Issued by Hong Kong

Issued on Feb 28, 2013

Issued for : Established in 1863, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organisation whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of armed conflict and other situations of violence and to provide them with assistance. To mark the 150^th anniversary of the ICRC, Hongkong Post issues a set of commemorative stamps to commend the ICRC for its humanitarian contributions. Perforations in the shape of a cross are used for the first time to highlight the emblem of the ICRC.

Designs :
$1.40 – Protection, $2.40 – Assistance, $3.00 – Prevention and $5.00 – Cooperation.

Designed by : MOU Pui–kay, LEUNG Pak–keung

Type : Stamps, Mint condition

Watermark : No

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 1.40, 2.40, 3 & 5 Dollar

Stamp Size : 3.50 x 3.50 cms.

Perforation : 13.75 (one cross-shaped perforation on each vertical)

Paper : Paper with security fibres

Stamp Layout : Pane of 25 stamps

Printer : Cartor Security Printing, France

Printing Process : Lithography

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Issued by India

Issued on Nov 7, 2009

Issued for : India Post is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on Danmal Mathur.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Brahm Prakash
Cancellation : Nenu Gupta

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nasik

Name : Danmal Mathur

Born on Mar 14, 1904 at Ajmer, Rajasthan, India

About : 

• Shri Danmal Mathur is remembered as a well known and highly respected luminary of Rajasthan. Multifaceted and diligent, he was born on 14^th March 1904 in Ajmer and made a mark for himself as an educationist. His father, Munshi Kanmal Mathur, had been Housemaster of Kotah House in Mayo College earlier, and was known for being a man of principle and a disciplinarian. A young Danmal imbibed his father’s qualities.
• With a Bachelor’s degree from Government College, Ajmer, he went on to work as Demonstrator in Physics and later taught in Sardar High School, Bharatpur, for three years. The Principal of Mayo College in 1932, Mr. V.A.S. Shaw, recognizing his potential, appointed him to teach Geography in Mayo College. He rose to become Head of the Geography Department. Later, he went on to become Housemaster, then Vice Principal and also acting Principal before retirement in 1969.
• He was the founder Principal of Vidya Niketan School in Bhilwara and the Mayoor School in Ajmer. For his signal contribution to education the Rajasthan State Govt. conferred the State Teacher’s Award in 1970, and the Mewar Foundation awarded him the Maharana Mewar Award in 1981.
• His appointment on the board of government of a number of educational institutes is testimony of the high esteem he was held in as an educationist. His special contribution besides academics to Mayo is the Museum established by him, now called ‘The Danmal Mathur Museum’. Overseas visitors to the museum have rated it as among the best school museums in the world. The Open Air Map of India is another unique contribution of his to Mayo College.
• He was a pioneer of the Scouting Movement in Rajasthan having been initiated by Madan Mohan Malviya. In recognition of his services, he was awarded the ‘Silver Star’ and subsequently the ‘Silver Elephant’ the highest award in Scouting in India.
• Shri Mathur excelled in games also and achieved the rare distinction of captaining all the three major games; cricket, football and hockey in the same year in Govt. College, Ajmer. He was awarded the ‘Colvin Gold Medal’ in recognition of his sporting achievements in Govt. College. He was a member of the Rajputana cricket team, which played against the M.C.C. when it toured India and Australia in the Thirties.
• In 1952 as a Fulbright scholar in the U.S.A. he won accolades for his expository lectures on Indian culture and religion.
• Shri Mathur was on various boards, committees and associations in Ajmer, contributing his mite towards its growth. He was at different times, a member of the Urban Improvement Trust, a Councillor in the Ajmer Municipal Council, Vice-President of the Indian Red Cross Society and on the Board of Savitri College.
• “Maa’t Saab”, as he was affectionately called, endeared himself to his students and inspired confidence in them. Pursuit of excellence and commitment to the task in hand were the guiding principles of his life. Any history of Mayo College, Ajmer, the Scout Movement in India and education in Rajasthan would be incomplete without mention of Danmal Mathur.
• Text : Based on material provided by the proponents.

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Issued by India

Issued on Aug 12, 1999

Issued for : The Department of Posts, is happy to commemorate 50 years of the Geneva Conventions, and India’s deep commitment to the Geneva Conventions.

