Philatelic Tributes to Nelson Mandela

 

   

(18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013) 

Philatelic Tributes to the Great Leader

Today is Birth Anniversary of Nelson Mandela the great leader of South Africa.He was South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon   died last year at the age of 95.  Various Postal administrations have issued commemorative postage stamps to celebrate the life and legacy of the anti-apartheid icon. I am sharing here some stamps issued on Nelson Mandela as a philatelic tribute to the great leader .

A copy of a postal stamp with a portrait of Nelson Mandela, launched at the Mandela Foundation for the 24th anniversary of his release from prison, in Johannesburg, South Africa."Printed in silver to reflect the richness of Mandela's legacy and his stature, the miniature sheet features a portrait of Madiba in duotone

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela   was born on 18th July 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa to a Thembu royal family.On April 27, 1994, he was made the first President of South Africa elected in a fully represented democratic election. Mandela was also the first black President of his country.

  

His government focused on throwing out the legacy of apartheid by ending racism, poverty, inequality, and on improving racial understanding in South Africa. Politically a believer in socialism, he served as the President of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1991 to 1997 and adopted new Constitution of South African in 1996 that prohibits all discrimination, based on language, religion, handicap and sexual orientation, not only on racism. Internationally, Mandela was the Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement from 1998 to 1999.

Mandela received more than 250 honors, including the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize, the US Presidential Medal of Freedom, and the Soviet Order of Lenin. He is often referred to by his Xhosa clan name, Madiba, or as Tata ("Father").

Mandela was sick for several years during his retirement. He was hospitalized in late summer of 2013 from a continuous lung infection and  died on 5th December 2013 in Houghton Estate, Johannesburg from the lung infection. He was 95 years old.