, and produced by De La Rue using offset printing, comb perforation (14½), and standard water-activated gum.
Context & Additional Notes
- These stamps are part of a larger 2003 World Heritage booklet featuring other U.S. sites like Yosemite and Hawaii Volcanoes, though issued by the UN Postal Administration generally (rather than specifically the Geneva office).
- The Geneva year set for 2003, available separately, included a broader assortment of themes beyond World Heritage (e.g. Indigenous Art, International Year of Freshwater, Ralph Bunche).
- A comprehensive 2003 UN year set covering New York, Geneva, and Vienna offices exists, containing nearly 60 stamps and sold by collectors such as Mystic Stamp Company.
Usage & Collectability Insights
- UN stamps must be mailed from their issuing office to be valid—for example, Swiss franc-denominated stamps (like these) can only be used at the UN office in Geneva.
- While officially postal, many of these stamps are primarily desired by topical collectors (e.g. UNESCO themes), rather than as rare or highly valuable items.
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