Red Cross: Centenary Of An Idea November 19, 1959. (1959-2)

The idea of the Red Cross was put forward by Henri Dunant on June 24,1859. He had witnessed high casualties during France-Austria war at Solferino, where about 40,000 people were wounded, many of those died due to insufficient medical attention. Henri proposed the formation of relief society in peacetime, whose aim would be to give support to the army medical service in time of war.
In October 1863 some 16 states met at Geneva and eventually laid the foundation of Red Cross. The idea of a single man later became the relief pattern of millions of people.
Pakistan Post Office marking the hundred years of the Red Cross Idea issued a set of two stamps on November 19,1959.
Design of both stamps 2 anna (green) and 10 anna (blue) was identical depicting the Red Cross at center circle. Face values were printed at top right and crescent & star at left, to balance the design. Dates in bold are placed at bottom in reverse and country name, in English above the white circle around the cross and in Bengali and Urdu on its sides.
Withdrawal date of these stamps is 30-4-1962.