New issues on 14 August 2024  

CENTENARY OF JOHN B. KELLY'S OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL

John Brendan "Jack" Kelly Sr is perhaps the greatest rower the United States has ever produced. Born in Philadelphia in 1889 to Irish parents, he learned to row on the river Schuylkill, and won a string of races while also learning his trade as a mason. After returning from service with the US army during World War I, he set up his own construction company in 1919. At the Antwerp Olympic Games in 1920, he succeeded in the unique feat of winning the single scull, followed by the double scull race with his cousin Paul Costello, all in the space of just half an hour. He earned another gold medal in Paris, in 1924. Later, he would go on to have four children, including John Kelly Jr, also an Olympic rowing medallist, and Grace Kelly, the famous American actress who became Princess of Monaco.

Design and line-engraving: Sarah LAZAREVIC
Printing process: 5 coulours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 30 x 40,85 mm vertical
Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations

80^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALLIED INVASION OF PROVENCE

On 15 August 1944, between Cavalaire and Saint-Raphaël, the Allies launched Operation Dragoon, an invasion of the south of France to mirror the Normandy landings of 6 June. Parachutists from the US 509^th Parachute Infantry Battalion of the 1^st Airborne Task Force, led by General Robert Frederick, were dropped north of Le Muy on 15 August 1944. Once they had consolidated the beachheads in the Var, the Allies - notably the Americans - advanced to liberate the Alpes-Maritimes. The liberation of Nice began on 28 August with the help of the local resistance, and Monaco was liberated on 3 September. General Frederick’s role in the operation and his post-war career are considered outstanding. Winston Churchill described him as “the greatest fighting general of all time”.

Design and line-engraving: Pierre BARA
Printing process: 3 colours steel-engraving
Size of the stamp: 40 x 31,77 mm horizontal
Quantity of issue: 40 000 stamps
Sheet of 10 stamps with illuminations

These issues will be on sale at the “Office des Timbres”, the “Musée des Timbres et des Monnaies”, the post offices and philatelic counters of the Principality, the Monaco stamp-dealers as well as the “Carré d’Encre” in Paris, France. They will be included, with other values, in the 2nd Part of the philatelic programme 2024 and offered to our subscribers and customers.