1983 Commonwealth Day

$1.56

Originally called Empire Day and celebrated on Queen Victoria’s birthday, Commonwealth Day has been observed on the second Monday in March since 1977 by agreement with all Commonwealth governments. Its objective is to “focus attention on the Commonwealth, its ideals, its activities and its actual and potential influence on human endeavour to achieve justice and peace among peoples.” The Commonwealth Heads of Governments meeting in 1981 decided that all Commonwealth countries should issue stamps commemorating Commonwealth Day every five years beginning in 1983. They also agreed that each government would donate 23,000 sets of stamps to provide financial support for the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC).

The stamps encapsulate the ideals expressed in the Declaration of Commonwealth principles. They include the concepts of equality and dignity, social justice and cooperation, liberty and freedom, and peace and harmony. The upturned hands symbolise care and compassion, with comfort and optimism indicated by the rainbow effect of the doves' wings. Peace is represented by the dove with an olive branch, while the grains falling from the beaks represent social justice and cooperation through food sharing. The Commonwealth logo also appears in the lower right of each corner stamp.