Zaire year 1978 Soccer – World Cup Argentina MNH stamps

Zaire year 1978 Soccer – World Cup Argentina MNH stamps

In 1978, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) issued a popular and vibrant philatelic series to commemorate the 11th FIFA World Cup held in Argentina.

Set Details: 1978 World Cup Argentina

This release followed the excitement of Zaire’s own historic participation in the 1974 World Cup (where they were the first sub-Saharan African team to qualify). Even though they didn’t qualify for the ’78 tournament, the country issued these stamps to celebrate the global event.

• Number of Stamps: 8 individual stamps in the main set.
• Souvenir Sheets: 2 distinct souvenir sheets (often referred to as Blocks 18 and 19).
• Catalog References:
  • Michel: Nos. 558–565 (Stamps) and Blocks 18–19.
  • Scott: Nos. 862–870 (Stamps) and 871 (S/S).
  • Yvert: Nos. 909–916.

Design & Themes

The stamps are known for their colorful, action-oriented illustrations of soccer matches. The designs typically include:

• Action Scenes: Goalkeepers diving, players tackling, and headers.
• Symbols: The 1978 World Cup logo and the Argentine flag are often integrated into the margins or the stamp design.
• Text: The stamps are inscribed with “Coupe du Monde de Football – Argentine 78.”