More Than Military Might 1 | 2 | 3 | HOME Despite its military struggles for survival, Israel has prospered. Its economic progress has been depicted on stamps both directly and indirectly. Its progress in making the desert bloom was first noted on a stamp in 1953 (#79). It prompted its agricultural products -- Jaffa oranges appeared on #120 issued in 1956. It noted its progress in atomic energy (#182 issued in 1960). Israel's 16th anniversary issue in 1964 depicted its scientific development using designs related to terrestrial spectroscopy, macromolecules of the living cell and computers (#265-8). From February to December 1968 it issued a set of 10 airmail stamps (#C38-47), promoting its exports, including stamps. Although that series did not mention tourism as a way of earning foreign currency, it was a major aspect of the economy -- and has been noted many times on stamps directly (e.g. #355-7 issued in 1967) or indirectly by noting the many natural and man-made sites to be seen on a visit to Israel (e.g. its flora and fauna-flowers were depicted as well as battle sites on its fourth Independence Day issue (#62-6) and the diversity of its landscapes, which first appeared in a 1953-4 airmail set, #C9-14). Finally, Israel's dream for peace has been noted on stamps too -- from children's drawings (#622-4 issued in 1977) to symbolic renderings for the peace treaties with Egypt (#724a in 1979) and Jordan (#1216 in October 1994), and the call for a permanent peace with the Palestinians (#1209 issued in August 1994). These stamps stand as testament to the hope that, indeed, one day there will be a lasting peace for Israel and its neighbors. 1 | 2 | 3 | HOME © 2002, J-Stamps/Murray Frost. All Rights Reserved. froststamps@yahoo.com