Americas Philately Contributing To Mahatma Gandhi's Memorial

From the collection of Mr Das, a philatelist and Gandhi admirer. Countries in America like Brazil, Mexico, USA and many more have issued stamps to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi as a leader.

Stamp of Antigua & Barbuda, 1998, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Stamp of Antigua & Barbuda, 1939, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Mahatma Gandhi never visited the U.S. but is one of the few non-Americans who have had such a great impact on American life.  Various countries in the U.S issued Gandhi stamps to commemorate the man and his teachings.  

Stamp of Antigua & Barbuda (1998)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

His work as a freedom fighter and social reformer in India was closely followed in the U.S and his ideas remain deeply rooted in American society. 

Antigua & Barbuda issued a stamp set including Mahatma Gandhi, along with Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks.  

Stamp of Antigua & Barbuda, 1998, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Stamp of Antigua & Barbuda, 1998, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Stamp of Antigua & Barbuda, 1998, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Stamp of Antigua & Barbuda, 1998, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Antigua and Barbuda issued several stamps of Mahatma Gandhi. A set of 4 stamps were issued to commemorate him on his 50th death anniversary. This stamp set shows Gandhi as a young boy in 2 and as an adult in the other 2. 

Stamp of Brazil (1969)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

On the birth centenary of Mahatma Gandhi Brazil issued a stamp with his illustrated portrait and a spinning wheel.

Stamp of Chile (1969)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Chile issued a set of 3 stamps to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi on his birth centenary. It has his portraits in 3 different colors.  

Stamp of Cuba (1997)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

In the United States Gandhi was almost always spoken of with affection and admiration. Time magazine chose him as Man of the Year in 1930. The New York Times wrote extensively and appreciatively of the man and his movement.

Cuba issued a stamp on the 50th Anniversary of India's Independence featuring Mahatma Gandhi.

Stamp of Dominica (1998)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Dominica issued a 4 set stamp on Gandhi's 50th death anniversary.  

Stamp of Montserrat (1998)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

To pay tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, Montserrat issued a stamp on his 50th death anniversary. 

Stamp of Dominica, 1969, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Stamp of Dominica, 1969, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Stamp of Dominica, 1969, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Dominica also released a 3 set stamp commemorating Mahatma Gandhi on his birth centenary. One shows Gandhi having a conversation with Jawaharlal Nehru (India’s first PM), another is a simple portrait whereas the other one shows him working on the spinning wheel or charkha.  

Stamp of Grenada (1969)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Grenada, a Caribbean country also issued a set of 4 stamps commemorating Mahatma Gandhi on his birth centenary.  

Stamp of Guyana, 1969, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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Stamp of Guyana, 1969, Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das
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In parts of South America as well, Mahatma Gandhi is recognized and remembered. Guyana issued a set of 2 stamps commemorating him on the occasion of his birth centenary.  

Stamp of Nevis (1998)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Nevis issued this First Day Cover on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 50th death anniversary. Different first-day cover was released with Gandhi stamps on it.

Stamp of Nevis (1999)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Nevis issued another first-day issue on Mahatma Gandhi the next year as well. It even contains a little write-up about him along with his picture.

Stamp of Panama (1997)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

On the 50th anniversary of India’s Independence, Panama issued a Mahatma Gandhi stamp to honor him.  

Stamp of St. Vincent (1998)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

This stamp issued on Mahatma Gandhi's 50th death anniversary by St. Vincent & Grenadines is similar to stamps issued by Dominica and other countries during the same period of time. 

St. Vincent Stamp (1998)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

St. Vincent issued the first-day cover on 1998 with a Mahatma Gandhi image on it.

St. Vincent Postage (First Day Cover) (2005)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

An official first-day cover was issued again by St. Vincent featuring Mahatma Gandhi along with Elie Wiesel and Rigoberta Menchú (both Nobel peace prize winner).  

Stamp of St. Vincent (2000)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das


St. Vincent issued a stamp of Mahatma Gandhi in 2000 showing him and his wife Kasturba in the Dandi March.

Through the march, he tried to protest against the regressive policies of the British Government and arouse the people of India to fight against the colonialism and its evils through non-violent means.

First day cover of Suriname (1969)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

To commemorate him on his birth centenary, Suriname issued a first day cover with his image and a text saying Restraint is the law of our being, written in Hindi and English both.  

Stamp of Trinidad and Tobago (1970)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

There is a Mahatma Gandhi statue in San Fernando, southern Trinidad. The country issued a stamp with the picture of the Gandhi statue established there to celebrate the birth centenary.  

Trinidad & Tobago stamp (1970)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Another stamp was issued by Trinidad to commemorate the great visionary and leader of his time, M K Gandhi with an Indian flag as a background. 

Uruguay stamp (1969)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

On the occasion of his Birth Centenary and India's Republic day, Uruguay issued a stamp with Mahatma Gandhi's portrait on the left and him speaking to the public in the background.  

Venezuela stamp (1972)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Venezuela has issued few stamps to commemorate Mahatma Gandhi on different occasions.

This particular stamp was issued on his birth centenary.

Stamp of Venezuela (1997)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Venezuela released a stamp set to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Indian Independence.

Various famous personalities and scenes of India are printed on the sheet.  

Washington, D.C (First Day of Issue) (1961)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

Washington issued a first day cover featuring Mahatma Gandhi as a tribute to the revered leader for India’s freedom. His quote is mentioned on it , “Freedom is the gift of God... The right of every nation.”  

Washington stamp (2006)Original Source: The Collection of Mr. Surjit K. Das

An Indian theme stamp set was issued later by Nevis with Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait. United States Capitol building can be seen in the background as well.  

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The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.

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