1952 Charter Signing 7th Anniversary

U.N. #12 is a 5-cent blue stamp issued on United Nations Day, October 24, 1952, to mark the 7th anniversary of the signing of the UN Charter. It is notable as the first commemorative stamp issued by the United Nations Postal Administration. The stamp depicts the Veterans War Memorial Building in San Francisco, where the UN Charter was signed on June 26, 1945, and carries the inscription "Birthplace of the Charter." The stamp's text appears in English, French, Spanish, and Russian, reflecting the four official UN languages of the era.

The story behind this stamp is one of the most important chapters in modern history. As World War II drew to a close, delegates from 50 nations gathered in San Francisco from April 25 through June 26, 1945, for the United Nations Conference on International Organization. It was the largest international gathering the world had ever seen, with 850 delegates and thousands of support staff, journalists, and observers in attendance. After two months of drafting and debate, the Charter was unanimously adopted on June 25, 1945, and officially signed the following day at the Veterans War Memorial Building.

The United Nations officially came into existence on October 24, 1945, now observed annually as United Nations Day, once the required nations had ratified the Charter. The new organization was built on the hope that international cooperation could prevent another world war. The founding nations pledged to work together for peace, justice, and human rights, a mission the UN continues to this day with 193 member states.