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 Vatican Stamps

Issues of 1952-1953


The big event of 1951, for Vatican stamps, was the issue of the first souvenir sheet for Vatican City, commemorating the centennial of the first Papal States postage stamp.  Other issues of 1952-1953 feature saints and famous Popes.



The pictorial commemorative Vatican stamp and souvenir sheet shown above (Sc. #155, #155a) were issued on June 9, 1952 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the First Postage Stamps of the Papal States.

The design features a Papal States stamp of 1852 and a contemporary stagecoach.

The stamps in the souvenir sheet are a bit different than those that were issued in panes.  The stamps in the souvenir sheets are in a slightly different color, and the cream tone of the paper is visible on the back of the stamps.



The two pictorial Vatican stamps shown above (Sc. #156-157) were issued on February 12, 1953 to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Martyrdom of St. Maria Goretti.

St. Maria Goretti (1890-1902) is one of the youngest canonized saints.  Her father died, when she was very young, and her family was forced to share a house with another family.  One of the members of the other family made sexual advances towards her, and when she refused him, he stabbed her.  She was taken to a hospital, where she forgave the attacker, shortly before she died.  Maria Goretti was beatified in 1947 and canonized in 1950.  She is the patron saint of crime victims, rape victims, teenage girls, and modern youth.

After being released from prison, her attacker repented and prayed to her every day, calling her "his little saint".  He also attended her canonization in 1950.  Later, he became a lay-brother of the Order of Friars Capuchin, working as a gardener and receptionist, until his death in 1970. 



The thirteen engraved postage and special delivery stamps shown above (Sc. #158-168, #E13-14) were issued on April 23, 1953 to celebrate Famous Popes and St. Peter's Basilica.

Scarce varieties of the 3 L., 25 L., and 45 L. denomination stamps also exist imperforate.  See the major catalogs for details.

The designs, featuring the Popes that were instrumental in the creation of St. Peter's Basilica, are as follows.

  • 003 L. - St. Peter the Apostle (Lived: 1-68, Pope: 30-68) and the inscription found on a wall near the Tomb of the Apostle in the catacombs underneath St. Peter's Basilica.  The inscription reads "PETRUS ROGA CHRISTUS JESU PRO SANCTIS HOMINIBUS CRESTIANUS AD CORPUS TUUM SEPULTIS" meaning "PETER PRAY CHRIST JESUS FOR THE HOLY CHRISTIAN MEN BURIED NEAR YOUR BODY".
  • 005 L. - Pope Pius XII (Lived: 1876-1958, Pope: 1939-1958) and a Roman sepulcher.
  • 010 L. - St. Peter the Apostle (Lived: 1-68, Pope: 30-68) and the Tomb of the Apostle.
  • 012 L. - Pope Sylvester I (Pope: 314-335) and the Basilica of Constantine.
  • 020 L. - Pope Julius II (Lived: 1443-1513, Pope: 1503-1513) and Bramante's plans.
  • 025 L. - Pope Paul III (Lived: 1468-1549, Pope: 1534-1549) and the apse.
  • 035 L. - Pope Sixtus V (Lived: 1521-1590, Pope: 1585-1590) and the dome.
  • 045 L. - Pope Paul V (Lived: 1550-1621, Pope: 1605-1621) and the facade.
  • 060 L. - Pope Urban VIII (Lived: 1568-1644, Pope: 1623-1644) and the canopy.
  • 065 L. - Pope Alexander VII (Lived: 1599-1667, Pope: 1655-1667) and the colonnade.
  • 100 L. - Pope Pius XII (Lived: 1876-1958, Pope: 1939-1958) and the sacristy.
  • 050 L. (Special Delivery) - St. Peter the Apostle (Lived: 1-68, Pope: 30-68) and the Tomb of the Apostle.
  • 085 L. (Special Delivery) - Pope Pius XII (Lived: 1876-1958, Pope: 1939-1958) and a Roman sepulcher.



The two pictorial Vatican stamps shown above (Sc. #169-170) were issued on August 12, 1953 to commemorate the 700th Anniversary of the Death of St. Clare of Assisi.

St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi (1181-1226).  She founded the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic order for women.



The two pictorial Vatican stamps shown above (Sc. #171-172) were issued on November 10, 1953 to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the Death of St. Bernard of Clairvaux.

The common design features the Apparition of the Virgin Mary to St. Bernard.

St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) was a French abbot, considered one of the founders of the Cistercian Monastic Order.





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Issues of 1952-1953





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The 12 L. on 13 L. denomination re-valued Basilica-type stamp of 1949 shown above (Sc. #154) was issued on March 15, 1952.

Scarce varieties of this stamp include missing overprint, inverted overprint, and doubled overprint.



The 100 L. denomination stamp shown above (Sc. #173) was issued on December 29, 1953 to commemorate the 800th Anniversary of the Ordination of Peter Lombard.

The design features the Episcopal Seal of Peter Lombard.

Peter Lombard (1096-1160) was a scholastic theologian, the Bishop of Paris, and the author of four of the standard textbooks of theology.  For 400 years after his death, his books on theology were studied by both Catholic and Protestant theologians.

He died in July 1160, and he was buried in the Church of Saint-Marcel in Paris.  His tomb was destroyed during the French Revolution.