shipstamps.co.uk

In 1997 the United Nations issued five stamps in the series transportation, with ships on it, most probably heavily stylized designs.

From the left to the right are depict:

A sailing clipper vessel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clipper

A paddle steamer. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paddle_steamer

A passenger liner, the funnel is that of the British Cunard Line comparing with photo’s she is partly designed after the RMS QUEEN ELIZABETH delivered in 1940. http://www.shipstamps.co.uk/forum/viewt ... f=2&t=8459

A hovercraft. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hovercraft

A hydrofoil passenger vessel. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrofoil

United Nations (New York) 1997 32c sg 729/733, scott 709/713.

I did contact the United Nations in 1997 to get information on the designs and received the Press Release for the issue which reads

"The 32-cent se-tenant strip of five stamps illustrate watercraft. Starting on the left, the first stamp depicts a clipper ship, a fast, sail powered, ocean crossing ship of the mid-1800s, for cargo and passengers. These vessels were produced in the United Kingdom and the United States as well as in other countries. The second stamp illustrates a ship developed later in the 1800s for Atlantic Ocean crossings under the power of combined steam and sail. The centre stamp in the strip shows an ocean liner. Developed at the turn of the century, these large capacity, speedy ships, which are either steam or diesel powered, are built worldwide and are in use today.

The fourth stamps depicts a hovercraft, an ocean ferry craft that floats on a cushion of air over water and land. These craft can reach speeds of up to 60 knots, can weigh 200 tons and can carry 250 passengers and vehicles. They have been in use since 1968. The last stamp in the strip illustrates a hydrofoil. Developed in the 1960s, these vessels fly like an aircraft with their wings under water. Stilts lift the boat above the water at speed. The model illustrated can carry 250 passengers."

I also contacted the Bulletin Editor of the UN Stamp Group who confirmed that the design of the ocean liner was a symbolic design it not being possible for the UN to use an actual representation of Queen Elizabeth as this might cause offence!