United Nations stamps year 2014 UNESCO World Heritage – India Taj Mahal

United Nations stamps year 2014 UNESCO World Heritage – India Taj Mahal  MNH set On July 16, 2014, the United Nations Postal Administration (UNPA) dedicated its entire annual UNESCO World Heritage series to a single iconic monument: India’s Taj Mahal. Inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1983, the 17th-century white marble mausoleum in Agra was celebrated across all three UN postal hubs (New York, Geneva, and Vienna). The release consisted of six individual stamps, each capturing the changing light, moods, and perspectives of the monument, framed by stylized gold-foil borders. The 2014 World Heritage: Taj Mahal Set Breakdown The series spans three currencies depending on the UN post office it was issued for, with each office offering two distinct designs: UN Postal HubFace ValueDesign DescriptionNew York ($)49¢A crisp southern view showcasing the main white marble tomb and its surrounding 130-foot minarets against a clear sky.New York ($)$1.15The Taj Mahal and its adjacent mosque reflected beautifully in the Yamuna River, bathed in the soft, rosy glow of dawn.Geneva (CHF)1,40 Fr.A distant view of the monument set against a striking sky filled with brilliant orange and golden twilight hues.Geneva (CHF)1,90 Fr.A classic, symmetrical view of the grand mausoleum mirrored perfectly in the central reflecting pool (charbagh garden).Vienna (€)€ 0,90A cultural vignette showing a man leading a camel along the banks of the Yamuna River right next to the monument.Vienna (€)€ 1,70Features a saddled elephant grazing near the complex—a nod to the 1,000 elephants used to haul construction materials. Collector Formats & Special Security Features The 2014 Taj Mahal set is highly regarded by philatelists for its design quality and advanced printing features: Hidden Security Images: The stamps were printed by the Lowe-Martin Group in Canada using offset lithography. At a specific angle under bare light, a hidden, micro-printed United Nations logo becomes visible on the stamps. Sheets & Booklets: They were issued in sheets of 20 stamps. Alongside the sheets, the UNPA released three highly collectible Prestige Booklets (one for each office language). These booklets contain the stamps bound together with rich photography, historical text, and architectural insights about Shah Jahan’s masterpiece.