Consecration of Archbishop Pacelli Issue:
Do You Have What We Are Looking For?

Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of Episcopal Consecration Pope Pius XII Scott 80-83 (1943) The four-stamp set shown above was issued to commemorate the twenty-fifth anniversary of the consecration of Msgr. Eugenio Pacelli, the future Pope Pius XII, as Archbishop of Sardis. The stamp pictures Pope Benedict XV performing the consecration on May 13, 1917. An interesting historical sidelight is the fact that this is also date of the first appearance of the Blessed Virgin in Fatima, Portugal. An alert VPS member noticed a difference in the first-day issue year listed in the Scott catalog and the year we have listed in the VPS stamp list. The Scott Catalog clearly lists Vatican City stamp numbers 80 to 83 with January 16th, 1942 as the first day of issue. When going to the VPS website, clicking on the Reference tab, and opening the stamp list you will not find these stamps listed as being issued in 1942. They are listed as being issued in 1943. Clicking on the detail button shows an issue date of January 18, 1943. Two clues that the date, as listed in the Scott catalog, is incorrect are: The date of issue of the stamp (January 16, 1942) PRECEDES the date of the anniversary (which would be May 13, 1942). Possible, but not probable, that the stamp would be issued that far in advance of the anniversary date. And, When looking at the Scott catalog, the date of issue for the stamps prior to the consecration issue falls AFTER the date for the issue we are investigating: * Scott 77-79 (the first Prisoner of War Relief Issue), date of issue September 1, 1942. * Scott 80-83 (Archbishop Pacelli Consecration Issue), listed date of issue January 16, 1942. * Scot 84-86 (second Prisoner of War Relief Issue, date of issue January 31, 1944. So it would appear that this discrepancy may simply be a matter of a misprint--the first date of issue probably should be January 16, 1943. BUT...there is more confusion to try to sort out. The 1969 Bolaffi Catalog gives January 16, 1943 as the first day of issue. However, the 1979 Bolaffi lists January 18th, 1943 as the date of issue. Both the 1969 and 1979 Bolaffi catalogs reference Ordinance No. XIX, dated January 16, 1943. Going back to the VPS stamp list, and clicking on the cover buttons, we can see that VPS has on file two covers both having a postmark date of January 18th, 1943. Checking the delcampe.com website I found two other covers dated January 18th, 1943 and several additional envelopes postmarked after that date. No cover has been found postmarked before January 18th, 1943.    It has dawned on me that there is another good informational source to check for information about the Episcopal Jubilee Issue of Eugenio Pacelli. In 1954 the National Postal Museum (of Philadelphia) held a Vatican Marian Year Philatelic Exhibition. It was under the patronage of Cardinal Spellman. In addition, the National Postal Museum printed an issue of their publication (Volume VII Number 1) on Vatican stamps. In that publication, William Wonneberger, Jr. (founder of the Vatican Philatelic Society) presented a complete background article on all Vatican stamps issued since 1929, which included the Episcopal Jubilee issue. In that article, Mr. Wonneberger states: In January of 1943, a set of four stamps was issued to mark the Silver Anniversary of the consecration of Eugenio Pacelli as Archbishop of Sardis. That, along with the fact that we can find no evidence of the Episcopal Jubilee issue with a 1942 postmark, pretty well seals the debate over the issue year question, and the dates found on various stamp covers confirm January 18, 1943 to be the exact first-day issue date. It would be nice to have eyes on Ordinance No. XIX from 1943. Does anyone have a copy or know how to obtain one? If so, please contact Marvin Lanahan, email at mlanahan404@comcast.net.