Design : The design of the stamp & first day cover symbolises, the commitment of this country to the preservation of the humanitarian concerns, enshrined in the provisions of the Geneva Conventions.

Credits :
Stamp : Jatin Das
FDC : Based on photograph supplied by ICRC
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : First Day Cover

Colour : Two Colour

Denomination : 1500 Paise

Overall size : 3.34 x 2.88 Cms.

Printing size : 2.99 x 2.53 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in Sheets 50.8 x 53.5 cms.

Stamps Printed : 0.7 Million

Number per issue sheet : 42

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

About : 

• India was among the first countries to sign the Geneva Conventions which constitute the most important humanitarian law treaties for defending human dignity in war and are among the most universally ratified instruments of law (signed by 188 countries). The stamp issue commemorates 50^th anniversary of the revised Geneva Conventions.
• Through their provisions the Geneva Conventions aim at human survival in war and protection of human dignity in situations of armed conflict. The First Convention of the Revised Geneva Conventions of 1949 provides for protection of wounded and sick members of the armed forces, medical personnel and chaplains. The Second Convention stipulates protection of the shipwrecked, wounded and sick, medical personnel and chaplains of armed forces at sea. The Third Convention deals with protection of prisoners of war, and the Fourth, protection of civilians in enemy or occupied territory.
• India’s contribution by way of customary law to the development of the Geneva Conventions in their present form is significant and dates back to its ancient civilisation with its long tradition of respect for humanitarian values. Ancient Indian law was founded on social and sociological concepts and was an admixture of religion and ethics with legal precepts. Some of the sources of humanitarian law in ancient India were the four Vedas, their respective appendices, the Brahmanas, the Smritis, the Puranas and the Upanishads. The epics of the Mahabharat and Ramayan are of considerable importance in the evolution of humanitarian law because the references to the precepts of war, the means of warfare and treatment of combatants and non-combatants bear a startling resemblance to the modern concepts enunciated in the Geneva Conventions. Ancient Indian law made a distinction between military objects that could be the target of attack and non-military objects that could not be attacked. The distinction made between combatants and non-combatants in modern humanitarian law was recognised.
• In the post-independence period, in the situations of war imposed on India on a number of occasions, the spirit and sanctity of Geneva Conventions was fully maintained by India. In the aftermath of the 1971 war with Pakistan, India looked after 93,000 prisoners of war.
• Text : Based on materials supplied by International Committee of the Red Cross.

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Issued by India

Issued on Sep 18, 1998

Issued for : The Department of Post is happy to issue a stamp in honour of Bhai Kanhaiyaji.

Design : An Award has been instituted in memory of Bhai Kanhaiyaji to honour the individuals/organisations who serve mankind in the same spirit of devotion and selflessness. The stamp depicts Bhai Kanhaiyaji spreading the message of universal brotherhood, as the water server. The F.D.C. depicts Bhai Kanhaiyaji receiving the box of ointment from Guru Govind Singh Ji.

Credits :
Stamp : Based on souvenir released at the presentation of the “Bhai Kanhaiya Award”.
FDC : P.P. Rojouria
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Single Colour

Denomination : 200 Paise

Overall size : 4.06 x 2.73 Cms.

Printing size : 3.71 x 2.38 Cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Paper : Imported un w/m Adhesive Gravure Coated Stamp Paper in reels 47 cms.

Stamps Printed : 0.4 Million

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photogravure

Printer : India Security Press, Nashik

Name : Bhai Kanhaiya

Born on 1648

Died on 1718

About : 

