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On June 14th, 1983, Vatican City issued a series of four stamps to commemorate the fifth centenary of the Italian Renaissance painter Raphael Sanzio. The stamps depict four "allegories" painted by Raphael on the vault of the Stanza della Segnatura (Room of the Segnatura) at the Vatican. The denominations and subjects are as follows:
The illustrations were engraved by Valetio Puliti. The stamps are vertical in format, measuring 30 x 40 mm, with a perforation of 13-1/4 x 14. Along the top of each stamp is the inscription RAFFALLO SANIO 1483-1983. At the lower right is the denomination, above the words POSTE VATICANE. They were printed on white chalky paper in multicolored recess, and have been issued in sheets of 20. 1,000,000 complete series were printed by the Italian State Polygraphic Institute and Mint. Also issued on June 14th was an aerogram honoring Raphael. The aerogram consists of three sections. The first section includes details from two different frescoes by Raphael. On the upper left aide is an angel on horseback, from The Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple in Jerusalem in the dell 'Eliodoro (Room of Heliodorus). In the upper right corner of this illustration is the inscription RAFFAELLO SANZIO 1483-1983. The word AEROGRAMME may be found below the illustration In the upper right corner is a vertical stamp which depicts Raphael's self-portrait. from The School of Athens in the Stanza della Segnatura. Along the bottom of the stamp is the denomination (500 lire) as well as the words POSTE VATICANE. The stamp measures 34 x 28 mm. Below it are five lines for the address. The illustrations were engraved by D. Vangelli. The first section also has three gunned borders for closing. The top border contains the words: E vietato ineerire qualsasi oggetto -IL est defendu de joindre n'importe quel objet. The second section contains the word MITTENTE and three dotted lines. while the third section is blank. The sheet is grey-blue and measures 26.5 x 15.8 when open, exclusive of the borders. The aerogram includes a watermark consisting of the words STATO DELLA CITTA DEL VATICANO. 350,000 aerograms were printed by the Vatican Polyglot Press. |
| (From Vatican Notes, Volume: 32, Issue: 2, Year 1083 Page: 1&11 ) |
