1963 Freedom from Hunger Issue

15 L and 100L: Miracle of Loaves and Fishes by Murillo 40 L and 200 L: Miraculous Catch of Fishes by Raphael Scott 356-359 (1963) The United Nations' Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) sponsored the Freedom from Hunger Campaign. On March 21 1963, Vatican City issued a four-stamp set marking this event. In that year, other countries also issued stamps supporting the FAO campaign. A sheaf of wheat was incorporated into many of the stamp designs based upon the concept, let there be bread. Click on the Vatican Notes article in the Reference section for a look at some of the stamps released around the world tied to the campaign. An effort to combat worldwide hunger began in the last year of World War II. The FAO was established in 1945, and its headquarters were eventually located in Rome in 1951. Around 190 nations participate in the FAO, whose goals include food security, improved nutrition levels, and improvement of agriculture and living conditions in nations where there are severe shortages of food and related problems. Every year, FAO issues 'State of the World' reports related to food, agriculture, forestry, fisheries and natural resources. The Vatican City stamps shown above picture the artistic works Miracle of Loaves and Fishes, by Murillo, and The Miraculous Catch of Fishes, by Raphael. REFERENCES: James C. Hamilton, Vatican Notes, Volume 61, Number 357, 3rd Quarter, 2013, pp. 14-15, The 1963 Freedom from Hunger Campaign Wikipedia, Food and Agriculture Organization