• Bhai Kanhaiyaji, the disciple of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and Guru Govind Singh Ji was an epitome of humility, devotion and loyality to his Guru and Service to mankind without any discrimination of religion, caste or region.
• He was born at village Sodhra near Wazirabad on the banks of river Chenab in 1648. Bhai Kanhaiyaji was devoted to the cause of the needy and down-trodden. He had little interest in family trade and when his father expired, he waited for his brothers to take over the responsibility and set out to find his guru who could guide him on the path of service. He came to Guru Tegh Bahadur Sahib and got the opportunity to serve him for three months. He then went on to establish a “Dharamshal” at Kehwa near Attock to serve the people, and he spread the message of “Universal Brotherhood” as thought by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. When Guru Govind Singh Ji was engaged in battle, Bhai Kanhaiyaji moved to Anandpur Sahib and took over the responsibility of serving drinking water to soldiers wounded in the battlefield.
• Attired in white clothes with a white flag fixed in the left side of his belt, he carried the leather bag (Mashk) on his shoulders and served water to the wounded without discrimination, to friends and foe.
• When a few Sikhs complained to Guru Govind Singh Ji that Bhai Kanhaiyaji was serving water to the enemy, Guruji called him and sought his version. Bhai Kanhaiyaji submitted “WITH THY GRACE MY LORD! MY EYES ARE SO ENLIGHTENED THAT I SEE NOTHING ELSE BUT YOUR DIVINE SPIRIT PERVADING EVERYWHERE AND IN ALL, SINCE I SERVED NONE ELSE BUT ONLY THYSELF MY LORD?“
• Guru Govind Singh Ji then blessed Bhai Kanhaiyaji as a holy man and gave him a box ointment, for healing wounds. This inspired a group of volunteers who worked under the guidance of Bhai Kanhaiyaji,  who thus became a forerunner of the Red Cross movement which Sir Henry Dunant founded about 160 years later.
• Bhai Kanhaiyaji went to Kehwa (Near Attock), when Guru Govind Singh Ji left Anandpur Sahib. He continued to serve the people and devoted his remaining life to preach and practise teaching of the Sikh Gurus till he left the World at the age of 71 years, while listening to the sacred hymns of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. He left behind a unique movement of “Sewa Panthi” which literally means people devoted to service of humanity.
• The message of Bhai Kanhaiya‘s mission, enshrined in Guru Granth Sahib Ji – “Na Ko Bairi Nahin Bigana, Sagal Sang Ham Ko Ban Aiyee“, continues to be as relevant, today.
• Text : Based on souvenir released at the presentation of the “Bhai Kanhaiya Award”.

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Issued by Nepal

Issued on Sep 4, 1991

Issued for : The present postage stamp brought out on the occasion of the Nepal Junior Red Cross “Silver Jubilee” 1991, depicts the logo of the Nepal Junior Red Cross.

Issued by :
His Majesty’s Government
Postal Services Department
Nepal Philatelic Bureau
Kathmandu

Designer : Mr. Mohan Rana

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : 60 Paisa

Colour : 2 colours

Size : 31 x 24.5 mm

Format : Horizontal

Paper : Special stamp paper

Quantity : 2,000,000 (Two millions)

Sheet : 50

Process : Offset

Printer : Austrian Government Printing Office, Vienna, Austria

About : 

• Nepal Junior Red Cross (NJRC) was established on 5^th March, 1965. It is working as a Youth wing of Nepal Red Cross Society. The motto of Junior Red Cross is “I Serve.”
  
• There are more than 300,000 members in near about 1545 schools of the kingdom of Nepal. NJRC Circles have been undertaking various health activities and provide assistance to the disaster victims, run first aid programmes, afforestation, sanitation, drinking water projects etc. The NJRC organises various competitions and Nepalese Junior Members exchange handicrafts, gifts, greeting cards etc with other juniors of the world under international friendship and understanding development programmes. Through different programmes NJRC disseminate the Red Cross principles and international humanitarian law among the students and community members where they live.
  
• This year, NJRC has celebrated its Silver Jubilee with the theme “Red Cross at the Doorsteps”.

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Issued by Nepal

Issued on Sep 12, 1988

Issued by :
His Majesty’s Government
Postal Services Department
Nepal Philatelic Bureau
Kathmandu

Design : The present postage stamp brought out on the occasion of Silver Jubilee of Nepal Red Cross Society depicts the logo of the Red Cross and a picture showing the preservation of blood, donated by people.

Designer : M. N. Rana

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Re. 1

Colour : Two colours

Size : 27.5 x 38.5 mm

Format : Vertical

Paper : Special stamp paper

Quantity : 5,000,000 (Five millions)

Sheet : 50

Process : Offset

Printer : Austrian Government Printing Office, Vienna, Austria

About : 

• Nepal Red Cross Society was established on 4^th September, 1963 and was recognised by International Committee of the Red Cross on 1^st October 1964. Its objectives lie in working with the principles of Red Cross without any discrimination of religion, caste, creed, colour, nationality, sex and political ideology.
• It has been operating welfare schemes like natural calamity relief, blood transfusion service, ambulance service and basic health services and community development programmes through its branch offices.

