The design of a commemorative postal stamp in Venezuela honoring the landing of the man on the moon in 1969
STAMPS: Weekly Magazine of Philately
- Date: August 23, 1969
- Issue: Vol. 148 No. 8 / Whole No. 1928
- Price: 20c
- Caption in image: Official Souvenir Cover, Western Samoa Post Office. First Day of Issue: 24 Jul 1969.
Article: Dr. Mencia of Caracas Proposes U.P.U. Apollo 11 Omnibus Issue
The leading daily newspaper of Caracas (Venezuela) El Universal devoted a portion of two columns on page one, and five columns on page 39 of their Sunday 27 July 1969 issue to the suggestion of Dr. Armando Mencia de Armas that the APOLLO 11 Flight to the Moon be commemorated by all nations of the Universal Postal Union through issuance of appropriate postage stamps.
Design by Luis Alvarez de Lugo, Venezuelan artist, submitted to the postal authorities for a proposed APOLLO 11 commemorative stamp.
In his column “Brujula” (Compass) Guillermo Jose Schael enthusiastically applauds the idea, and states that Dr. Rene de Sola, Ambassador from Venezuela to UNESCO, and president of the Venezuela Academy of Political Science, urges the issuance of a stamp by Venezuela to honor the Flight. Similar sentiments were expressed by Dr. Victor Jose Delascio, Director General of the Ministry of Communications, and official Representative to NASA.
On the following day, 28 July 1969, Columnist Schael asserted that Dr. Mencia’s suggestion inspired Luis Alvarez de Lugo, well known Venezuelan painter and artist, to prepare a stamp design for consideration by the postal authorities. The 25c airmail design depicts busts of astronauts Armstrong, Collins, and Aldrin, with a view of the Moon and the module “Eagle.”
English Translation
BRUJULA (Compass) COMMEMORATIVE STAMP Of the Apollo 11 Achievement
Facsimile of the projected postage stamp designed by the well-known artist Luis Fernando Alvarez de Lugo, who also expressed support for the initiative of “El Universal” and the concepts contained in yesterday’s letter by Dr. Armando Mencia de Armas, who by the way sent by express courier beautiful samples of Guayana orchids to the wives of the astronauts.
CARACAS, July 1969. — Artist Luis Alvarez de Lugo, after having read yesterday the letter from Dr. Armando Mencia de Armas published on the front page, proceeded of his own initiative to project in his studio a drawing that could be a starting point for the edition of a commemorative postage stamp of the feat accomplished by astronauts Armstrong, Aldrin, and Collins from the 16th to the 21st of this month, an event with which humanity enters a new era. He expressed: “Venezuela could be the first country to put into circulation a stamp as a gesture of solidarity with the planners and executors of the Earth-Moon-Earth flight.”
Regarding the same proposal, Dr. René De Sola, Ambassador of Venezuela to UNESCO and President of the Venezuelan Academy of Political Science, said:
“The extraordinary feat accomplished by man by setting foot on the Moon should constitute a new occasion to stimulate brotherhood among peoples and for the elimination of national egoisms. Therefore, I have received with full sympathy the initiative of ‘El Universal’ to dedicate a Venezuelan stamp to the glorification of those who performed such a portentous feat, in the name of all humanity and in a mission of peace.”
Texto Original en Español
BRUJULA ESTAMPILLA CONMEMORATIVA De la Hazaña Apolo 11
Fascímil del proyectado sello de correos elaborado por el conocido artista Luis Alvarez de Lugo, quien expresó además apoyo a la iniciativa de “El Universal” y a los conceptos contenidos en su carta de ayer por el doctor Armando Mencia de Armas, quien por cierto hizo enviar por correo expreso a las esposas de los astronautas bellas muestras de orquídeas de Guayana.
CARACAS, julio de 1969. — El artista Luis Alvarez de Lugo después de haber leído ayer la carta del doctor Armando Mencia de Armas, publicada en primera página, procedió de propia iniciativa a proyectar en su estudio un dibujo que pudiera ser punto de partida para la edición de un sello de correo conmemorativo de la hazaña cumplida por los astronautas Armstrong, Aldrin y Collins del 16 al 21 de este mes hecho éste con el cual la humanidad entra a vivir una nueva era. Expresó: —Venezuela podría ser el primer país en poner a circular una estampilla como gesto de solidaridad con los proyectistas y ejecutores del vuelo Tierra-Luna-Tierra.
En relación al mismo planteamiento el doctor René De Sola, Embajador de Venezuela en la Unesco y Presidente de la Academia de Ciencias Políticas, dijo:
—La extraordinaria proeza cumplida por el hombre al poner el pie en la Luna, debe constituir una nueva ocasión para estimular la confraternidad de los pueblos y para la eliminación de los egoísmos nacionales. Por ello, he recibido con toda simpatía la iniciativa de “El Universal” de consagrar una estampilla venezolana a la glorificación de quienes realizaron tan portentosa hazaña, en nombre de toda la humanidad y en una misión de paz.
