1960 4c World Refugee Year

# 1149 - 1960 4c World Refugee Year

$0.35 - $20.00
Image Condition Price Qty
301303
Fleetwood First Day Cover Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days. Free with 500 Points
$ 2.50
$ 2.50
0
301302
Classic First Day Cover Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 1.75
$ 1.75
1
301304
First Day Cover Plate Block Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 2.25
$ 2.25
2
301306
Mint Plate Block Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 2.25
$ 2.25
3
301305
Mint Stamp(s) Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 0.45
$ 0.45
4
301307
Mint Sheet(s) Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 20.00
$ 20.00
5
301308
Used Single Stamp(s) Ships in 1-3 business days. Ships in 1-3 business days.
$ 0.35
$ 0.35
6
Show More - Click Here
Mounts - Click Here
Mount Price Qty

 

U.S. #1149
1960 4¢ World Refugee Year 
 
Issue Date: April 7, 1960
City: Washington, D.C.
Quantity: 113,195,000
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforations:  11 x 10 ½
Color: Gray black
 
The United States joined many other nations in issuing stamps to symbolize their participation in the United Nations’ World Refugee Year. The U.N. proclaimed International Refugee Year from July 1, 1959, until June 30, 1960. 
 
The stamps were issued to bring attention to the hardships of millions of people who were still displaced over a decade after the end of World War II. The stamp design shows a family heading from darkness toward a bright doorway, symbolizing escape from oppression into a new life.
 
In 1958 – 13 years after World War II ended – there were still displaced people living in refugee camps. An idea started in the United Kingdom and was rapidly picked up by the United Nations and many other nations – individual countries helping refugees. Through the efforts of the participating nations, tens of thousands of people returned home.
 

Bay of Pigs Invasion

1899 Cuba overprint stamp
US #CU224 – Overprinted US stamp issued during American occupation of Cuba.

On April 17, 1961, a group of Cuban exiles launched an operation in Cuba known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion.  It was an important event in the Cold War, and led to major changes between the US, Cuba, and the Soviet Union.

The US and Cuba have long had a close relationship.  Following the Spanish-American War, the US established a military government there from 1898 to 1902.  Cuba’s 1901 constitution included a provision called the Platt Amendment, which allowed the US to intervene in Cuban affairs and buy or lease naval bases there.  After the Republic of Cuba was formed, American forces were called back in from 1906 to 1909 to quell a rebellion and again in 1917 to protect American-owned sugarcane plantations.

In 1933, army sergeant Fulgencio Batista overthrew the government and pursued friendly relations with the US.  In 1934, the US and Cuba signed a treaty ending the provisions of the Platt Amendment, except the permanent lease of Guantánamo Bay for use as a naval base.

1970 Eisenhower stamp
US # 1393 – Eisenhower gave $13.1 million to the CIA in 1960 in the campaign against Castro.

Batista ruled Cuba through figurehead presidents from 1936-1940.  In 1940, Batista was elected president – but with a one-term limit.  He moved to Florida after his term ended, but returned to Cuba in 1952 to run for president again.  When it became clear he was going to lose, he overthrew the government again and established himself as dictator with the support of the US.  Batista allied himself the American owners of the largest sugarcane plantations, revoking the right of Cubans to strike, and many other political liberties.  The economy stagnated under Batista and he outlawed the Cuban Communist party in 1952.  Despite the country being technologically advanced relative to most Latin American countries, most Cubans remained quite poor.

Fidel Castro, a young lawyer, was among the political activists who opposed Batista’s dictatorship.  Castro formed a revolutionary group and waged a guerrilla war against the Batista government.  The dictator’s attempts to neutralize Castro and his men made the rebels more popular with the people. By mid-1958, public support for Batista was crumbling.  On January 1, 1959, Batista fled Cuba.

US #5175 – Kennedy and Nixon debated what to do about the situation in Cuba during the 1960 election.