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Issued by Canada

Issued on May 28, 1984

Design : At the heart of the Red Cross organization are the volunteers. In recognition of their invaluable contribution, the stamp design by William Tibbles and Clive Webster of Toronto features the medal awarded by The Canadian Red Cross Society for long-standing and meritorious voluntary service.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 32 Cents

About : 

• This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the incorporation of The Canadian Red Cross Society. It was in 1909 that Parliament passed an act establishing the Society as a corporate body.
  
• The International Red Cross, an organization that strives to alleviate human suffering, was created after a Swiss, Jean Henri Dunant, wrote “Un souvenir de Solferino”, describing the suffering of soldiers wounded in the battle of Solferino in 1859 and urging that societies be formed for the relief of war victims. A committee formed in Geneva in 1863 set down the basic Red Cross principles of impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
  
• In Canada, the symbol of the red cross was used for the first time during the North-West Rebellion, when George Sterling Ryerson, who was then a Surgeon Major, designated a horse-drawn ambulance with a homemade Red Cross flag. In 1896 Ryerson founded the Canadian branch of the British National Society for Aid to the Sick and Wounded, subtitled the Red Cross. The Canadian branch played an increasing role in providing relief during the Spanish American War in 1898, the South African War, and the First World War, at the end of which the Society decided to continue its work of mercy in peacetime.
  
• The Canadian Red Cross Society, recognized as an independent national society in 1927, has, among other things, organized the well-known blood-donor service, the water and small craft safety program, various forms of international assistance, a sickroom equipment loan service, and a school program. The Canadian Red Cross has grown to over 600 branches in ten provinces and two territories, with a national headquarters coordinating the work of the divisions.

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Issued by Pakistan

Issued on May 8, 1978

Issued for : As a mark of tribute to the memory of Henry Dunant Pakistan Post Office is issuing a Commemorative Postage Stamp of Re. 1/- on his 150^th birth anniversary which fails on 8^th May, 1978.

Description : The portrait of Henry Dunant appears in an oval frame within the insignia of the Red Cross. The insignia of the Red Crescent appears on the top right corner.

Designer : Adil Salahuddin

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Denomination : Re. 1/-

Colours : Blue, Black, Red, Yellow

Size of Stamp : 36.77 x 36.77 m.m.

Size of Print : 33.77 x 33.77 m.m.

Perforation Gauge : 14 C

Quantity : 5,00,000

No. of Stamps in a sheet : 50 Stamps

Process of Printing : Litho Offset

Printer : The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation Ltd., Karachi

Name : Jean–Henri Dunant

Born on May 8, 1828 at Geneva, Switzerland

Died on Oct 30, 1910 at Heiden, Switzerland

About : 

• One man founded the Red Cross: Henry Dunant of Geneva. While travelling in Italy in 1859, he arrived at Solferino, just after the French and Sardinian armies had clashed with the Austrian troops in a short but bloody engagement : 40,000 dead and wounded were left on the battlefield – left to die.
• In his pathetic and touching account titled “A memory of Solferino”, he suggested that voluntary aid be encouraged by setting up relief societies to assist the army medical services. Soon many governments were seized of this idea and the “First Geneva Conference” met in 1863 with delegates from 16 nations including representatives from learned societies and welfare organizations. Out of this conference grew two basic tenets :–
  • 1. The need for formation of volunteer civilian organizations to render aid to the wounded in wartime.
  • 2. Proclamation of neutrality in wartime for the wounded, for the volunteers going to their assistance and for the materials and equipment needed in this work.
• The relief societies created shortly after eventually became the national Red Cross Societies and since 1919, they have been linked in a worldwide federation, the League of Red Cross, Red Crescent, Red Lion and Sun Societies. As a tribute to the memory of its founder his birth day each year is celebrated as ‘Red Cross Day’ with a special slogan to emphasize the ideals of the Red Crescent movement.
• The theme chosen this year is “Join Red Crescent for more Humanity”.
• Issued by: The Director General, Pakistan Post Office, Karachi.

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Issued by India

Issued on Mar 9, 1977

Issued for : The Indian Posts and Telegraphs Department feels privileged to bring out a postage stamp to mark this important occasion.

Description of Design : The design of the stamp is symbolic based on the emblem of the First Asian Regional Red Cross Conference.

