50 lire Annunciation single
Object Details
- Description
- On January 1, 1987, Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) announced the Marian Year that ran from Pentecost, June 7, 1987, to the Feast of the Assumption, August 15, 1988. To mark the occasion, on June 16, 1988, the Vatican issued six stamps depicting special moments in the life of the Blessed Mother. The stamps replicate African, European, Peruvian, Australian, Japanese, and North American art. The issues commemorate the Annunciation, the Nativity, Pentecost, the Assumption, and Mother of the Church and her role as Refuge of Sinners.
- The designs indicate the spread of Marian devotion throughout the world:
- 50-lire - "Annunciation," an original work of Father Eugene Woelffel, inspired by African art
- 300-lire - "Nativity," designed by Maria Carmela Perrini, inspired by models of European art
- 500-lire - "Pentecost," designed by Anna Maria Maresca, inspired by models of Peruvian art
- 750-lire - "Assumption," designed by Maria Maddalena Tuccelli, inspired by models of Australian art
- 1,000-lire - "Mother of the Church," an original work of the Japanese painter Nobuko Suezawai
- 2,400-lire - "Refuge of Sinners," designed by Rita Fantini, inspired by models of North American art.
- The stamps, vertical in format, measure 30 x 40 mm and have a perforation of 13 1/4 x 14. The Italian State Polygraphic Institute and Mint printed 550,000 complete series on white chalky paper in multicolor rotogravure print. The denomination and the inscription ANNO MARIANO 1987-1988 appear along the top of each stamp. POSTE VATICANE appears at the bottom.
- Crimando, Thomas. "Marian Year 1987-1988." Vatican Notes 37, no. 2 (September 1988): 4.
- Kehr, Ernest A. Vatican Stamps. Newark, NJ: Washington Press, 1956.
- Lamothe, Michael. "50th anniversary of the Marian Year proclaimed by Pius XII." Vatican Notes 53, no. 3 (November 2004): 19.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- June 16, 1988
- Object number
- 1989.0496.10398
- Type
- Postage Stamps
- Medium
- paper; ink (multicolored)/
- Place
- VATICAN CITY (independent city state)
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Title
- Scott Catalogue Vatican City 807
- Topic
- International Stamps & Mail
- Record ID
- npm_1989.0496.10398
