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We leave the decade of the 2010’s and enter the 2020’s with this review of the Europa stamps of Vatican City, covering the years 2018 through 2022. 
 Europa 2018: Bridges Vatican City, Scott 1680-1681 “Bridges” serve as the theme for the Europa stamps of 2018. The two stamps issued by the Vatican City Philatelic and Numismatic Office depict two bridges, and two saints and martyrs of the Church associated with their locales. The 0.95-euro stamp shows an image of Saint Peter, with the Ponte Sant’Angelo in the background. Built around 130 BC, it runs from Rome over the Tiber River to the Vatican. The 1.00-euro stamp has the Karluv Bridge (or Charles Bridge), located in Prague, the Czech Republic. Saint John Nepomuck, the patron of bridge builders and a 14th century martyr, is in the foreground. 
 Europa 2019: National Birds Vatican City, Scott 1713-1714 “National Birds” were highlighted on the 2014 Europa stamps. For Vatican City, the two stamps were designed by Daniela Fusco. The 1.10-euro stamp shows the mallard duck, and the 1.15-euro stamp depicts the pigeon. Both ducks and pigeons are commonly seen in the Vatican, in both the Vatican Gardens and in Saint Peter’s Square. 
 Europa 2020: Ancient Postal Routes Vatican City, Scott 1742-1743 The theme for the 2020 Europa issue was “Ancient Postal Routes”. The UFN release describes the two stamp images as “illustrations…which served as the model for the Tabula peutingeriana, an 11th century road map, which indicated in red the cursus publicus, the ancient postal system of the Romans.” The 1.10-euro stamp shows the Colonia Axernias and the 1.15-euro stamp the Colonia Iulia. 
 Europa 2021: Endangered National Wildlife Vatican City, Scott 1768-1769 The theme for the Europa stamps of 2021, “Endangered National Wildlife”, does not immediately bring to mind a Vatican connection. Once again, the Vatican Post Office looked to birds found in its environs for subjects for its issue, and specifically birds populating the Vatican Gardens. The 1.10-euro stamp pictures the common kestrel, which is one of the smallest birds of prey found in Italy. The 1.15-euro stamp depicts the wren, another very small bird which lives a rather sedentary life in the Garden’s trees and bushes. 
  Europa 2022: Myths and Stories Vatican City, Scott 1795-1797 For 2022, the Europa stamp theme was “Myths and Stories”, and the Vatican Post Office issued a wonderful set of two stamps and a souvenir sheet to tell the story of the relocation of the Egyptian Obelisk from Caligula’s Circus to Saint Peter’s Square. The image found on the souvenir sheet is the depiction of a fresco of the event found in the Vatican Museums. The two stamps provide details from the fresco. Space does not permit a retelling of the whole “story and myth” surrounding the move. The reader is directed to the Vatican Notes article referenced below for a detailed review of the story. REFERENCES: UFN, May 3, 2018, Europa 2018--Bridges UFN, March 19, 2019, Europa 2019: National Birds UFN, June 23, 2020, Europe 2020: Ancient Postal Routes UFN, May 25, 2021, Europa 2021: Endangered National Wildlife Vatican Notes, Volume 11, Number 1, pp. 6-7, July-August, 1962, The Obelisk Airmails Vatican Philatelic Society Website, www.vaticanstamps.org, Stamp Database Search |
