1966 Morocco Semaine de l'Aveugle (Week of the Blind) Charity Stamp

This is a rectangular postage stamp from the Kingdom of Morocco (Royaume du Maroc), part of a 1966 series dedicated to the 'Semaine de l'Aveugle' (Week of the Blind). The stamp features a deep blue background and depicts a traditional 'Tbila', a pair of Moroccan clay drums, played with sticks. The illustration shows high-quality craftsmanship with detailed lacing and skin texture. The stamp includes Arabic script at the top right and French text at the bottom right. The denomination is clearly visible in the lower-left corner as '0.70+0.10', indicating a surtax for charity. The lower-left edge bears the name of the artist/engraver 'J. B. MANIEL'. Physical characteristics include sharp white perforations on all four sides, typical of a mint or lightly used specimen. There are no visible cancellations or heavy hinges, suggesting the stamp is in very good condition with vibrant color retention. This stamp is an excellent example of mid-20th-century North African philatelic design, combining cultural heritage with social advocacy.

I have carefully examined the 1966 Morocco 'Semaine de l'Aveugle' (Week of the Blind) charity stamp featuring the Tbila drums (0.70+0.10 denomination). My visual assessment indicates a Mint Never Hinged (MNH) or Mint Lightly Hinged (MLH) specimen. The perforations appear crisp and intact, the color saturation is excellent with no visible fading, and the centering is reasonably balanced. As an appraiser, I note J.B. Maniel's engraving remains sharp, which is characteristic of the high-quality production from this period of the Royaume du Maroc. From a philatelic market standpoint, this issue is a common yet culturally significant part of a thematic series. While Moroccan cultural stamps from the mid-1960s are aesthetically pleasing to collectors of North African heritage or musical instruments, they were produced in significant quantities. Comparable listings in the Stanley Gibbons or Scott catalogs generally value this specific single stamp at a nominal price. The 'charity' surtax (+0.10) adds historical context but does not significantly increase rarity. Critically, a definitive appraisal is limited by the digital nature of this inspection. I cannot verify the integrity of the gum on the reverse, nor can I check for hidden thinning, watermarks, or repairs using a UV lamp or watermark fluid. To confirm full market value at the higher end of the range, an in-person examination is required to ensure the gum is original and the paper has not been chemically treated. For high-value collection certification, certificates of authenticity (COA) from recognized philatelic experts are usually reserved for much rarer errors or older issues.