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There are thirty paintings of Fra Angelico in the cloisters and chapter house of the San Marco Convent in Florence, Italy. With its seizure by the Italian Government c.1866, it was converted into a National Museum, as was Monte Casino. In the cloister one of the six Fra Angelico frescoes is a Resurrection scene, expressive of the reward of the monastic life. The Resurrection was treated by Fra Angelico in two other paintings, one in a dormitory cell of San "arco with Mary Magdalen peering into the empty tomb at the scene of the Resurrection, and the other a predella in London in five compartments, showing Christ with the banner of resurrection surrounded by angels and saints.

The Dominicans had been expelled from their convent in Fiesole in 1409 because they remained loyal to Pope Gregory XII. The Council of Constance had healed the schism, which had brought about their expulsion, and they returned to Fiesole in 1418. Cosimo de Medici had rebuilt the Convent of San Marco and Dominicans from Fiesole occupied it in 1436, and Fra Angelico was asked to decorate the walls with frescoes. He painted the Resurrection scene, from which the design of these stamps are taken, in the cloister of San Marco, together with his famous Crucifixion, complimentary pictures of fundamental truths of the Christian Faith. Christians believe that Christ was the Son of God become man, and he was put to death in his human nature on Good Friday by crucifixion and rose from the dead to life on Easter Sunday. The two facts,- Christ died and Christ rose from the dead to life (Resurrection) have been offered as proof of the divinity of Christ since the days of St. Peter (Acts 11.22-24) on Pentecost, fifty days after Easter in the city of Jerusalem, where all this happened.

The foretelling of His resurrection by Christ had been noted by the Jewish leaders when Chrsit responded to their request for a sign (John 11,19) "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up" and was brought against him in His trial (Mat. 26, 60-61) and when they went to Pilate asking for a guard to be placed over the tomb of Christ (Mat. 28, 62-66) "Sir, we remember that this seducer said, while he was still alive: After three days I will rise again". Peter recalled all this to them in the Temple at Jerusalem (Acts ITI,13-15)"--you indeed delivered up and denied (Jesus) before the face of Pilate, when he judged he should be released. But you denied the Holy One and the Just and desired a murderer to be granted unto you. But the author of life you killed, whom God hath raised up from the dead, of which we are witnesses."

Collezionista of March 22, 1969, state that the design is from the Florence fresco, reproduced, ALTHOUGH APPROXIMATELY on the stamp.

The stamps were printed on surface-colored paper and printed in red (L.20), preen (L,90) and blue (L.180), issued on March 6, 1969. RESURRECTIO D.N.I. CHRISTI translates "The Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ." Stamps at hand are perforated 13 1/2 x 14 and are watermarked crossed keys. Below the stamp we read: "I.P.S. Roma 1969..... Dall"Angelico - E Donnini Inc." The buff surface color also shows in lines in the pane margin.

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