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Upcoming event: September 2026

November 30th, 2025: After a few weeks of concentrated discussions, the GCHS Proposal was officially submitted to UNESCO Memory of the World Committee by Patty Wouters, IAC representative to UNESCO. The proposal includes the documents written by Phyllis Kudder-Sullivan, the website (www.CeramicHeritageStamps.org) created by Jolly Zhou, and a five-minute video by Rebecca Yilin Sun.

• Stamps by country or region
• 50+ year old stamps
• First day covers
• Souvenir sheets
• Postcards
• Stamps listed by 10 categories
• Stamps listed by all countries and regions
• Pottery Maker and User

Why?

From the first time early humans shaped malleable clay into vessels, the material has been a receptacle for cultural identity. It provided utilitarian objects to support life and recorded our folklore, spiritual beliefs and early writing. Postage stamps are recognized all over the world and travel with ease around the globe and across borders. Both clay and postal stamps are integral parts of our lives.History
Professor Guangzhen Zhou, who compiled the 3000+ postal stamps from over 160 countries and regions, donated the Documentary Collection of Ceramic Themed Postal Stamps to the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC). The stamps in the collection range from commemorative stamps, First Day Covers, souvenir sheets, stamps that predate 1975, unused stamps in mint condition, as well as cancelled stamps. The postage stamps in Documentary Collection of Ceramic Themed Postal Stamps have imagery of ceramic objects of great beauty (some of which are recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage) and historic significance to all humanity.
In November 2025, the stamp collection was entrusted to the IAC, headquartered at the Ariana Museum in Geneva, Switzerland. The collection will be shared with partner museums across six continents. It is intended for public exhibitions, both physically and online, and will continue to grow as an enduring record of the world’s shared ceramic heritage.Significance
The Documentary Collection of Ceramic Themed Postal Stamps embraces a universal theme. Here, in a unique collection of stamps from so many countries, all with clay imagery is a microcosm of the global history of clay usage. Through its natural properties, clay has been intertwined with human evolution in civilizations throughout millennia and continues to impact our lives. The collection of 3000+ stamps with clay imagery is a testament to each nation’s desire to acknowledge, honor and preserve the memory of their ceramic cultural heritage. The collection illustrates humanity’s connection to clay, our earth, our ancestors, our shared history and each other.Special Thanks
The team members wish to express their gratitude to the many scholars and academics who took the time to write letters of support for the application and offered their advice, the IAC members who donated stamps to the collection, the IAC staff for assistance, and generous contributors, especially philatelist, Barbara Brown (USA 1933-2025).IAC Committee of Ceramic Heritage Stamps, December 2025

Support Letters

Select a category to view.

Team