On November 14, 1957, the Vatican released a set of four commemorative stamps to mark the eighth centenary of the Marian Shrine at Mariazell, Austria. The issue consists of two designs executed by Vatican designer Casimira Dabrowska. The 5- and 60-lire stamps are green and ultramarine respectively, and show the basilica with its two Baroque spires and one Gothic spire.
The stamps were printed from plates and engraved by Vittorio Nicastro. The 15- and 100-lire stamps are grey-green and dark violet respectively and show the shrine itself with the famous wooden statue of the Blessed Virgin and Child. The 800-year old statue carved by a Benedictine monk appears to be perfectly preserved.
The other stamps were printed from plates engraved by Mazzini Canfarini. All the stamps were printed by the State Printing Office in Rome in sheets of fifty with standard Vatican watermark and perforations. The 5- and 60-lire values bear the dates 1157 and 1957 and "MARIAZELL." The 15- and 60-lire values bear the inscription "Cella Magnae Matris Austriae" (The Great Mother of Austria). The stamps remained valid until December 31, 1958.