Castro’s forces quickly took control of the country and Castro established himself as premier.  The US initially supported Castro’s government, believing he would bring democratic-capitalism to Cuba.  However, when Castro legalized the Communist party and oversaw the trials and executions of 550 Batista supporters, relations declined sharply.  This culminated with the Agrarian Reform Law passed by the Revolutionary Government in May 1959.  It limited the amount of land a single proprietor could own to 406 hectares, seizing any land that exceeded that amount.  The law did provide compensation for the land based on the value declared by the land owner on their taxes.  A range of sanctions were enacted over the next five years, until a total ban on trade was enacted.  On January 3, 1961, Eisenhower ended diplomatic relations.

Castro established a one-party Communist system and pursued a close relationship with the Soviet Union.  The Soviet Union contributed a great deal of financial aid to Cuba – the nation’s economy grew very dependent upon this assistance.

As the revolution grew more radical, large numbers of Cubans fled their country.  Once in America, many of these exiles worked to undermine Castro’s regime.  In 1959, a group of anti-Castro exiles even hired US planes and flew over Cuba, dropping leaflets and small firebombs.

1960 World Refugee Year
US #1149 – The invasion was carried out by 1,400 trained Cuban refugees.

On April 17, 1961, a group of exiles invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, located on the south coast of Cuba.  Backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), these invaders had been assured of military assistance from the US.  However, President John F. Kennedy refused to give military aid to the exiles.  As a result, Castro’s forces crushed the invasion.  Most of the exiles were captured.  The Bay of Pigs invasion was a disaster and helped to solidify Castro’s power.

1979 Robert F. Kennedy stamp
US #1770 – Robert Kennedy, Maxwell Taylor, Arleigh Burke, and Allen Dulles formed the Cuba Study Group after the invasion to examine its mistakes.

After the Bay of Pigs invasion, Castro believed the US would attempt a full-scale military invasion.  He asked the Soviet Union aid and they sent nuclear missiles.  When US intelligence discovered the presence of nuclear weapons in Cuba, President Kennedy ordered the US Navy to blockade the island, preventing any further shipments of weapons.  The president demanded that the Soviet Union remove all the weapons.  For a few tense days, Americans and people all over the world nervously anticipated nuclear war.  Finally, the USSR agreed to remove the missiles.  In return, the US promised not to attack Cuba.  Defiant as ever, Castro protested this decision to the Soviets.  Although the missiles were removed, thousands of Soviet troops remained in Cuba.

130 Cuba stamps
Item #M11689 – Collection of 130 Cuba stamps for just $5.
 
 
 

 

Read More - Click Here

 

U.S. #1149
1960 4¢ World Refugee Year 
 
Issue Date: April 7, 1960
City: Washington, D.C.
Quantity: 113,195,000
Printed By: Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Printing Method: Rotary Press
Perforations:  11 x 10 ½
Color: Gray black
 
The United States joined many other nations in issuing stamps to symbolize their participation in the United Nations’ World Refugee Year. The U.N. proclaimed International Refugee Year from July 1, 1959, until June 30, 1960. 
 
The stamps were issued to bring attention to the hardships of millions of people who were still displaced over a decade after the end of World War II. The stamp design shows a family heading from darkness toward a bright doorway, symbolizing escape from oppression into a new life.
 
In 1958 – 13 years after World War II ended – there were still displaced people living in refugee camps. An idea started in the United Kingdom and was rapidly picked up by the United Nations and many other nations – individual countries helping refugees. Through the efforts of the participating nations, tens of thousands of people returned home.
 

Bay of Pigs Invasion

1899 Cuba overprint stamp
US #CU224 – Overprinted US stamp issued during American occupation of Cuba.

On April 17, 1961, a group of Cuban exiles launched an operation in Cuba known as the Bay of Pigs Invasion.  It was an important event in the Cold War, and led to major changes between the US, Cuba, and the Soviet Union.

The US and Cuba have long had a close relationship.  Following the Spanish-American War, the US established a military government there from 1898 to 1902.  Cuba’s 1901 constitution included a provision called the Platt Amendment, which allowed the US to intervene in Cuban affairs and buy or lease naval bases there.  After the Republic of Cuba was formed, American forces were called back in from 1906 to 1909 to quell a rebellion and again in 1917 to protect American-owned sugarcane plantations.

