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Works of Man Issue Of 1966

James C. Hamilton
Updated by Lou Giorgetti



Works of Man:
Pope Paul VI (Scott 423), Music (Scott 424), Science (Scott 425)



Works of Man:
Painting (Scott 426), Sculpture (Scott 427), Building (Scott 428)



Works of Man:
Carpentry (Scott 429), Agriculture (Scott 430), Metallurgy (Scott 431)



Works of Man:
Learning (Scott 432), Papal Coat of Arms (Scott E17), Pope Paul VI (Scott E18)



On March 8, 1966, Vatican City issued a set of twelve (12) stamps which is popularly known as the Works of Man issue. This turns out to be the last classic set of stamps produced by UFN including both regular definitive issues and Espresso stamps.

One of the notable differences between this set of definitive stamps and past issues is that it focuses not on religious figures (except for stamps bearing the image of Pope Paul VI), but on images of people performing ordinary daily tasks. Depicted on the stamps are an organist, a cartographer, a painter, a sculptor, a bricklayer, a carpenter, a farmer, a blacksmith, and a scholar. The lowest value and Espresso stamps contain images of Paul VI and his coat of arms.

It is thought that the pope’s interest in promoting modern art was one of the reasons these designs were used for the stamps. They are modeled after the bronze raised relief sculpture of Enrico Manfrini and Mario Rudelli. Manfrini has been referred to as the "Sculptor of the Popes" due to his relationship with Popes Pius XII, John XXIII and Paul VI.

These stamps served as the definitive issues from 1966 to 1981, and were not withdrawn from sale until the conversion to the Euro in 2001.

REFERENCES:
James C. Hamilton, Vatican Notes,"Works of Man – The 1966 Vatican Definitives":
  • Volume 64, Number 367, First Quarter, 2016, pp.12-25, Part I
  • Volume 64, Number 368, Second Quarter, 2016, pp. 20-31, Part II
  • Vatican Philatelic Society website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search