Text

August 1, 1929, saw the release of the first stamps of the then newly created State of Vatican City. The issue was composed of fifteen values, seven of the thirteen regular stamps depicted the Papal Tiara and Crossed Keys of St. Peter while the six higher ordinary stamps and the two special delivery stamps depict the reigning Pontiff at that time, His Holiness, Pope Pius XI. 
The Papal Tiara, or triple crown as it is sometimes called, is a tall head-dress of gold cloth ornamented with precious stones, encircled with three coronets and surmounted by a cross. The original tiara consisted of a plain helmet-like cap of white material and was provided with its first circlet about 1130 A. D. The second was added during the Pontificate of Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303). The earliest representation of the tiara with three crowns is found on the effigy of Pope Benedict XII who died in 1342. The tiara's earliest name, Camelaucum (made of camel's hair) would indicate it was of Byzantine origin and was probably adopted by the Popes of the seventh or eighth century from the Byzantine court head-dress, the Ramelankion. 
Tradition claims that the Papal Tiara symbolizes the three major roles of the Pope-lawgiver, judge, and teacher. A second story passed through the ages claims it represents the sovereign authority of the Pope over the three churches: militant, suffering, and triumphant. Still a third version claims the Papal Tiara symbolizes the three spiritual powers of the Pontiff-teaching, ruling, and sanctifying. The real meaning of the Crown of the Popes may never be known as its origin is lost in the veils of antiquity. 
The Crossed Keys are a symbol of the power and authority of the Pope as successor of Peter, to whom Christ said, ". . . And I will give to thee the Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven." The Keys also are a symbol of the Sacrament of Penance. Saint Peter at times is represented with one key, the Key to Heaven; with two gold or silver keys to represent the power to absolve and bind; with two gold or iron keys to open the gates of heaven and hell; and again with one key to symbolize dominion over heaven, earth, and hell. The six high values of the Conciliation issue along with the two special delivery stamps bears an effigy of His Holiness, Pope Pius XI. It was through his efforts that a solution to the Roman Question was found by the Treaty of the Conciliation, more commonly known as the Lateran Pact. Immediately after his election, in 1922, Pius XI showed a willingness to arrive at a compromise with Italy by giving his Apostolic blessing, "Urbi et Orbi," from the outer balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, thus breaking the tradition of the Popes since the fall of Rome in 1870. The Italian government recognized this sign and approached the Holy Father as to his intentions. At irregular intervals, Conselor of State Barone, representing the Italian government, and Francesco Pacelli, representing the Holy Father, met again and again to draw a suitable treaty. The entire agreement was studied and revised at least twenty times before it was presented to the Chamber of Representatives and Pope Pius XI. The final draft was not satisfactory as presented and led to more than two hundred protracted audiences before it was finally signed on February 11, 1929. There actually were two documents of the Lateran Pact, first a treaty establishing a new nation, the tiniest in the world, the State of Vatican City. The second document was a concordat guaranteeing that Italian civil laws were not to conflict with Canon Law, as well as other minor provisions. This pact, though signed in February, did not go into effect until noon of June 7, 1929. 
This tiny nation was a far cry from the old Papal States, which at one time comprised more than half of the Italian peninsula and several islands. However, it was all the territory the Holy Father desired. The Italian government had offered more but he declined saying, "I do not wish subjects." His chief reason for seeking restoration of temporal power was to secure freedom of action in conducting the affairs of the Church. In addition to the Vatican, Pius XI became temporal ruler of various pieces of territory outside of the Vatican proper. This included the Lateran Palace, various basilicas in Rome, the catacombs, and Castelgondolf o, the summer home of the Popes. 
With the settlement of the Roman Question, Pius XI set about to erect the necessary buildings to conduct the affairs of the new nation. Among the new buildings erected were: the railroad station (a gift of the Italian government), radio station, government palace, enlargement of the post and telegraph offices, installation of modern communications, and remodeling the existing structures. For his work of creating the Vatican nation and his role in supervising its construction, Pius XI is reverently called, "The Builder Pope." 
In 1931, the thirty centesimi value of this issue was surcharged with a new value of twenty-five centesimi to help meet the demand for such a denomination to prepay the postal card rate. 
Again, in 1934, the six values of the ordinary values depicting Pius XI were surcharged to conform with the increased postal rates. In addition to the two different surcharges applied to various stamps of this issue, there were three different overprints applied. As these overprints changed the stamps' purpose they will be mentioned separately.

Update A Postal Database Record