The Chagall Window Issue

Chronology September 17, 1961: Secretary General Dag Hammerskjöld and fifteen UN staff members were killed in a plane crash in Northern Rhodesia. Funds were raised for a memorial September 17, 1964: the Peace Window was unveiled. 1967: A stamp and souvenir sheet showing the window was released The collection assembled by Jack Mayer became the definitive collection, serving as the information source for philatelic references.

Chagalls 1963 monotype Peace served as the preliminary study for the final design of the UN stained glass window. The blue background appears to rotate with many of the same designs and themes that eventually appeared in the window. The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. -- Isaiah XI:6

The window itself measures 12 x 15 and was photographically reduced to 81mm x 131 mm. Light black positive transparency Unique Colour composite positive transparency missing light black Unique

In the window, Marc Chagall sought to express the simplicity and beauty of the ideals of beach and brotherhood for which the United Nations was founded. Figures of young children are shown with angelic faces. Symbols of law appear on the right side while temptation appears below in the form of a snake. Above can be seen motherhood and the worlds people struggling for peace. Original photographic essay of design in colours darker than the final version Unique

Photographer Hans Richard Lippman was selected to photograph the original window for the offset lithographic printing process. Complex scheduling was required to ensure that proper lighting was available to reflect the colour intensities with the final shoot occurring mid-morning. Official First Day Cover Signed by Hans Richard Lippman, photographer

Proposed 5c Issue Unissued souvenir sheet Unique

Proposed 5c Issue Artist model (photographs mounted on art board with simulated perfs drawn in gouache) Unique

Paper A bright fluorescent paper of 100% softwood bleached sulfite is used for this issue. The coating on the printed side is of a clay starch variety. Fluorescence varies depending on the shade of paper, coating, and chemical brighteners used. Weight of the paper varies from.0040 to.0065 with an average thickness of

Colour A four-colour print process (yellow, red, blue, and black) with half-tones was used. Magnification 90 times shows the dots of colour and the angles at which they have been screened. The obvious white defects are minute imperfections caused by paper coating and/or lint in the printing process

Colour Shift Missing Colour

Cutting

Day of Issue: Nov 17, 1967 One postal clerk used an October 24 date stamp for a portion of the first day. Different cover cachets for New York & Geneva as well as souvenir sheets and single stamp. Official U.N. Geneva office FDC with Marc Chagall original signature.

Single Stamp Issue The single stamp issue uses the design section Kiss of Peace from the main design. The final issue shows the new 6c rate taking effect in the U.S.

Postal Usages