Against famine II

No’s 32A-32B. This series was issued to emphasize the need to stay alert to fight famine, an important subject in the past and unfortunately still a hot issue still today in most parts of Africa. These stamps are overprinted from Ruanda-Urundi, no’s 216A-216B.

Pantera pardus could at one time be found from British Isles to Japan and throughout most of Asia. Today they can still be found in Africa, except for the true deserts of Sahara and Kalahari, and some parts of Asia such as Sri Lanka. Leopards are more common in Eastern and Central Africa. Conversely, they are rare in Western and Northern Africa and most of Asia (Nowak, 1997; Sanderson, 1972).

Felis leo Most lion prides are found in the open plains of Africa and Asia. Lions climb trees to rest and cool off, or sometimes to escape stampedes. During the day, lions rest by water holes or salt licks, but at night these places are usually reserved for hunting.

Date of issue: 1 July 1963?

Expiration date:

Design: Jean van Noten (1903-1982)

Printer: Hélio Courvoisier, s.a., La Chaux De Fonds, Switzerland

Paper with silk threads

Perforation: 11.5 x 12

Size: 45 x 25.5 mm

Sheet: 50 (5 x 10)

Marginal inscriptions: right and left “Impression Courvoisier S.A., La Chaux – De – Fonds (Suisse)”.

Circulation:

No 32A. 20Fr, panther (Panthera Pardus) (216A)

No 32B 50Fr, lion (Felis leo) (216B)

There are no variations or curiosities known for any of the above shown material.

Note: there are overprints that lack the text, see example, but these were most probably made for the series of 1964. They are offered as varieties of the above series because these are 10 times the price of the other series of 1964.