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THAI POSTAGE STAMPS

 

 

Red Cross (1990)

 

WHO initial AIDS symbol (used prior to 1991)

 

 Issue Name:

Red Cross 1990

 Thai Issue Name:

กาชาด 2533

 Issue Date:

1990/2533-03-29

 Cause:

To mark the annual Thai Red Cross Fair and to publicize the World Health Organization's worldwide campaign and efforts to stop the spread of AIDS

 Catalogue Number:

1990/4

 Denomination:

2 Baht

 Unused Value:

8 Baht

 Used Value:

4 Baht

 Thailex Collection:

n/a

 Size:

26 x 21 mm

 Quantity of Stamps:

2 million pieces

 Printer:

Cartor S.A., France

 Subject:

The initial AIDS symbol used by the World Health Organization in the campaign against AIDS, and in the top left corner the Thai text aids pongkan dai hahk ruam jai kan tua lohk (เอดส์ป้องกันได้ หากร่วมใจกันทั่วโลก), i.e. ‘AIDS can be prevented if hearts join worldwide’. In the top right corner is the Thai number 2533 (๒๕๓๓), i.e. the year in the Buddhist Era (BE), as well as the year 1990 AD. Just underneath it is a small red cross, representing the Thai Red Cross Society. The symbol was created in 1989 by the renowned New York graphic designer Milton Glaser and used prior to 1991, when it was replaced by the red ribbon as the predominant AIDS symbol. It combines three elements, i.e. two red hearts of which one lobe overlaps the other and is replaced by a blue human skull, thus forming the letter W of the WHO, as well as of World, a reference to its worldwide effort to stop the spread of AIDS. The meaning of the image is rather ambiguous and has been explained to mean that in the midst of erotic love lurks death, as well as that if kind hearts join worldwide AIDS can be prevented and the disease itself will die off.

 Related Link:

jai, lohk, BE, Thai Red Cross Society, Binding of Love