Spotlight - a surprising cover from UNRWAPR

I recently began to build a one-frame exhibit on the Palestinian refugee problem. While searching for material for this exhibit I came across a sale of the cover shown below. On the front is a private cancel (not a postmark) in purple for "The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees". The initials of this organization are UNRWAPR, but most of us are mostly familiar with the abbreviated acronym UNRWA. However this was the initial name.

When the letter arrived I first noticed the name of the recipient, and I realized that there is an interesting story here. The letter was sent in October 1960 from the UNRWA agency in Beirut by registered mail, and it carries the International Refugee Year Stamps. The letter was sent to Mr. Yul Brynner, Special Adviser to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva.

The High Commissioner for Refugee Affairs is an office established in 1950 in order to assist refugees all over the world to integrate in the countries in which they reside. This commission, which has its hands full of work to this day, has also twice won the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1954 and 1981. Because Arab states opposed the integration of Palestinian refugees into their states, it was decided on the establishment of a separate body - UNRWA - that dealt exclusively with Palestinian refugees.

I guess we all remember film and theater actor Yul Brinner, mostly because of his unforgettable performance as King Mongkut of Siam in the musical "The King and I" on Broadway stages and on the movie screen, for which he even won the 1956 Academy Award. Brynner died in 1985, at the age of only 65, from lung cancer because he was a heavy smoker. In the last months of his life he joined a campaign by the American War Association that called on the public to quit smoking.

A brief examination I conducted revealed that in 1959 Brynner was appointed special adviser to the High Commissioner Of the United Nations Office for Refugees. 1960 was declared International Refugee Year, and Brynner used his status as an international superstar and was interviewed by media all over the world to highlight the plight of millions of refugees.

It turns out that Brinner was also an amateur philatelist.

An American friend showed me two more Yul Brynner covers related to the United Nations. One is shown here as it is also related to refugees. These covers seem to be philatelic in nature, and it is doubtful that they were actually sent. It is clear that Brynner collected such items, presumably to keep a souvenir for himself from his time as a "special adviser."

This was originally published in a Hebrew language two monthly newsletter, NosonNet, and was translated from that newsletter