Description of Souvenir Sheet

The Souvenir Sheet consists of three round stamps. This is the first time that the Israel Philatelic Service has issued round stamps.

NIS 2.30 stamp

Karakashian-Balian Studio, 1930's, 1940's. Deer looking upwards in a field of flowers. The deer symbolizes the believer's soul "like a hind crying for water" (Psalms 42.2) This motif appears in early Christian mosaic pavements of the Holy Land.

NIS 3.30 stamp

Stepan Karakashian, mid 1980's Bird with fabulous train of feathers and wide plumage on a blue background with almond blossom.

NIS 4.70 stamp Marie Balian, beginning 1990's

Version of "The Tree of Life" based on the mosaic pavement in the Umayyad Palace near Jericho.

The background of the souvenir sheet shows details from wall panels designed by Marie Balian in the 1990's.

The First Day Cover shows a wall panel designed by Marie Balian depicting a palm tree on a background of vine scrolls. Deer are grazing at the foot of the tree.

The wall panel is part of a series of three that were commissioned in 1984, by Aura Herzog the wife of the then President of Israel, Chaim Herzog, for the decoration of the Sukkoth Patio in the residence of the presidents of Israel.

The text in Armenian, which appears on the souvenir sheet, is designed by Hrant Papazian.

Issue: September 2003

Designer: Habib Khoury

Souvenir Sheet Size: 120 mm x 65 mm

Stamp Size: 32 mm diameter

Sheet of 3 stamps

Printers: De La Rue Global Services

Method of printing: Offset

See also: The History of Armenian ceramic art in Jerusalem