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Multicolour

Denomination : 200 Paise

Overall size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing size : 3.55 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Printed on unwatermarked adhesive stamp paper

Number printed : 20,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing Process : Photogravure

Designed and Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• The Indian Red Cross was hosting, in cooperation with the League of Red Cross Societies, the First Asian Regional Red Cross Conference at New Delhi from March 9 to 16, 1977. On this occasion all the National Red Cross Societies in Asia were getting together to have a closer look at their plans and programmes towards meeting the ever-increasing needs of the region. The Conference was a distinct landmark in the history of Red Cross Movement in the region. For India and the Indian Red Cross the event is a historic one.
• In view of the importance of the Conference, National Red Cross Societies of other continents which are involved in the humanitarian programmes of the Red Cross, as well as International Humanitarian Organisations, including some of the specialised agencies of the United Nations, was also been represented. In all about 200 delegates and observers were expected to take part.
• The Conference consisted of two Seminars – one on ‘Pre–Disaster Preparedness’ and the other on ‘Development’. The former was discussed, among other things, progress made towards establishing Red Cross Programmes which were in readiness to face disasters and explore the possibilities of increasing regional cooperation in this field. The Seminar on ‘Development’ was reviewed the existing Red Cross community services and identify priority areas of need with special focus on rural areas. It was also considered as to how the structure and organisation of Red Cross in the region can be strengthened further.
• The recommendations of the two Seminars was studied by the Conference in plenary sessions with a view to formulate practical steps towards the achievement of these goals.

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Issued by India

Issued on Apr 7, 1976

Issued for : The Posts and Telegraphs Department deems it a privilege to associate itself with the observance of the World Health Day by issuing a special postage stamp.

Description of Design : The stamp which is designed by Shri Benoy Sarkar based on the theme of the World Health Day ‘Foresight Prevents Blindness’.

Designed by : Shri Benoy Sarkar

Type : Stamp, Postal Used

Colour : Dark brown & scarlet

Denomination : 25 Paise

Overall Size : 3.91 X 2.90 cms.

Printing Size : 3.56 X 2.54 cms.

Perforation : 13 x 13

Watermark : Unwatermarked paper

Number Printed : 30,00,000

Number per issue sheet : 35

Printing process : Photogravure

Printed at : India Security Press

About : 

• The World Health Day is observed on April 7 every year throughout the world. It marks the anniversary of the coming into being of the Constitution of the World Health Organisation in 1948. The theme chosen for the observance of the Day in 1976 is ‘Foresight Prevents Blindness‘, which lays emphasis on the importance of preventive measures against blindness.
• The problem of curable and incurable blindness has been posing a serious public health, social and economic problem in India. It is estimated that there are 45 million people in the country suffering from visual defects of one type or another. There are about 9 million blind persons including about 5 million who can be cured by proper surgical treatment. It is estimated that 2,50,000 children have lost their sight mostly due to nutritional deficiencies, injuries and squints.
• Seized with this, the Central Council of Health has recommended the adoption of a national plan of action for the prevention of blindness in the country. The strategy recommended by the Council include:
  • Wide dissemination of information about eye-care with particular emphasis on pre-school and school going children and other vulnerable groups.
  • Orientation of teachers, social workers and community leaders on problems of eye-health care including nutrition.
  • Augmentation of Ophthalmic Services in such a way that relief can be given to the community in the shortest possible time and the simultaneous establishment of a permanent infrastructure for the community oriented eye-health care.
• The comprehensive plan of action lays emphasis on a three-tier system : covering rural areas through Primary Health Centres and Mobile Ophthalmic Units, Taluk and District hospitals becoming first Referral Centres and establishment of centres for specialised eye-care.
• The theme of the World Health Day ‘Foresight Prevents Blindness’ is the manifestation of ophthalmic and spiritual knowledge. It indicates that we stand to lead individuals from darkness to light.
  • To teacher and researcher the theme implies acquisition of more knowledge through real effort in search of truth.
  • To the student the theme emphasises the removal of inner darkness of thought and action by acquiring new knowledge and a step forward in the common effort in search of truth.
  • To the ophthalmic surgeon and physician the theme is an exhortation to restore vision wherever it is lost and prevent loss of sight in others to lead those under their care from darkness to light.

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