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- 1000 lire Giovanni da Montecorvino single
1000 lire Giovanni da Montecorvino single
Object Details
- Description
- On September 27, 1994, Vatican City issued a single 1000-lire stamp commemorating the seventh centenary of the Evangelization of China. In 1289, Pope Nicholas IV sent the Franciscan missionary Giovanni da Montecorvino to India and the Far East. He reached Khambalik (present-day Beijing) between 1294 and 1295. In 1307, he was named Archbishop of Khambalik, where he built churches, convents, a school, and two orphanages. His missionary apostolate and the first Mongolian translation of the New Testament marked the beginning of the evangelization of China.
- The stamp design features, on the right, a nineteenth-century picture of Giovanni da Montecorvino in Episcopal habit, inspired by a waxed canvas by an anonymous Chinese artist. In the background appears a Mongolian village along a river, inspired by a thirteenth-century colored ink on silk picture. Both of these artworks are in the collection of the National Missionary Centre in Assisi. A map illustrating the missionary's journey to China appears in the background. The Papal Tiara and Crossed Keys, along with the inscription VII CENTENARIO EVANGELIZZAZIONE DELLA CINA 1294-1994, appear at the top. CITTA DEL VATICANO and the value are at the bottom; G. DA MONTECORVINO is at the right.
- The stamp is horizontal, measures 48 x 40 mm, and has a perforation of 14. It was printed on white, chalky paper in color offset and issued in sheets of twenty. The Istituto Polygrafico e Zecca dello Stato Italiano printed 450,000 stamps.
- Reference:
- Crimando, Thomas. "New Issues." Vatican Notes 43, no. 4 (January 1995): 1, 4.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- September 27, 1994
- Object number
- 1995.2075.157
- Type
- Postage Stamps
- Medium
- paper; ink / lithographed
- Place
- VATICAN CITY (independent city state)
- See more items in
- National Postal Museum Collection
- Title
- Scott Catalogue Vatican City 959
- Topic
- Contemporary (1990-present)
- International Stamps & Mail
- Record ID
- npm_1995.2075.157
- Usage
- Usage conditions apply
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