Changing FDC Postmark Styles At Christmas

On November 22, 1963, the Vatican issued two new sets of three stamps each. One is the 1963 Christmas set, with the Nativity scene portrayed in an African negro concept. The other commemorates the 11th century of the beginning of the apostolate of St. Cyril and St. Methodius to the Slavic peoples. The Christmas set has the same design in 10 L., 40 L., and 100 L. values; a reddish-brown vignette with borders of different colors. In the other set, St. Cyril appears on the 30 L, and St Methodius on the 150 L, while the 70 L. shows a map of the field of their labors. With these two new sets, the Vatican unveiled a new type (for the Vatican) First Day cancellation, which is shown on the cover above. The top of the single circle is formed by the top of the tiara and its ribbons. It appears to be a hand cancel from its manner of application. The previous special FD cancellation appeared to have been applied either entirely by machine or partly by machine (the shield and legend) and partly by hand (the dating circle). Editor's Note. The article above first appeared in Vatican Notes, Volume XII, Number 5, March/April, 1964, Page 4. It has been lightly edited to include color images of the stamps discussed and the FDC illustrating the new postmark type. It is also worth noting the first day of issue date for these stamps and its historical significance: November 22, 1963, the date of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

(From Vatican Notes, Volume XII, Number 5, March/April, 1964, Page 4)