In 1933, army sergeant Fulgencio Batista overthrew the government and pursued friendly relations with the US.  In 1934, the US and Cuba signed a treaty ending the provisions of the Platt Amendment, except the permanent lease of Guantánamo Bay for use as a naval base.

1970 Eisenhower stamp
US # 1393 – Eisenhower gave $13.1 million to the CIA in 1960 in the campaign against Castro.

Batista ruled Cuba through figurehead presidents from 1936-1940.  In 1940, Batista was elected president – but with a one-term limit.  He moved to Florida after his term ended, but returned to Cuba in 1952 to run for president again.  When it became clear he was going to lose, he overthrew the government again and established himself as dictator with the support of the US.  Batista allied himself the American owners of the largest sugarcane plantations, revoking the right of Cubans to strike, and many other political liberties.  The economy stagnated under Batista and he outlawed the Cuban Communist party in 1952.  Despite the country being technologically advanced relative to most Latin American countries, most Cubans remained quite poor.

Fidel Castro, a young lawyer, was among the political activists who opposed Batista’s dictatorship.  Castro formed a revolutionary group and waged a guerrilla war against the Batista government.  The dictator’s attempts to neutralize Castro and his men made the rebels more popular with the people. By mid-1958, public support for Batista was crumbling.  On January 1, 1959, Batista fled Cuba.

US #5175 – Kennedy and Nixon debated what to do about the situation in Cuba during the 1960 election.

Castro’s forces quickly took control of the country and Castro established himself as premier.  The US initially supported Castro’s government, believing he would bring democratic-capitalism to Cuba.  However, when Castro legalized the Communist party and oversaw the trials and executions of 550 Batista supporters, relations declined sharply.  This culminated with the Agrarian Reform Law passed by the Revolutionary Government in May 1959.  It limited the amount of land a single proprietor could own to 406 hectares, seizing any land that exceeded that amount.  The law did provide compensation for the land based on the value declared by the land owner on their taxes.  A range of sanctions were enacted over the next five years, until a total ban on trade was enacted.  On January 3, 1961, Eisenhower ended diplomatic relations.

Castro established a one-party Communist system and pursued a close relationship with the Soviet Union.  The Soviet Union contributed a great deal of financial aid to Cuba – the nation’s economy grew very dependent upon this assistance.

As the revolution grew more radical, large numbers of Cubans fled their country.  Once in America, many of these exiles worked to undermine Castro’s regime.  In 1959, a group of anti-Castro exiles even hired US planes and flew over Cuba, dropping leaflets and small firebombs.

1960 World Refugee Year
US #1149 – The invasion was carried out by 1,400 trained Cuban refugees.

On April 17, 1961, a group of exiles invaded Cuba at the Bay of Pigs, located on the south coast of Cuba.  Backed by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), these invaders had been assured of military assistance from the US.  However, President John F. Kennedy refused to give military aid to the exiles.  As a result, Castro’s forces crushed the invasion.  Most of the exiles were captured.  The Bay of Pigs invasion was a disaster and helped to solidify Castro’s power.

1979 Robert F. Kennedy stamp
US #1770 – Robert Kennedy, Maxwell Taylor, Arleigh Burke, and Allen Dulles formed the Cuba Study Group after the invasion to examine its mistakes.

After the Bay of Pigs invasion, Castro believed the US would attempt a full-scale military invasion.  He asked the Soviet Union aid and they sent nuclear missiles.  When US intelligence discovered the presence of nuclear weapons in Cuba, President Kennedy ordered the US Navy to blockade the island, preventing any further shipments of weapons.  The president demanded that the Soviet Union remove all the weapons.  For a few tense days, Americans and people all over the world nervously anticipated nuclear war.  Finally, the USSR agreed to remove the missiles.  In return, the US promised not to attack Cuba.  Defiant as ever, Castro protested this decision to the Soviets.  Although the missiles were removed, thousands of Soviet troops remained in Cuba.

130 Cuba stamps
Item #M11689 – Collection of 130 Cuba stamps for just $5.