United Nations Vienna stamps 1998 Marine Wildlife of the Ocean

United Nations Vienna stamps 1998 Marine Wildlife of the Ocean set MNH

The United Nations Office at Vienna (UNOV) also issued stamps to mark the International Year of the Ocean in 1998, with the theme focusing on Marine Wildlife.

Here are the details for the stamps issued by the UN Office at Vienna (UNOV):

🌊 1998 International Year of the Ocean – Vienna

• Issue Date: May 20, 1998, released simultaneously with the New York and Geneva offices.
• Theme: Marine Wildlife of the Ocean.
• Format: Similar to the other offices, the Vienna issue was presented as a Souvenir Sheet (Miniature Sheet), containing multiple stamps.
• Currency & Denominations (Austrian Schillings – S): The stamps were issued in Austrian Schillings (the currency used by the Vienna office before the Euro). The sheet contains 12 stamps in four groups of three, or is a pane of 12 identical stamps (depending on the catalog description), but is often referred to by the overall Souvenir Sheet/Pane.
  • The face value of the Souvenir Sheet/Pane was 3.50 Schillings (3.50s). Note: One source indicates the issue was a pane of 12 stamps, which is consistent with the New York and Geneva issues, but often cataloged as a single issue.
• Scott Catalog Number: The International Year of the Ocean stamp issue for Vienna is cataloged as Scott #UNV239 (which represents the pane/sheet of 12 se-tenant stamps).
• Designs: The stamps are part of the larger theme showcasing the rich biodiversity of the oceans. The full issue by the UNPA featured illustrations of marine life, often focusing on a specific oceanic region for each office’s set.

This issue is a great example of the United Nations Postal Administration’s thematic releases to promote global awareness.