The cornerstone of Euro-Atlantic integration: a philatelic interpretation

Professor Radovan Vukadinovic has published a new book, NATO in Philately, which examines the history of the transatlantic alliance as depicted through postage stamps.   Dr. Vukadinovic serves as the Director of the Graduate Program of International Relations at the University of Zagreb and is Chairman of the Atlantic Council of Croatia.

From Karl Lamers:  The American humorist Josh Billings once said: "Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there." NATO is a wonderful example of the value of this advice. Since its establishment in 1949, NATO has ‘stuck’ with great success, to its most important aim: ensuring the security of its members. A key factor in NATO’s success is communication. The postage stamp has accompanied the Alliance for longer than perhaps any other means of communication. Starting with NATO’s third anniversary and covering subjects ranging from key summits, accessions, and anniversaries to NATO’s missions – over the years, stamps have vividly depicted the Alliance’s work to promote peace and security and carried this message out into the world, far beyond the borders of its members states.

This book explores this fascinating subject for the first time. The selection of stamps examined by the author provides a striking overview of the Alliance’s successful history, while at the same time highlighting the importance of stamps to NATO as a means of communication. This book will be of interest not only to philatelists, but also to anyone seeking an introduction to NATO. It is hard to imagine a more engagin portrayal of the Alliance’s history and functions.

Introduction by Dr. Karl A. Lamers, President of the Atlantic Treaty Association.