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On March 20, 1997, Vatican City issued a new series of ten definitive stamps featuring Papal Carriages and Automobiles. The stamps are horizontal, measuring 39.23 x 28.56 mm, and have a perforation of 12 x 11 ¾. They were printed by Helio Courvisier S.A. of Switzerland in rotogravure and offset, and were issued in sheets of 20. At the top of each stamp are the value, the words CITTA DEL VATICANO, and the Papal Tiara and Crossed Keys. The stamps feature reproductions of Papal carriages and automobiles from the Vatican Museums collection: 
A booklet was also issued, containing four each of the 100, 300, 500, and 750 lire values: 
A special historical section in the Vatican Museums houses a collection of Papal carriages and automobiles. These include both finely ornamented and elegantly simple carriages which were used by popes on both state and private occasions during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. With time, these majestic, gilded carriages were replaced by automobiles and transformed into museum pieces. This article, written by Thomas I. Crimando, originally appeared in Vatican Notes, Volume 46, Number 3, page 1, 1997. It has been lightly edited to include images of the stamps and booklet pages for this release. REFERENCES: Technical Details: Scott Catalogue - 1028-1037 Date Issued - 20 March 1997 Face Value - €1.25 Perforations - 12x11.75 Printer - Helio Courvoisier SA (Switzerland) |
