Liechtenstein’s stamps have again and again proved ideal platforms for attractively highlighting special anniversaries in the lives of important national and international institutions. As three such special anniversaries are due to be celebrated in 2010, all reflecting 50 successful years, Philatelie Liechtenstein has decided to honour all three of the institutions concerned with a joint “Special Anniversaries in Liechtenstein 1960 – 2010” issue, but with the respective commemoratives individually designed. 

The first stamp, “50 Years of Liechtenstein Disability Insurance” (face value CHF 1.00), has been designed by Vanessa Rupf, winner of a design competition held in the preparatory class of the Liechtenstein School of Art. Inspired by the concept of solidarity, the chair-legs symbolise the community, which also supports the less strong. The “50 Years of the EFTA” stamp (face value CHF 1.40) refers to the European Free Trade Association established in Stockholm in 1960 between Denmark, Norway, Austria, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland and Great Britain and later also joined by Finland, Iceland and Liechtenstein (1991). The EFTA now consists only of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Sabine Bockmühl’s stamp-face design shows the various countries’ respective joining and leaving of the EFTA. The third stamp in this series has been designed by René Wolfinger and commemorates “50 Years of Interpol Vaduz” (face value CHF 1.90). Liechtenstein has since 1960 been a member of Interpol, formed in Vienna in 1923, the only international organisation for global police cooperation operating world-wide and based in Lyon. Each of the 188 member states maintains a National Central Police Bureau (NCB) for handling the exchange of police information. The Liechtenstein NCB “Interpol Vaduz” is affiliated to the National Police in Vaduz. Every year Interpol Vaduz addresses some 400 enquiries to foreign police forces and an approximately equal number of enquiries reach the Liechtenstein NCB.