1952 Postcard from the
Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

The message side of this postcard gives us some interesting things to study. This postcard was mailed from Vatican City on April 11, 1952 to family of Josef Weisenberger in Bavaria, Germany. The message is a simple 'Best Wishes' signed by E. Tamm. A second person signed the postcard in green using a green ink pen. The postmark is a machine-canceled variety, Type IV-1. The book Der Vatikanstaat lists only two Vatican City postmarks with double circles separated by horizontal lines. Nils Rundqvist's writings in Vatican Notes gives many more examples of this type of postmark. Most differentiation of the postmark is done by measuring the horizontal line width between the lower tip of the bottom on the P and the outer edge of the lower line of the letter E on the word POSTE in the lower section the two circles. The stamp on the postcard pictures the Basilica of S. Croce in Gerusalemme (Holy Cross in Jerusalem) with a 12 lira overprint in read ink. This stamp was released by the Vatican Post Office on February 1, 1952. The 12 lira overprint stamp was to be used on picture postcards (with a greeting message of 5 words or less) and printed matter (weighing less than 50 grams), sent to countries other than Italy. The rate remained in effect until September 30, 1957. The briefness of this postcard message checks the requirements needed to use this stamp. St. Maria Maggiore is a beautiful basilica with a lot of history and should be on the "must see" list for anyone visiting Rome. References: • Greg Pirozzi, 12 Lire Basilica Surcharge, Vatican Stamps, Volume 39 Issue 5, 1991, Page 7 • Anonymous, Principal Vatican Postal Rates from 1950 to 1966 (in Lire), Vatican Stamps, Volume 55, Issue 1, 2006, Page: 4 •Niles Rundqvist Vatican City Everyday Cancellations, Vatican Stamps, Volume 43 Issue 6 May 1995, Page 16