Endangered Species

On 15 April 2010, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) issued a set of 12 stamps depicting endangered species. These were the eighteenth set of stamps in UNPA's multi-year Endangered Species series. The series was launched on 3 March 1993 to highlight the need for the protection of endangered species throughout the world. In 2010 the endangered species featured a variety of plants, cacti and trees.

UNPA issued three sheets of 16 stamps, one sheet in each of the three currencies. Four different endangered species were illustrated on each sheet; hence, 12 species were covered.  

The 2010 Endangered Species stamps were designed by Rosie Sanders (United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). Ms. Sanders started as a freelance botanical artist in 1974. She has been awarded five Royal Horticultural Society gold medals and won the Royal Academy miniature award in 1985. She has produced numerous books, the most important of which is The English Apple, published by Phaidon Press in 1988 and due to be republished in 2010 by Frances Lincoln.

Ms. Sanders has been commissioned to do commemorative paintings for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Her Majesty The Queen Mother, the Royal Horticultural Society and the Royal National Rose Society. She has been commissioned to do several sets of stamps depicting wild flowers, fruits and orchids. These are her first stamp designs for the United Nations.

Thank you Hemant for this lovely FDC. This cover is a Limited Edition FDC of the UN Postal Administrstion. A point to note here is that each of the three stamps has been cancelled by a distinctive postmark of the three cities from which UN stamps are issued, namely, New York (in English), Vienna (in German) and Geneva (in French).