July 15, 2008 – Nelson Mandela today officially received from the South African Post Office a new stamp series celebrating his 90th birthday.
The limited edition of two new stamps is available at all post offices throughout South Africa. The R2.05 postage stamp featuring a photograph of Mr Mandela taken by photographer Halden Krog will be used for domestic mail and the R4.09 stamp featuring a painting of Mr Mandela by Cyril Coetzee is for international postage.
Speaking at the launch at Nelson Mandela House in Johannesburg, SA Post Office Chairperson Vuyo Mahlati said the 90th birthday stamps “will be remembered far into the future”.
Mr Mandela, who was greeted with a rousing version of Happy Birthday as he entered the room, was presented with a framed set of the first-day covers.
One of the commemorative stamps
Mr Nelson Mandela
SA Post Office Chairperson Vuyo Mahlati
One of the commemorative stamps