50th anniversary of San Marino's membership of UNESCO

The incipit of the preamble to its UNESCO Constitution reads "The Governments of the Member States of this Convention, in the name of their peoples, declare that since wars are born in the minds of men, it is in the spirits of men that the defences of peace must be placed". San Marino becomes a member of UNESCO on 12 November 1974: the postal issue celebrating its accession to the important international agency is inspired by the values of dialogue and mutual understanding on which peace is founded. The sketch, by the designer Armando Milani, represents a paper clip that holds the heart to itself, suggesting to keep alive the feeling of humanity. The African word ubuntu, much loved by Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela as a strong expression of the concepts of belonging, humanity and solidarity, means "I am because we are".