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- 25 lire "Nativity" single
25 lire "Nativity" single
Object Details
- Description
- On December 14, 1959, Vatican City issued a set of three Christmas stamps of identical vertical design and based on a painting by Raphael, "Christ Adored by the Magi (ca. 1502-1504). The set's values are 15-lire (black), 25-lire (crimson), and 60-lire (ultramarine).
- The nativity scene is from a larger work commissioned for an altar at the Church of San Francesco al Prato in Perugia, Italy. The painting is now located in the Vatican Picture Gallery. The scene includes Mary, Joseph, and the Christ Child, the three Magi, and shepherds. The year MCMLIX (1959) appears in small print at the upper left, and Poste Vaticane appears at the bottom, as does the stamp's value. "Nativitas D.N.I Christi" appears below the nativity scene. D.N.I. signifies "Domini Nostri Jesus" (Our Lord Jesus). The entire phrase represents the conclusion of the traditional Latin liturgical Christmas proclamation, the "Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ."
- The stamp measures 3 cm x 4 cm, is perforated 13 1/2 x 14, and is watermarked with the Crossed Keys of St. Peter. C. Dabrowska designed the stamp, which M. Colombati engraved. Italian State Printers produced the stamp using the intaglio process. It produced 774,600 sets, which the Vatican withdrew from sale on December 31, 1960.
- Sources:
- "Vatikanstaat," in Michel Europa Katalog, band 3, Südeuropa, Unterschleißheim, Germany: Schwanberger Verlag GMBH, 2008.
- "Vatican City," in Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue, part 8, Italy and Switzerland, 7th edition, Hampshire, England: Ringwood, 2010.
- "Traditional Christmas Proclamation," http://catholic-resources.org/ChurchDocs/ChristmasProclamation.htm, accessed June 23 2010.
- Data Source
- National Postal Museum
- Date
- December 14, 1959
- Object number
- 2008.2009.269
- 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 267
- Topic
- International Stamps & Mail
- Record ID
- npm_2008.2009.269
- Usage
- Usage conditions apply
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