Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Catalog Data

Medium:
paper; ink(multicolored)
Type:
Postage Stamps
Place:
VATICAN CITY (independent city state)
Date:
December 2, 1964
Description:
Vatican City issued a set of four stamps on December 2, 1964, commemorating Pope Paul VI’s attendance of the 38th Eucharistic Congress in Bombay (now Mumbai), India.
The 25-lire green issue depicts the Gateway to India at Bombay as seen from the sea. It is horizontal in design. The inscription PAUL VI MISSIONARIUS APOSTOLICUS (Paul VI Apostolic Missionary) appears at the top of the stamp. Poste Vaticane and the stamp’s value appear at the bottom. Near the bottom appears the inscription Bombay MCMLXIV (1964).
Pope Paul VI visited India from December 2-5, 1964. During the visit, he attended not only the Eucharistic Congress but also met with a large variety of civil and religious groups. Eucharistic Congresses take place every four years at various locations throughout the world to inspire devotion to the Holy Eucharist.
C. Dabrowski designed the stamp, which M. Colombati engraved
It measures 3 cm x 4 cm and is perforated 14 with a sideways Crossed Keys of St. Peter watermark. The Italian State Printers in Rome produced the stamp by the recess process. It printed 2,128,700 sets. The stamp, valid for postage until December 31, 1965, was withdrawn on July 23, 1983.
References:
“Vatikanstaat,” in Michel Europa Katalog, band 3, Südeuropa, Unterschleißheim, Germany: Schwanberger Verlag GMBH, 2008.
“Vatican City,” in Stanley Gibbons Stamp Catalogue, part 8, Italy and Switzerland, 7th edition, Ringwood, Hampshire, England, 2010.
Scott Standard Stamp Catalogue, volume 6, “Vatican City,” Sidney, Ohio: Scott Publishing Company, 2006.
Topic:
International Stamps & Mail  Search this
Object number:
2008.2009.404
See more items in:
National Postal Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Postal Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm838fc6afd-dd0d-431e-9442-758953702dd0
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npm_2008.2009.404