VPS Chat Room

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Today’s posting by our little robot highlights. A 1933 Vatican cover with the Graffiti Zep. There is a similar cover listed on eBay right now by a dealer in Croatia for around 4 dollars. The dealers does mention that it is a reproduction. Charlie (08/10/2026 - Cjs)

With all the hard work our little robot is doing in .developing a Vatican stam library, I was wondering. Could Cat Values be added and updated each yr?

Charlie (08/08/2026 - Cjs)

Any addl information on the Vatican increasing its sales volume to dealers?
Currently, as I understand, dealers are limited to order 100:copies of each stamp. Also, an order can take over months to process. I have written to the Vatican several times and received NO response! Such service will greatly harm the ability to collect Vatican stamps since many collectors, like myself, depend on the dealers. Charlie, Williamsburg, Va.

(08/05/2026 - Cjs)

To Jost--Congrats on your new acquisition. Unfortunately the cover you added to your post did not display. It would be interesting to see some of your unique finds. (07/31/2026 - LFG)

A very exiting Collection by German Expert, and BPP ‘Prüfer’, Hans-Waldemar Vespermann has come into my posession.
It’s not the most rare varieties by value, but very much so by uniqueness - here’s an example 😇 (07/28/2026 - jost)

Also J7-J12 was basically only used by the post office workers when postage was due. This wasn't a regular issue so any FDC on a cover is contrived. A real FDC would look like an envelope from Rome shipping to the Vatican, and it just happened to need all 6 postage due stamps. I think it might be a unicorn.
-Javier (07/21/2026 - JA)

The world was probably not too focused on Vatican stamp collecting on August 16th. 1945 -- On August 16, 1945, Allied leaders announced that Japan had fully accepted the Potsdam Declaration, meaning unconditional surrender. This was the moment the world understood the Pacific War was truly over! (07/10/2026 - MJL)

Marvin: I do not believe any Vatican cachet dealers existed in 1945. We have a copy of the J7-J12 set on a canceled cover, dated September 8, 1945, in the VPS FDC file. I do not believe it is an FDC. According to Bolaffi Vatican Stamp Catalogue, the J7-J12 issue date is August 16, 1945.

I have been searching many years for this FDC on eBay, dealer auctions, etc. I have never seen one offered. In the past year a cover containing the set was offered on eBay but was not an FDC. I spoke to David Bayer at Penny Black a while ago. He believes that possibly very few if any J7-J12 FDCs were created.

I will continue my search. One may appear one day!

(07/09/2026 - DSO)

Dennis - Did any of the cachet dealers make FDC covers for the J7-J12 stamps? I am still trying to nail down the date the Vatican postal folks made their official first special postmarked cover. (07/06/2026 - MJL)

Just remembered that dues on the annual membership were due today : )
-Javier (06/30/2026 - JA)

I submitted my research to the VPS regarding the request in its 6/21 daily email asking for input on the history of when the Vatican began to use CASHETS on first day covers. I povided this information from my personal FDC collection. (My collection of FDCs is complete, except .... I AM MISSING THE J7-J12 FDC.... otherwise complete 1929 to 2007). Let me know if you are aware of information that updates my CACHET research. Thank you.

(I am interested in purchasing the J7-J12 FDC.) Let me know if you have a copy to sell or if you are aware of anyone, including any upcoming auction, having it available.) HuntDennisO@gmail.com.

Thank you! (06/22/2026 - DSO)

Unless the Vatican allows dealers to order stamps in larger quantities, more than a 100, Vatican stamp collecting will decline substantially. I, myself depend on a dealer for many yrs to supply me with Vatican stamps and covers. I think our organization needs to contact the Vatican to see if their new limitations can be increased or entirely lifted. Also, many younger collectors do not have time to place individual orders for stamps since they work full time and many have families (like myself in the past). It’s much easier to rely on a dealer.

Charlie
Williamsburg, Va.
USA
(06/15/2026 - Cjs)

Are there any updates on dealers ordering Vatican stamps for their customers? Hopefully, I can finally obtaining my missing 2024, and 2025 Vatican stamps from Penney Black Stamp Co. They have provided me with Vatican stamps for over 30 yrs with excellent service.
Charlie
Williamsburg, Va. (06/09/2026 - CJS)

I also question shipments to dealers. Without dealers able to provide Vatican City stamps to their many customers, it will hurt many collectors.
I for one, was dependent on a dealer for over 40 yrs to provide me each yr with all the Vatican issues. I was too busy working with the White House staff to even bother ordering the stamps and FDCs from the Vatican post office.

We need to get this problem resolved!

Charlie
Williamsburg,mVa.
USA (03/28/2026 - Cjs)

I also would be concerned with giving your social security number. This could be used later for fraud. Don’t give it to them!

charlie (03/28/2026 - Cjs)

Question. When the Vatican asked to identify yourself by using your Social Security number to register for their stamp program did you all use it. I am leary of putting it out there. Thanks Steve (03/27/2026 - SA)

How about shipments to dealers? Without their assistance, we may loose many Vatican collectors.

Charlie (03/23/2026 - Cjs)

The first quarter 2026 stamp issues, released in February, finally appeared for sale on the CFN website yesterday. There are six stamps/sets in this first batch for the year. Also, for the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology stamp issued in late 2025 (a joint release with Luxembourg), the stamp from Luxembourg is available for purchase on the CFN website. (03/13/2026 - LFG)

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