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Today's Page 2 excerpt continues the review of the article written in 1954 by the first president of the Vatican Philatelic Society, William Wonneberger, "The Vatican's Postage Stamps". Today's two-stamp set was issued to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), established in 1874. The stamps, issued on December 9, 1949, have an interesting distinction. Most Vatican City air mail stamps are so designated by the banner "Posta Aerea Vaticana" ("Vatican Air Mail"). The UPU set has the banner "Posta Aerea: Citta del Vaticano" ("Air Mail: Vatican City")--the only air mail set so inscribed.
 
The article by Mr. Wonneberger first appeared in the book Vatican, published by the National Philatelic Museum in conjunction with the Vatican Marian Year Philatelic Exhibition, held at the Museum in September, 1954. We are thankful that the Spellman Museum of Stamps and Postal History has granted us permission to reproduce the contents of the book, supplemented with images of the stamps from the issue. We hope you enjoy this serial review of the early stamps issued by Vatican City.

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